World Sailing, the world governing body for the sport, has reached a major milestone in its Paralympic quest by submitting the official application for inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
World Sailing’s ambition to be reinstated into the Paralympic Games started the moment it was removed after Rio 2016.
David Graham, CEO of World Sailing explains: “This is a pivotal moment – our LA28 bid for Para Sailing is in. If our bid is successful, athletes from over 46 countries on six continents will be representing their nations at one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
“Our global sailing family has spoken loud and clear, coming together to #BacktheBid – to see this sport, which offers so much to so many people, back in the Paralympics.”
The International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board now has the difficult task of assessing applications from International Federations vying for a place on the LA28 Games plan, which currently considers 22 Paralympic sports – the same number as Rio, Tokyo and Paris, but now with more sports looking for inclusion.
Para Sailing bid spotlight
The fast global growth of Para Sailing, the highly focused approach World Sailing is taking to increasing the number of female Para Sailors, and the fact that the sport is highly inclusive puts it in the frame for consideration by the International Paralympic Committee, which will finally decide in January 2023.
Para Sailing is one of the most inclusive sports there is with 44% of the top 10 sailors at Para World Championships having high support needs.
Sailing is also one of the few sports where men and women can compete alongside and against each other on a level playing field – World Sailing’s bid for LA28 reflects this with proposed mixed male and female crews, or fleets, across all three of the suggested classes.
Para Sailing’s Paralympic ambition
World Sailing officially kick-started its Paralympic reinstatement campaign last October supported by globally renowned sailors and leading figures in the sport.
In February, the International Paralympic Committee held an eagerly awaited session with International Federations targeting LA28, outlining the terms and timeline – directly after attending, Graham announced this was top of the agenda for World Sailing.
“I said it in February, and I’m saying it again now – our Para Sailing strategy is fully aligned to the IPC’s guiding principles, we can deliver on the criteria and demonstrate that Para Sailing is one of the most inclusive, diverse and universal sports on the planet today.
“While Para Sailing has continued to grow since Rio and transform lives around the world, we are fully aware of just how much Paralympic Games inclusion helps to drive para sport – from grassroots to top level competition. This is why our resolve to get back in the Games is so strong,” Graham concluded.
Join the hub today
It is a level playing field on the water if you are a disabled person passionate about sailing and motivated by competition. The RYA para sailing hub is a network of sailors and organisations, joining forces and doing more together.
The hub is championed by the RYA Sailability and builds upon the success of the #MoreThanSailing campaign, which aims to break down perceived barriers to participation and provide more opportunities for disabled people to get on the water. As a sailor or as an organisation, you can join the RYA Para Sailing hub and help increase opportunities for disabled sailors to race and train, locally, nationally and internationally.
Photo credit: Richard Langdon/World Sailing
