Para World Sailing Strategic Plan Released
by Daniel Smith, World Sailing 8 Nov 2016 15:59 GMT
8 November 2016
Massimo Dighe presents the Para World Sailing Strategy © Dani Alvarez / World Sailing
World Sailing is publishing today its Para World Sailing Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 as the sport seeks re-introduction into the Paralympic Sports Programme for 2024.
Released today (Tuesday 8 November) at the Para World Sailing Forum at the 2016 Annual Conference in Barcelona, Spain, the Strategic Plan outlines the strategic goals and tactics the world governing body will adopt until 2020.
Click here to view the Para World Sailing Strategic Plan for 2017-2020.
World Sailing President Carlo Croce said, "Sailing's removal from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Sports Programme in January 2015 deeply saddened the sailing community. It was a great loss for Paralympic sport as a whole because Paralympic sailing allows a multitude of disabilities to compete on a level playing field.
"Action needed to be taken by World Sailing and the strategic goals that we have outlined today will ensure that sailing can put a strong bid together for re-introduction into the Paralympic Sports Programme for 2024, backed up by a doubling in investment in Para World Sailing activities by World Sailing over the next four years."
The Para World Sailing Strategic Plan has four main goals:
- Increase worldwide participation to 40 nations on 4 continents by the end of 2020
- Expand competition, female and youth participation
- Deliver effective marketing & communications to increase engagement with Para World Sailors and sailing fans
- Ensure that there is a sound governance framework
The priorities and tactics to achieve the four main goals are laid out in detail within the strategic plan. The overarching aim of the plan is to ensure World Sailing presents a strong bid to the International Paralympic Committee for re-introduction into the 2024 Paralympic Games and future editions in the Spring of 2018.
Para World Sailing Manager Massimo Dighe, a London 2012 Paralympian, presented the strategic plan to an online audience and delegates in attendance at the Para World Sailing Forum, an open event at the 2016 Annual Conference.
On the release of the plan, Dighe said, "The IPC's decision to remove sailing from the Paralympic Games Sports Programme was taken mainly because the sport did not meet the criteria laid out in the IPC Handbook's minimum criteria for worldwide reach.
"The sport needed to react and take a proactive, forward thinking approach to reinstate and ensure a sustainable future for Paralympic sailing at future Games. We have a clear vision for growth and initiatives such as the Para World Sailing Development Program will play a major role in growing the sport in new nations.
"In addition, we will continue to work closely with the IPC, support and guide our stakeholders and find ways to develop and innovate Paralympic sailing.
"Although the removal of Paralympic sailing was of a great disappointment, we now have an opportunity under a new strategic vision to grow the sport, innovate and promote."
The Para World Sailing Strategy Forum opened with an extended video of experienced disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE laying out his views on Paralympic sailing and the importance of the discipline. Dighe's presentation followed and the Forum will continue through the afternoon with keynote speeches from Ms. Külli Haav (Noblessner Yachtclub Sailing School, Estonia), Sarah Treseder (CEO RYA) and Ms. Emma Hallén (Trim the Sails Foundation, Sweden). You can follow the session here:
In addition, broadcaster Alec Wilkinson will host an interactive Q&A session which will bring the Forum to a close and those watching online are encouraged to engage with the specialist panel by submitting their questions using the conference hashtag #OurSustainableFuture.
Development, pathway and forward thinking at the Para World Sailing Forum (by Matthew Sheahan, Sunset+Vine)
Paralympic sailing has been an especially hot topic since the news in February 2015 that sailing would be dropped from the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.
Little surprise perhaps then that given the strength of feeling that ensued, Tuesday's forum on Para World Sailing in which the proposed pathway back into the Games would be announced, was so well attended.
Geoff Holt, the record holding quadriplegic sailor, who played a part in getting sailing into the Paralympic Games, opened the session via a video link presentation.
"The issue is not simply about getting a few elite athletes to the Games," he explained. "You don't get the Paralympic end without the grass roots at the bottom. Once you get elite sailors you create role models that inspire those grass roots sailors. It's very important to have a pathway."
And it was the outline structure of this pathway that was announced by Para World Sailing Manager Massimo Dighe. His presentation started by highlighting the initial goal of 32 countries in three regions that is required by the International Paralympic Committee. The first goal he said was to increase worldwide participation. To achieve this there were a number of key areas that he outlined including; enlisting support from the various Member National Authorities (MNA), attracting youth sailors, fostering Paralympic cooperation, increasing diversity as well as considering the issue of equipment availability.
With the detailed strategy that was unveiled were World Sailing's targets for this increase in worldwide participation which sees the 32 nations and 3 regions criteria met by 2017 but which exceeds the IPC requirements to 40 nations and 4 regions by 2020.
Also included in his presentation was the outline timetable for the Paralympic equipment plan in which he said that the new classes needed to be identified by August 2017.
"The 2017 Para Worlds will be used to introduce and test the new equipment which will make this the most important Para Worlds for many years," he said.
In addition to the new boats, there are plans to introduce new competition formats that are, 'spectator friendly, modern, fast paced stadium sailing.'
Following Dighe's presentation, RYA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Treseder added her support to the new plans and outlined the RYA's strategy to engage and develop Paralympic sailing in the UK.
"We are continuing to develop events in this field and are more interested in the breadth of participation rather than developing an elite band of sailors," she said.
Her presentation outlined the various areas that the organisation has found delivers results starting with understanding who their delivery partners are and how best to develop racing and regattas. And while equipment is a big issue, she highlighted how this topic isn't always at the top of the list when considering Paralympic development.
"Sometimes there's a temptation to focus on equipment and jump first into this conversation," she said.
The following two speakers gave accounts of how Paralympic sailing was developing in their own countries, first Kylli Haav from Estonia provided a reminder of how challenging it can be while Emma Hallen explained how the Swedish sailing foundation Trim the Sails, aims to include Paralympic sailing into normal sailing programmes.
"Our goal is not to be needed," she said. "We believe that all our sailors should be included in the same structure. Inclusion is our way forward."
The session concluded with round table discussion and feedback presented by delegates in attendance. An interactive question and answer session incorporating Twitter messages via the hashtag #OurSustainableFuture brought the forum to a close.