ISAF reveal new programme in bid to regain Paralympic inclusion

The ISAF have announced a new Paralympic Development Programme to help the sport regain its Paralympic inclusion ©ISAF

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) have announced they have launched a new Paralympic Development Programme in a direct response to the sport’s exclusion from Tokyo 2020.

The programme, devised with the help of the ISAF Disabled Sailing Committee (DSC), aims to increase participation levels in disabled sailing and vows to enhance attendance by nations at international events using Paralympic classes of equipment.

It is also hoped the scheme will help the development of other Paralympic programmes within member Federations and will enable them to launch sustainable grassroots initiatives in order to increase the number of elite-level disabled athletes.

“This is a new era for disabled sailing with ISAF now able to fully utilise its technical, financial, promotional and strategic resources to bring significant benefits to disabled sailing,” said ISAF President Carlo Croce.

“We are now working hard to put in place a much enhanced, professional and aligned four year competition programme for disabled sailing, as well as generate greater media, broadcast and promotional opportunities for the sport following integration into ISAF's wider communications planning and activities.”

Two practical training clinics are due to be held this year, in Weymouth from August 17 to 21, and ahead of the Disabled Sailing World Championships in Melbourne in November to help implement the programme.

The new programme coincides with ISAF announing American Betsy Alison as the chair of the DSC, while five new members have also been appointed.

Sailing was cut from the Paralympic programme for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games by the IPC in February ©Getty Images

Andrew Coulston of New Zealand, Australian David Staley, Massimo Digne of Italy, China’s Xian Li Schoa and Mazakazu Suto of Japan have also joined the Committee.

“The Paralympic Development Programme is a very thorough and succinct proposal,” Alison said.

“I am confident that with it we are now putting our best foot forward in our quest to move toward reinstatement of sailing as a full medal sport in the Paralympics.”

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made the decision to axe sailing from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which has caused division within the sport.

Sailing was omitted following an assessment process which took into account worldwide participation in terms of countries and continents, where the sport is regularly practiced, a quadrennial competition programme, athlete classification, anti-doping programme, rules and regulations, and initiatives undertaken to make their sport more attractive.

It was also taken off the Paralympic programme due to a lack of world reach, with only 30 countries practicing the sport at the performance level, two short of IPC requirements.