Para World Sailing Forum to set out future of Paralympic Sailing

The future of Paralympic sailing will be mapped out at World Sailing's 2016 Annual Conference at the Para World Sailing Forum on Tuesday 8 November in Barcelona, Spain.   Set to be streamed live on World Sailing's YouTube Channel, the Forum will see the Para World Sailing Strategic Plan for 2017-2020 formally presented by Para World Sailing Manager, Massimo Dighe and will be followed shortly after with the release of the plan on sailing.org.

Dighe, a London 2012 Paralympic athlete said, "When sailing was removed from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Sports Programme in January 2015 we were deeply saddened and disappointed as Paralympic sailing allows a multitude of disabilities to compete on an equal basis.

"Action needed to be taken and through the collaborative work within the Para World Sailing Committee and the wider sailing community the strategic goals set out a clear vision for Paralympic sailing.

"The strategic goals that we will outline at the conference to delegates in attendance and those watching around the world will allow World Sailing to put a strong bid together for re-introduction of sailing into the Paralympic Sports Programme for 2024 in the spring of 2018."

Joining Dighe during the Para World Sailing Forum will be several keynote speakers including Geoff Holt MBE (Founder Reinstate), Ms. Külli Haav (Noblessner Yachtclub Sailing School, Estonia), Sarah Treseder (CEO RYA) and Ms. Emma Hallén (Trim the Sails Foundation, Sweden).

In addition, an interactive Q&A session will bring the Forum to a close and those watching online will be encouraged to engage with the specialist panel by submitting their questions via social media.

The Para World Sailing Forum is one of three open forums to be streamed live and online during the 2016 Annual Conference: Our Sustainable Future. The Sustainability Forum will open proceedings on Monday 7 November followed by the Para World Sailing Forum on Tuesday 8 with the Commercial Strategy for the Sport Forum on Wednesday 9.

The dialogue and engagement of the 2016 Annual Conference will be centred on an overarching theme of, 'Our Sustainable Future.' Sailing will be laying down plans for a healthy sustainable future for the sport, as well as the more specific subject of sustainability in the waters of the world.

The Forums will feature world leading experts and panel discussions, providing the basis for debate around sustainability across multiple facets of the sport. (www.sailing.org)