Entries open for Oman’s para sailing initiative SailFree

Sports Tuesday 25/February/2020 19:02 PM
By: Times News Service
Entries open for Oman’s para sailing initiative SailFree

Muscat: SailFree, the GCC and MENA regions’ first ever para sailing programme designed to introduce people with physical impairment to the sport of sailing, has launched a campaign to sign up people with an interest in sport to become part of the programme.

A joint initiative between BP Oman, the Oman Paralympic Committee and Oman Sail, the programme aims to form a national team to represent Oman at international sailing regattas, including the 2022 Para Sailing World Championships.

SailFree will engage men and women aged between 16 to 30 years old to be trained at sailing schools in Al Mouj Muscat and Sur, using the highly-adaptable and specifically designed RS Venture Connect SCS sailing dinghy. The boat can be quickly configured to suit sailors with a wide range of physical impairments and have been adopted by World Sailing for the Paralympic double-handed class.

Ibrahim Al-Hinai, Social Investment Specialist at BP Oman said: “BP has well-established links with paralympic sports globally and we are an international partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
We are proud to play our part in advancing the paralympic movement in Oman through the innovative and pioneering SailFree programme. As a sport, sailing is particularly well suited to people with physical impairment as it can accommodate a wide range of abilities.”

“Like BP Oman, SailFree is committed to diversity and inclusion and the programme aims to inspire a generation of disabled people to follow a pathway to excellence.”

Dr. Mansoor Al Tauqi, President of the Oman Paralympic Committee, said: “SailFree is a fantastic opportunity for people with physical impairment to experience and enjoy the sport of sailing and expand their personal potential.

“The SailFree initiative offers the chance for people to build their confidence through unlocking mobility. I encourage people to sign up and enroll in the programme and look forward to seeing the results.”

Through the SailFree programme, Oman Sail is also supporting World Sailing’s campaign for the reintroduction of para sailing into the Paralympic Games sports programme for Los Angeles 2028.

David Graham, CEO of Oman Sail, said: “Oman Sail is fully supportive of World Sailing’s strategic goal to increase worldwide participation in para sailing, particularly amongst young men and women, as the provision of inclusive events increases at a national, regional and international level.

“SailFree fits these ambitions perfectly. We are extremely honoured that BP Oman have selected us to support this initiative and are equally delighted to be working alongside the Oman Paralympic Committee as we work to provide the youth of the Sultanate with these unique opportunities.”

People can sign-up for the SailFree programme before the February 27th deadline by going to https://www.omansail.com/ar/sailfree/