Irish Sailing » Events » Watersports Inclusion Games

WATERSPORTS INCLUSION GAMES

This is an exciting free event celebrating watersports for all who may experience barriers accessing mainstream sport. Aimed principally at young people and their families and friends but open to all ages, this event is organised by Irish Sailing with multiple partner organisations, and funded by Sport Ireland Dormant Account Sports Inclusion Fund.

The Watersports Inclusion Games have been running around Ireland since 2017 with great success, winning Project of the Year at the National Inclusion Awards 2018 and booking out with over 300 participants and 200 volunteers in Kinsale 2019. Sadly cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, it is still hoped to run some activity towards the end of Summer 2021, as Ireland's vaccination programme is rolled out, so do watch this space!!

Watersports Inclusion Games - Postponed to 2022

Try Sailing - Inclusion Initiative launched by Irish Sailing for EWOS 23rd - 30th Sept 2021

Clubs and Training Centres invited to participate.

Further details will be posted here in due course.

Very sadly, following close consultation with our funder Sport Ireland, and the input of Cara, Sport Inclusion Ireland, the very difficult decision has been made to postpone Watersports Inclusion Games once again, to 2022 (date to be confirmed), due to the challenges of safely facilitating vulnerable watersports participants during the ongoing pandemic. The good news however is that Irish Sailing have in lieu launched an initiative and some funding for clubs and training centres around the country to run an inclusive ‘Try Sailing’ session for minority groups during the European Week of Sport (EWOS) 23rd - 30th September 2021. More details of this initiative can be found at the link below and Irish Sailing will support clubs in connecting with participants from the existing Watersports Inclusion Games family and via your local sports partnership Sports Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO).

Here is a link to the full Irish Sailing news article advertising the initiative:

https://www.sailing.ie/News/id/4529/try-sailing-funding-for-clubs

For clubs and training centres, contact wsinclusion@gmail.com with inquiries and to register your event.

For interested participants, keep a close eye on this page and contact wsinclusion@gmail.com for inclusion on the Watersports Inclusion Games contact list if you are not already on it from previous events.

Thank you to all the 2020 supporters

The Watersports Inclusion Games is supported by the Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Sports Inclusion Fund

Lough Derg Yacht Club

You can take the pledge and make a difference too ... go here

Testimonials

“An excellent event, we all enjoyed so much. Volunteers were so lovely and warm. My daughter progressed from paddle boarding in a wheelchair to on her own over the 2 days and that was down to volunteers, Lorna and Nico. Having her siblings and parents in activities with her made it so much easier and also allowed siblings to have a great time. A wonderful weekend for all the family”

“…..it was truly fantastic event. Probably the best organized, with the most helpful, kind and caring volunteers I have ever come across. I worked for a huge Corporate Company as Event Manager for years & I was blown away with how fantastically this was run. Well done & Thank you so much”

“Overall I thought it was such an amazing event. I volunteered to bring one young man with an ID on the Saturday. He loved the whole day as did I. I got to take part in some of the sports, chatted with family members, instructors and volunteers and had an amazing day. lunch was great, venue was perfect and the sun shone. I cannot commend the organisation, volunteers and staff enough. Well done to all. I just wish it was in Galway more often. Thank you to everyone involved”

“Thought it was very well organized and volunteers were excellent , really really enjoyed the day”