Kinsale Yacht Club in Cork is to host the 2013 World Championships of the International Federation for Disabled Sailing. The event will take place from 22nd to 30th August and is the first major Paralympic Sailing event since the London 2012 Paralympic Games.120 disabled sailors from 20 countries are expected to attend the regatta, with teams expected from China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA, Canada, Brazil, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Austria, Poland, Norway, Israel, Holland, Portugal and Ireland.
In addition to the sailors, Kinsale also expects to welcome 300 support staff and family to Kinsale and a full social calendar including a parade and civic reception has been planned.
Cork County Council is supporting the Championships which is one of only three such events leading up to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event will be called the Cork County Council IFDS World Championships.
“Cork County Council is delighted to support this major international event in 2013,” said Mayor of County Cork, Councillor Barbara Murray. “As part of Cork County Council IFDS Worlds, Kinsale is being marketed internationally as a major tourism and sailing centre of excellence and we look forward to welcoming all the sailors and support teams to a fantastic 10 day event in August”.
The winning of the right to host the Championships comes hot on the heels of Kinsale Yacht Club member John Twomey being elected President of the International Federation of Disabled Sailors at the International Sailing Federation Annual Conference held last November in Dun Laoghaire. Twomey has himself participated in 10 Paralympic Games, more than any other Olympic or Paralympic athlete.
“I have received so much support from Kinsale and the sailing community over my years of Paralympic competition,” he said. “It gives me great pleasure to host this event as IFDS President in my home waters”.
Kinsale is no stranger to major international events including the Dragon World Cup, the bi-annual Sovereigns Cup, the Figaro single handed race and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Kinsale Yacht Club is currently undergoing major refurbishments in preparation for this year’s season.
“The support we have received from Cork County Council, the Irish Sailing Association, Irish Sports Council, the Gathering and Eli Lilly has been tremendous,” added Regatta Director, John Stallard. “We want everyone who attends this event to tell all their family and friends what a great location Kinsale is to visit.”
“The Irish Sailing Association has been making substantial efforts to grow and support sailing for people with disabilities in Ireland in partnership with the Irish Disabled Sailing Association and Kinsale Yacht Club is one of the organisations spearheading this effort,” said Niamh McCutcheon, President of the Irish Sailing Association. “I am delighted for Kinsale and especially for John Twomey that they are hosting the Worlds. In addition the hosting of the event acknowledges the work done in recent years to improve the quality of Ireland’s Race Management and our ability to successfully host international events”.
www.IFDSworlds2013.com
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