Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Oman is ready to host the 2025 World Sailing Inclusion Championships, an international sailing competition featuring athletes of all abilities. The event will run over five days and include four recognized boat classes, along with an Inclusive Development Programme (IDP) organized by World Sailing. The IDP aims to develop the skills of coaches, sailors, and race officials, and to help nations establish inclusive and para sailing structures at the national level.
The IDP, held from 30 November to 2 December, brings together participants from multiple continents for workshops, training sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities. This programme reflects the collaboration between World Sailing and Oman Sail to strengthen technical capabilities and promote inclusive sailing around the world.
Feras Asqul, Project Manager at Oman Sail and Head of Operations and Logistics for the event, confirmed that preparations are progressing on schedule and entering their final stage. He explained that the teams have worked to ensure that all facilities are fully prepared, including equipping the marina, providing boats for athletes and coaches, setting up launching areas, measurement points, and technical inspection zones. The venue has been made accessible so that athletes with different disabilities can move safely and comfortably.
“Our goal is to provide a safe training and racing environment aligned with international para sailing standards,” Feras said. “Hosting the inaugural edition of this championship is a major responsibility and an opportunity to show Oman’s organizational capabilities. We are working with all partners to deliver a world-class event worthy of its global significance.”
The competition will feature four boat classes: Hansa 303 (one-person), ILCA 6, RS Venture Connect, and the Far East boat designed for visually impaired sailors. Oman will be represented by seven sailors from Oman Sail’s SailFree programme, run in collaboration with bp Oman and the Oman Paralympic Association. In the RS Venture event, teams of Hassan Al Lawati & Zaher Al Atbi and Adel Al Siyabi & Al Ghaliya Al Jabri will compete against 28 other teams. In the One-Person Inclusive category with Hansa 303 boats, Omani sailors Ali Al Ghusaini, Sultan Al Wahaibi, and Malik Al Qurtubi will join 35 athletes from around the world.
The championships also mark the debut of several nations in inclusive sailing, highlighting the sport’s global growth. Athletes from Trinidad & Tobago, India, Saudi Arabia, and Korea will compete in the One-Person Inclusive category, while crews from Iraq, Chinese Taipei, and Uruguay will participate in the Two-Person Hansa 303 event.
The official opening ceremony will take place on 3 December 2025, coinciding with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The event is organized by Oman Sail and the Oman Maritime Sports Committee and supported by World Sailing and its global partners Musto and Kuehne+Nagel. Strategic partners include the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, Experience Oman, and the Al Batinah South Governorate. Bronze partners include Barceló Mussanah Resort, OXY Oman, Visit Oman, Tanuf, and Mazoon Dairy.
The World Sailing Inclusion Championships in Oman aim to inspire athletes worldwide, promote inclusivity in sports, and strengthen Oman’s reputation as a host for international competitions. Through this event, athletes, coaches, and officials will gain valuable experience while showcasing their skills in a supportive and accessible environment.
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