By the year 2020, the EU is estimated to have 120 million people with disabilities, conditions which are often cited as reasons for not participating in sport(s) and physical activities. Sport’s values in relation to social inclusion, and in particular the role of sport in promoting and achieving the integration of minorities and marginalized groups, can (both) play a major role.
The European Council also highlighted the importance in its conclusions of the access to sport(s) for people with disabilities. Sports should be specifically designed for persons with disabilities or adapted to enable access for persons with disabilities regardless of the type of impairment, be it physical, intellectual or sensory. In certain conditions, sports for persons with disabilities can be practiced alongside those without disabilities, which demonstrates its inclusive nature. Sport’s values in relation to social inclusion, and in particular the role of sport in promoting and achieving the integration of minorities and marginalized groups, can (both) play a major role.
In this context, the “Sailing for Inclusion” aims to ensure that people with disabilities (PWDs) have access to sport. In particular, the proposal aims to promote sailing for PWDs. Sailing is often considered not totally accessible both for people with and without disability) as a tool for social inclusion. The inclusiveness of the project idea lies in the involvement of both PWDs and other relevant stakeholders, such as families, educators, caregivers and staff members of sport organizations in sailing activities.
To promote inclusion and diversity in sport and encourage the participation in sport and physical activity, the following results will be delivered:
Research: project partners investigated what are the challenges and difficulties PWDs might face in sailing activities. The research has supported the elaboration of an innovative and inclusive methodology based on the collaboration of people with and without disabilities.
The resulting Guidebook represents an efficient and easy-to-use tool that all organizations and involved stakeholders will be able to utilize for the implementation of inclusive sport activities in the field of sailing.
Policy recommendations: the observations emerging from the training of the staff and the piloting in each country will constitute the basis for the elaboration of policy recommendations that will highlight the importance of promoting grassroots sports and leisure activities often wrongly conceived as exclusive and hardly accessible for all.

Below you can download the Sail4In Policy Recommendation and Sail4in Guidebook