2008 Paralympics
More than 200 U.S. athletes from around the world will compete in 18 sports during the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, September 6-17, 2008. The Games will involve approximately 4000 athletes, 1800 of whom will be wheelchair users.
The process for athletic qualification for U.S. teams, such as World Championships and the Paralympic Games and other major international competitions, is generally posted 12-18 months before the competition, so now would be the time to start thinking about the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, B.C.
Paralympic Sailing
Sailing started to attract sailors with a disability in the 1980s and was first introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1996. It became a medal sport in the year 2000. Two boats have been raced at the Paralympic Games in the past: the 2.4mR, a single-person keelboat, and the Sonar, a three-person keelboat. A third event, the two-person keelboat, will be added to the program for the Beijing Games. Because of it’s design and control, the 2.4mR was selected for single-person races. The boat’s ease of use allows for a level playing field, making tactical knowledge the dominant factor in competition.
Paralympic sailing competition is open to male and female athletes The scoring system assigns points based on ability level, allowing athletes from different disability groups to compete together. There is a maximum point count for crews (3 persons) that cannot exceed 14 aggregate points, so those with more severe disabilities can participate.
You can find more information on Paralympic Sailing by going to www.sailing.org/disabled
You don’t have to be a high level athlete, or aspire to the Paralympics, to charter one of the accessible boats at www.waypointcharter.com. All you need is a love for adventure and a desire to experience the freedom of the sea. We are Certified Accessible Travel Specialists and experienced sailors, so give us a call!
Check out some great Paralympics videos below!
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