On 5 May, Hamburg's Outer Alster will be the showcase for inclusive sailing and water sports. The day of action for visibility, participation and active inclusion is intended to show what is already possible today on the European Day of Protest for the Equality of People with Disabilities. And what can be achieved tomorrow.
On course for the Olympic and Paralympic Games with more inclusion
Together, the Hamburg Sailing Club (HSC), the Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing association and the partners of the "Inclusive Alster" are setting an example for inclusion and participation with their campaign. The day of action is organised in cooperation with the State Sports Office of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the Pre-project Olympic and Paralympic Games organised.
The initiators are also campaigning in favour of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Hamburg with the slogan "A chance for all". Following the recent positive vote in Kiel, the citizens' referendum in the Hanseatic city is still pending on 31 May. With its network of seven Hamburg water sports clubs, which have joined forces to form the "Inclusive Alster", the city of Hamburg is recognised throughout Germany as a beacon for inclusive sailing.
In addition to the HSC, Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing, the Segel-Verein Altona-Oevelgönne, the Hamburger Kanu Club, the Ruderverein an den Teichwiesen, the Ruderclub Favorite Hammonia and the Hamburger Segler-Verband are currently involved in the programme. Sailing, rowing and canoeing are on offer in the name of inclusion.
"An opportunity for all": promoting more change
Because, according to the campaign, only 7 per cent of sports clubs nationwide offer inclusive activities for people with disabilities, the initiators are vehemently advocating for greater change. The European Day of Protest for People with Disabilities will showcase, for example, inclusive school sports in practice and the accessibility of the Alster with a wide range of offers, even for the curious and newcomers.
On the day of the event, a press conference will be followed by a sailing course organised by the Bugenhagenschule Alsterdorf, which regularly takes place twice a week at the Hamburg Sailing Club on the Outer Alster. From 11 a.m., blind and visually impaired guests will sail on the J/70 "Blindfisch", the boat of the Bundesliga team BAT Sailing Team. This is the team's third year competing in the national league with deaf, visually impaired, sighted and wheelchair users. After the first league weekend, the club's team is in first place. We are We Inclusion in Sailing in ninth place among 18 second division teams.
The inclusive sailing afternoon with wheelchair users from the BG Klinikum Hamburg on two RS Venture Connect boats is also open to para- and inclusive athletes. After-work fun will be served up on the evening of the action day: Inclusive sailing, rowing and canoeing with the partners of the "Inclusive Alster" are on the programme parallel to the Bundesliga training.
Open for inclusion: one day of action, many opportunities for newcomers
Both the daytime and evening events are open to guests with disabilities. The events are accompanied by experienced skippers. Well-known athletes such as para-canoeist Lillemor Köper, multiple world and European champion in the VL1 starting category, will be on site on 5 May.
There will be sailing opportunities on the day on boats of the type RS Venture Connect, J/70 or J/22. If you are curious or would like to get involved yourself, come to the Hamburg Sailing Club (An der Alster 47 a). There you will also find contacts for getting started in inclusive sailing, for exchanging ideas on participation and equality for people with disabilities in water sports. The organisers' offer applies to children, young people and adults.
The day will open with a public press conference on the jetties of the Hamburg Sailing Club. Dr Bettina Schomburg (Head of the Hamburg-Nord district authority) and Katharina von Kodolitsch, President of the Hamburg Sports Association, will be among those present. Interested parties will also be able to talk to the initiators and partners of the "Inclusive Alster" initiative on this day. Contact persons on the club grounds or on the water for all topics relating to inclusion in sailing are the deputy HSC club chairman Wolf-Dieter Jahn and Sven Jürgensen, chairman of the Wir sind Wir Inclusion in Sailing association.
Last year, an inclusive summer sailing festival showed what is possible in the heart of Hamburg on and around the Outer Alster. This year's day of action has the motto "A chance for all" and is centred around the Hamburg Sailing Club:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
