The 2024 Watersports Inclusion Games were launched on Thursday (30 May) at Ramor Watersports Club in Co. Cavan by eleven-time Paralympian and President of Irish Sailing, John Twomey. The event, set to take place on Lough Ramor in Virginia Co. Cavan on the 22nd and 23rd of June 2024, is a landmark event celebrating watersports for people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums and of all ages and demographics.
First run in 2017, this year’s event will take place in the idyllic surrounds of Lough Ramor, located within the grounds of The Lakeside Manor, Virginia Co. Cavan. There will be sailing, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, fast boat rides and even a little tag rugby from local clubs. Over 200 participants are expected to take part across the weekend.
The 2024 Watersports Inclusion Games were launched on Thursday at Ramor Watersports Club in Co. Cavan. Cavan eleven time Paralypian and President of Irish Sailing, John Twomey officially launched the event, which will take place on Lough Ramor June 22nd and 23rd. The Watersports Inclusion Games is a landmark event celebrating people of all abilities from the physical, sensory, intellectual and learning spectrums and of all ages and demographics Photo: Sheila Marie Rooney
The Watersports Inclusion Games is a national event which aims to make watersports a more inclusive and accessible place for all. It is organised by Irish Sailing in association with Canoeing Ireland and Cavan Local Sports Partnership along with Ramor Watersports Club and Sailability Ireland. The event is supported with activities by Spinal Injuries Ireland, Irish Waterski and Wakeboard Federation and Sailing into Wellness. Offering further support are numerous local and national organisations including Safe Haven Sailing, Sail Training Ireland and clubs and training centres from around the country who will support the event with resources, volunteers, instructors and facilitators.
The games, a regular landmark occasion kicking off the summer watersports calendar, are the product of ongoing inclusion training and awareness drives being activated by the organising bodies in line with Sport Ireland’s Policy on Participation in Sport by People with Disabilities and are enabled by grant funding from Sport Ireland Dormant Accounts Sports Inclusion Fund.
Speaking at the launch, Irish Sailing President and eleven-time Paralympian John Twomey said, “I am delighted to be here to launch the annual Watersports Inclusion Games. It is events such as this that will help inspire people of all abilities to participate in watersports activities and perhaps even one day compete for Ireland in Paralympic sport.’
Michael O’Reilly, Commodore of Ramor Watersports Club, spoke at the launch, “The Inclusion Games has become an annual landmark occasion, celebrating inclusive watersports activity. By raising national awareness of inclusive opportunities and encouraging more watersports providers to adopt an equal-access approach to watersports delivery, we aim to ensure greater accessibility on the water to enhance the lives of disabled people throughout the country; we plan to run a safe fun-filled event, it is very exciting.”
For further details and to register for the games, visit the Irish Sailing website. You can sign up for the Watersports Inclusion Games from Sat 1 Jun here