World Sailing named among global changemakers shortlisted for Sport Positive Awards 2025

by World Sailing 9 Aug 05:43 NZST

Support boats at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games © World Sailing

World Sailing been shortlisted for three categories in the Sport Positive Awards 2025 in recognition of its role in creating a more sustainable, resilient, equitable, and climate-conscious future for sport.

World Sailing has been shortlisted in the Inspired Inspiration category for the Oria Marine Support Fleet Project which tracked fuel consumption, emissions and efficiency at the 2024 Semaine Olympique Française.

Following this successful trial, the Oria Marine technology benchmarked the impact of the support boats and allowed World Sailing to take a 'gamified' approach to event support fleet management and behaviour change. The two deployments of the technology to date have created a blueprint for future events and Olympic Games support fleets with the potential to reduce emissions by more than 20%.

Additionally, World Sailing Sustainability Executive Rebecca Videlo, has been shortlisted in the Next Generation Trailblazer category, which celebrates and recognises a standout, young individual who has contributed to positive change and inspired progress in sustainability, climate change, biodiversity or environmental justice within the sport sector. Rebecca has led on several projects including the World Sailing Sustainability Sessions, the federation's online education series curated across a diverse range of topics for the diverse stakeholders within the sailing community.

The World Sailing Sustainability Sessions have also been shortlisted, in the Education and Training category. Across 11 sessions, the second series of Sustainability Sessions attracted 3,267 participants from six continents, with nearly three-quarters representing Member National Authorities, sailors, event organisers and sailing clubs. Sessions are free to watch and participate in, open to all and offer insights into everything from marine regeneration projects to how equipment classes can become certified as 'Clean Classes', all led by experts in their field.

Alexandra Rickham, World Sailing Sustainability Director, said, "We are very proud to be recognised as an organisation and for Rebecca to be nominated personally. The changes we have led in partnership with sailing stakeholders, together with specialist organisations, and the platform we have created to share innovation across the sport have inspired the sailing community and made a real, measurable, impact. Sailing is uniquely placed to observe changes in climate and the condition of the sea, so it is our duty to lead and support a cleaner sport wherever possible."

Sport Positive Awards 2025 is a global industry award that celebrates, uplifts, inspires and raises awareness of the people and organisations working in and around sport that are enabling game-changing activities that are ensuring sustainable business, climate action, biodiversity and environmental justice. Sports clubs, teams, leagues, venues, federations, non-profits, and academics from around the world, from Hong Kong to Australia, Canada to Brazil, and UK to UAE and USA, have been shortlisted across 12 categories, including Purpose-Led Partnership, Campaign of the Year, and Inspired Innovation.

An independent faculty of global judges will decide who will lift the trophy for each category, and winners will be revealed during the Sport Positive Awards ceremony on 7 October 2025 in London. The Awards celebration is held in tandem with Sport Positive Summit 2025, taking place in London on 7-8 October 2025.