Verona Event Highlights Sailing for the Visually Impaired and Accessibility Advances

The fifth edition of the event Navigating the Great Sea of Solidarity featured Verona residents Paolo Olivato, a professor at the University of Verona, and judge Michele Dusi.

Professor Olivato explained the activities of the science of movement laboratory. “A specialist in recreational therapy can offer tailored support aimed at developing the functionality of individuals with disabilities, also through sport.”

Among these, one of the most suitable is sailing. Judge Dusi instead recalled how Italian legislation still contains a discrimination against people with disabilities, excluded, as the only country in Europe, from the driving of boats.

The conference was also an opportunity to present the world sailing championship for the visually impaired, which will be held next year on Lake Garda. The venue chosen by Federvela (Italian Sailing Federation) for this event is Gargnano, where Homerus, a school for visually impaired sailors, has been operating for several years.

To fund this event, the Gargnano sailing club devised a unique initiative: thousands of pairs of “Garda Blue” socks will be put on sale.

One or two years ago, the New Zealanders, short on funds, decided to market their now-famous lucky red socks to finance their participation in the America’s Cup. It was a huge success; the red socks flew off the shelves, and the Kiwis won the prestigious trophy, defeating Luna Rossa of Patrizio Bertelli in the final.