As the Australian sailing community prepares to support our Australian Sailing Team athletes and their fellow Aussie teammates at the Paris Olympics, clubs and associations around the country are registering to host official watch parties during the Games.
With a special personal connection to some of our sailors, Drummoyne Sailing Club (DSC) is one club already registered with the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to host an official event.
Club Commodore Stephen Brady is grateful for the support of the AOC and says the club is excited to come together and support our Aussie sailors from afar.
“Hosting a watch party really is a special way for us to engage with club members – we’re excited for the opportunity to bring our community together,” said Brady.
“We’re really excited that Olivia [Price] and Evie [Haseldine] are on the team – they were kids that grew up at the club and over the years have both been instructors for our junior sailing program.
“Everyone is excited to watch the girls and the entire Australian Sailing Team compete. It really is inspirational to our current juniors that there’s others just like them who have gone on to do really well and most importantly just really enjoy their sailing,” he said.
In registering their events with the Australian Olympic Committee, DSC will receive purpose built resources to assist them with the promotion of their events.
The resources will assist DSC to prepare for and host their AOC Watch Parties, therefore aiding them to engage with their community.
“The Australian Sailing Team is one of the country’s most successful teams at the Olympics and when you watch the racing and listen to the expert commentary, it’s just a really exciting way to participate and learn more about the sport,” said Brady.
“We’re planning to host a couple of events. We know there’s a window when medal races will be on, so we’re going to open our club, invite everyone along and really have a bit of a celebration.”
David Haseldine, father of Olympic debutant Evie Haseldine, has witnessed the importance of engaging juniors with events like these first hand.
“Evie was an impressionable 10 year old at the time of London 2012, and after she saw Olivia with her medal, she came home and told us that her dream was to go to the Olympics,” said Haseldine.
“You just don’t know how and when dreams are started for young sailors, and Paris 2024 is potentially a big dream starter for that next generation of sailors.
To find our more about Olympics LIVE or register your club for a Watch Party, click here.
