On September 10th, pro athlete Francesca Clapich announced her campaign to drive climate justice and foster belonging within the sporting community. Clapich is no stranger to a challenge. An Italian sailor, lover of the outdoors, activist, two-time Olympian, and more, she aims to do this through a series of academic and educational initiatives. To support her mission she has partnered with 11th Hour Racing who are dedicated to inspiring solutions for the ocean through the power of sport.
© Guillaume Gatefait / MerConcept
This program will enable everyone in the community to embrace values of belief and belonging–sailors, coaches, and fans alike. Practical initiatives will tackle issues like gender inequality and climate change through education, advocacy, and collective action. The goal is that the results will reach far beyond sailing, impacting the world of sport overall.
“My ambition is that our BELIEVE, BELONG, ACHIEVE campaign will help raise awareness of social and climate injustices, break down barriers, and change the status quo, while working with others on solutions to help accelerate a transition to a more fair and just society, for everyone. Fostering belief and belonging in sport enables everyone to fulfill their potential and when we apply these principles to the challenges our planet is facing, we can uncover better solutions to tackle climate change by centering decision-making through the voices of those most affected,” said Clapich.
The first phase of her campaign is already underway. A research study will look into how the feeling of belief and belonging affects performance in sailing. Additionally, how it enables more effective climate action. New training programs, workshops and digital courses are also soon to be launched by Clapich’s team. These are focused on the value of effective teamwork. Interim findings will be published intermittently throughout the campaign but the studies are expected to be conducted into 2025.
For more information about Francesca Clapich, visit her website here.
For more information about 11th Hour Racing, visit their website here.
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