September 27, 2023
3 minutes reading time
Meet the IOC Young Leader bringing communities together to inspire change
The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has been beset by political upheaval for several decades, but channelling Nelson Mandela’s message that sport has the power to unite like little else, Winds of Change has created the first bi-communal Cypriot sailing team.
Led by IOC Young Leader and Olympian Dr Sophia Papamichalopoulos, Winds of Change brought the divided communities together to inspire more inclusive activities on the island and show that sport can play an important role in the peace-building process.
The goal of Winds of Change was to sail around Cyprus with a bi-communal crew, the program prioritised sailing skills with a two-week course split between the north and south coasts of the island, during which time each team member would have the chance to sail a single-handed dinghy before progressing to sailing a keelboat together.
The crew achieved their goal and became the first Cypriot crew to sail around the island on 21 September 2023. After celebrating on board, it was onward to Larnaca to continue their mission on dry land.
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Sophia said, “Having spent my entire life in sport, I am a firm believer that sport has the power to change people’s lives. Growing up on a divided island, and being the daughter of refugees, my work as an IOC Young Leader focuses on utilising the power of sport as a peace catalyst.
“This is a special moment after everything we have been through. I hope people embrace it. We just want to bring people together through sport, help them build friendships, get to know each other, understand each other and have a small impact on the future of our country.”
David Graham, CEO of World Sailing, said, “Winds of Change is a fantastic example of how Olympic sport can be a force for good. By bringing together young people in the cause of peace, and by challenging them to develop their leadership, team-building and communication skills, Winds of Change is an inspiration to sailors around the world.”
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Winds of Change teaches four main components: Team Development, Sailing Skills, The Challenge and Outreach.
Phase 1 began in June 2023 with its Team Development component where participants were placed in a seven-day residential environment where they completed a series of workshops to get to know each other, initiate a dialogue around their backgrounds and motivations, and build trust through topics that include The Olympic Movement, Ocean Literacy, and team building.
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This experience built the skills of the team in order to sail around the island together. By facing this unique challenge together, the team members developed their leadership skills, strengthened their ability to work within a team and improved their communication skills while living together on the boat, facing challenging conditions on the water and developing a unique bond in what was a strenuous environment.
The entire mission will be documented to show both the outcome of the project and behind the scenes to share this unique experience with the public in both Cyprus and at events internationally. This documentary will demonstrate the power of sport in building friendships and uniting communities, as well as showing all of the challenges and emotions along the way.
Follow Winds of Change on Instagram and on the Winds of Change website.