WISH: 21-Month Pathway Advancing Women in Elite Coaching

World Sailing's WISH Programme is accepting applications for its 21-month Women in Sport High Performance Pathway, with candidate submissions (coaching CV and one-page cover letter) due by 12 March to [email protected]—this cohort continuation follows pilot cohorts and international coordination with the IOC and Olympic Solidarity.

Program snapshot and eligibility at a glance

The WISH Programme targets female coaches who are already part of, or have the potential to join, a national delegation for Regional/Continental Games, World Championships, Youth Olympic Games, or the Olympic Games across Summer and Winter sport programmes. Since 2019 the initiative has focused on closing the coaching gender gap: female coaches currently represent roughly 13% at the Olympic level.

What the pathway provides

The programme combines leadership development, sport-specific mentoring, and access to international networks. Participants receive structured support designed to build skills, confidence, and leadership competencies needed to coach at world-class events.

• Leadership training: workshops and modules tailored to high-performance contexts.
• Mentoring: pairing with experienced coaches and technical experts.
• Network access: introductions to national federations and international sport bodies.
• Practical placements: opportunities tied to championships and multi-sport events.

Application process

Applicants must send their coaching and sailing CV plus a one-page cover letter outlining:

• Why they want to apply to the WISH Programme
• What the WISH Programme can do for their coaching career
• What outcomes they expect from participating

National federations and aspiring coaches are encouraged to consider nominations and submit materials promptly. Programme selection emphasises potential to contribute at major events and readiness to assume leadership roles within national delegations.

Logistics and event travel implications

High-performance coaching pathways such as WISH have direct implications for sports tourism and event logistics. As female coaches progress into major-event roles, they influence national team travel plans, accreditation needs, and on-site support services. Training placements and mentoring exchanges often require international travel, accommodation planning, and coordinated transport between regatta venues—factors that local travel providers and destination managers should anticipate.

For travellers and fans, increased female coach representation can enrich the spectator experience: guided meet-and-greets, coach-led clinics, and community outreach during championships become more diverse and accessible. Tourism operators can partner with federations to create cultural programmes around events, combining competition schedules with local excursions and museum tours with live guides.

Why it matters beyond sport

Closing the gender gap amongst elite coaches isn't just a matter of equity; it affects talent pipelines, athlete support systems, and the broader ecosystem that surrounds major events. A more balanced coaching workforce strengthens competitive standards and creates new opportunities for tourism-related activities—think coach-led workshops, youth clinics, and professional exchanges that draw visitors and professionals to host cities.

World Sailing has supported multiple coaches through WISH, and leaders such as Fiona Kidd, Head of International Development, highlight the programme’s role in providing access, opportunity, and sustained support for women’s leadership in sport.

Highlights: WISH builds a pipeline of women ready to lead at the global stage, addresses the persistent disparity in female representation among high-performance coaches, and creates international mobility and skills transfer that benefit both sport and host destinations. Yet even the best programme descriptions and third-party reviews cannot substitute for personal experience. On GetExperience, you book experiences from verified providers with secure payments and voucher confirmation issued afterwards, plus the option to request tailored tours or educational programmes to match your needs—helpful when coordinating travel around sporting events and coach-led cultural activities. Book now GetExperience.com

In summary: the WISH Programme is a 21-month development pathway backed by World Sailing, the IOCі Olympic Solidarity that aims to raise female representation amongst elite coaches. Eligible candidates should prepare a coaching CV and a focused one-page covering letter and submit by 12 March. The initiative strengthens leadership, mentoring and international networking whilst influencing sports travel, cultural programming around events and opportunities such as museum tours with live guides, adventure activities, cruise packages, safari tours and even online virtual tours and interactive cultural workshops. For prospective coaches and destination partners alike, WISH represents an investment in human capital and visitor experience that translates into richer travel experiences, professional development and community engagement.