FOR THE FIRST TIME in the history of the event, a sailor from Barbados will participate at the International Sailing Federation's World Sailing Games, which kicks off in Austria in May 2006.

The Games have attracted the best sailors from a range of Olympic disciplines and will be contested over 11 days on the European country's largest lake, just south of the capital of Vienna. Representing Barbados in the Men's One Person Dinghy - Laser will be Russell Streeter, top local dinghy sailor and member of Team Sail Barbados 2008.

Streeter's bid to compete at the Games was sealed in January when ISAF confirmed that it would provide support for the team to send one sailor, including funding for airfare, accommodation, entrance fees and coaching.

This will be the first major international event of the year for Streeter, who is based in Southampton, England, and has been competing on the United Kingdom Laser circuit over the last few months.

He will also compete at Kiel Week, Germany, in June and the Laser European Championships, Poland, in July, as he continues in his bid to qualify Barbados for the Olympics in 2008. (PR)