Virtus calls upon the para sport community to increase opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment at all levels of sport, and in the Paralympic Games

At the recent 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, 151 athletes with an intellectual impairment representing just 51 of the 160+ nations competed, out of a total athletes population of 4400.

Just 3 of the 22 sports offered in Paris included competition for athletes with an intellectual impairment (athletics, swimming and table tennis).

Virtus is committed to increasing opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment at all levels of sport, including greater representation at the pinnacle of the sporting calendar… the Paralympic Games.

Our aim is to increase the number of sports, the number of athletes and the number of nations including Paralympic competition for athletes with an intellectual impairment in the Summer Games, and, for the first time, we want to see medal events included in the Winter Paralympic Games.

Achieving this is a difficult and complicated task. However it can be achieved when the para sport community – the International Paralympic Committee and the International Federations of sport – work collaboratively with Virtus.

We call on all organisations to support our efforts to create a fair and inclusive sporting world for athletes with an intellectual impairment.