The Virtus European Summer Games 2022 were officially declared open today in Cracow, Poland at the WKS Wawel stadium. This is the second edition of the Virtus European Regional Games hosted by Virtus Polish member SPRAWNI-RAZEM .

The ceremony began at 18:00 CEST on 17 July and was attended by the Mayor of the Royal City of Cracow, Jacek Majchrowski, who took the honorary patronage over the 2nd Virtus European Summer Games.

The Honorary Committee of the Games comprises of the advisor to the President of the Republic of Poland – Paulina Malinowska-Kowalczyk, President of the Polish Paralympic Committee – Łukasz Szeliga, Minister of Sport & Tourism – Kamil Bortniczuk, President of the Polish Athletics Association – Henryk Olszewski, President of the Polish Basketball Association – Radosław Piesiewicz and President of the Polish Tennis Association- Mirosław Skrzypczyński.

Expressing her excitement for the games, the President of the Republic of Poland – Paulina Malinowska-Kowalczyk said, “The 2022 Virtus Summer Games, Cracow dedicated to athletes with an intellectual impairment will gather nearly 600 players from over 18 countries who will compete in nine disciplines. So, it is going to be an extraordinary celebration of sports. I am very pleased that this group will also include medalists from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”

Mr. Dariusz Mosakowski, President of SPRAWNI-RAZEM giving his welcome speech

“We were very excited to win the bid to host the 2022 European Summer Games in Poland in 2018, but we did not foresee the Covid-19 pandemic and the terrible war beyond our eastern border. Despite many adversities, with a huge organisational effort, we managed to prepare such a large event. Thank you to everyone who accepted our invitation to take part in the event.” said Mr. Dariusz Mosakowski, President of SPRAWNI-RAZEM.

Addressing the crowd, Virtus President, Marc Truffaut said,  “The first edition of the European Games was in Paris, France in 2018 and it’s a pleasure for me to be here in Cracow, Poland for the 2nd edition. Four years ago we opened the way to the regional games and this year we have two regional games – in Cracow, Poland for the European region and in Brisbane, Australia for the Oceania-Asia region, and I think it’s all because of our fantastic athletes and the dedicated volunteers and member organisation.”

“I would like to thank the host member- SPRAWNI-RAZEM and the people of Poland for hosting us all for the game.”

The event is taking place from 16 to 24 July. The championship will be attended by representatives of eighteen countries from the European region including Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey who will compete across nine sports. Invited athletes from Australia will compete in the Tennis event and athletes from Ecuador will join in the Cycling event.

The nine sports on offer are athletics, swimming, table tennis, basketball, handball, tennis, cycling, rowing, and badminton, a new discipline in the Virtus competition calendar. The competitions will be organized at the sports facilities of the city of Cracow – WKS Wawel Stadium, KS Cracovia 100th Anniversary Hall with the Disabled Sports Center, KS Bronowianka sports hall, Sports and Recreation Center Kolna, and the AWF Cracow Swimming Pool. Cycling, on the other hand, will take place near Kraków in the Niepołomice Forest.

The Ministry of Sport and Tourism, the City of Cracow, the Sports Infrastructure Authority in Cracow and the Waterworks of the City of Cracow are the supporting partners of the games.

Media coverage for the championship will be provided by TVP Sport, TVP3 Cracow and Parasportowcy.pl.

For more information about the games, please visit the Virtus European Summer Games website www.vesg.eu

Day 5 highlights from World Para-Swimming Championship, Madeira 2022

Men’s 200m IM

Nicholas Bennett, Gabriel Bandeira and Dmytro Vanzenko (from left)

It was another great swim for the rising star from Brazil, Gabriel Bandeira in the pool today. Bandeira, who was looking strong from the initial lap itself, claimed another Championship title along with a New World Record with 2:07.50sec.

Taking the second place was Canada’s favourite – Nicholas Bennet with 2:10.23sec.

While there was a close fight for the bronze between the Bazilian Oliviera and Ukraine’s Dmytro Vanzenko, but the Ukrainian took the final shot and won the Bronze.

Women’s 200m IM

Jessica-Jane, Bethany Firth and Louise Fiddles from GBR (from left)

British swimmers once again had a dramatic win in Women’s 200m IM. It was an exciting race between the British rivals and friends, Jessica-Jane Applegate and Bethany Firth in 200m IM today. Both the swimmers took a significant lead from rest of the swimmers whilst challenging one another. Bethany took out Jessica in the third lap with her strong breaststroke and won her first World championship title in this event with 2:26.69sec.

Meanwhile, Paige Leonhardt from Australia caught up with Jessica for the second place but Jessica used her long pulls in the final lap of freestyle to grab the silver with 2:30.19sec.

The ultimate twist came in the race when Louise Fiddes beat Paige by just 0:00.07sec and took the final podium spot, making it another British podium from this event. She clocked a time of 2:32.10 sec.

Skip to 1:50:21 to watch the race.

On day-2, the audience witnessed thrilling races at the finals of S-14 100m Backstroke.

S14 Men’s 100m Backstroke

World record holder from Australia, Benjamin Hance had a sensational swim in S14 Men’s 100m Backstroke breaking the championship record twice in one day. Keeping his performance at top notch, Hance stayed ahead of all the swimmers from the very beginning and had a smooth win with 57.34secs (CR), breaking his previous record which he broke during the qualifying heats in the morning (57.77sec).

(From left) Gabriel Bandeira (BRA), Benjamin Hance (AUS) and Alexander Hillhouse (DEN)

Gabriel Bandeira (BRA) tried to catch up with Benjamin but could not beat last years’ Paralympic Champion and settled for Silver with a timing of 59.86sec.

There was a tough fight between Vasyl Krainyk from Ukraine and Alexander Hillhouse from Denmark but it was the 18 year old Danish swimmer who grabbed the final spot on the podium with a timing of 1:00.32sec.

S14 Women’s 100m Backstroke

Another clean sweep of medals was done by the women from Great Britain.

While the audience was hooked up on the fastest swimmer from the heats – Poppy Maskill (GBR) who was competing in her first World Championship, Bethany Firth was a very experienced player to defeat in her favourite event.

(From left) Poppy Maskill, Bethany Firth and Jessica-Jane Applegate from GBR

The seventeen year old, Maskill gave Firth a tough competition but Bethany, with her quick reaction time and great finishing strategy, defended her championship title successfully.

The three time Paralympic Champion – Bethany took the Gold with a time of 1:06.96sec while Maskill touched the finish line at 1:07.59sec and was delighted to take Silver with her from her first World Championship. 

Soares de Oliveira from Brazil tried to challenge Jessica-Jane for the bronze in the last 25m but Jessica took bronze just by a margin of 0:00.48sec.

Skip to 2:44.01 to watch the race and to 3:31.46 for the medal ceremony.

Five new members were welcomed to the Virtus family on 5th June during the Federations General Assembly.

National Member Organisations for Latvia and Bulgaria were joined by the International Federations World Karate and EDGA (golf). Meanwhile in the National Federation category, Shinshidokan-Kai was approved (Pakistan).

Zane Skujina- representing Latvia was present in the assembly and was very excited to be part of Virtus.

Zane Skujina from Latvia with Barry Holman (left) and Marc Truffaut (right) from Virtus

“Joining Virtus Sport is a big stepping stone for the Latvian Paralympic committee and the people with intellectual impairment in Latvia. Over the years we had people, who were interested in sports for people with II, but we could only offer them local sports communities, without any chance of getting to be an elite-level athletes. Now, being a Virtus member opens so many doors not only for inclusion but also for elite sports. We are happy to be a part of the Virtus family and looking forward to develop sports community for people with intellectual impairment.” says Ms. Skujina.

With World Para-Karate Federation becoming one of Virtus new member and considering the success athletes with intellectual impairments (K21 and K22 class) had in 2021 World Para-Karate Championship in Dubai, Virtus have now decided to include Karate in the upcoming 2023 Global Games in Vichy as a full medal event.

Dušana Čierna Augustovičová (centre) from WKF with Barry Holman (left) and Marc Truffaut (right)

“To be a full Virtus member is a step forward in our intention to maximize opportunities in the development of Karate for people with intellectual impairment.” says Ms. Dušana Čierna Augustovičová from World Para-Karate federation.

“I am so glad the Virtus Governing Board included para-karate classes K21 and K22 into the program of the Virtus Global Games. It is the signature event for elite athletes with intellectual impairments to compete in the highest level, international multi-sport” elite competition. It is exciting because it is also the pathway to the Paralympics in several disciplines.”

Virtus President- Marc Truffaut says, “We are very delighted to welcome new members onboard with us and with their support, we will be nurturing new talents into elite sports for athletes with an intellectual impairment”

With the addition of new national members, Virtus now has 95 member organisations, the largest in the history of the organisation.