A female basketball player is pictured during practice, looking towards the net whilst holding a basketball in her hand

#Brisbane2019: Hopes high for Australia in basketball

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Only a few days remain until the start of the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, on 12 October.

The excitement is building in none more so than basketball as the hosts are expected to challenge for medals in both the men’s and women’s events.

Women’s

Hopes for the Australia Pearls are high in the women’s as the reigning world champions and defending World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games title-holders.

The team are fielding two sides – Australia Gold and Australia Green – to play in the 3v3 format.

At the last World Championships in 2017, Australia Gold left with the trophy following an all-national final against their teammates.

The Pearls also occupied an impressive eight of the 10 top scorer spots In the tournament.

Eliza Mills headlined her team’s efforts with 27 goals. Kaitlyn Papworth was third on 21. Both players return to the court and will co-captain the Australia Gold team.

Taylor Anderson and Kate Leckenby will share the responsibility for the Australia Greens.

At the last World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Ecuador in 2015, Japan also fielded two women’s teams.

Japan White left with silver and the country have been doing a huge amount of development work to grow their squad further in the intervening years.

A tantalising competition is therefore expected as new players look to make their mark.

Men’s

On the men’s side France, Portugal and Australia are likely to be the main protagonists as the medallists from 2017.

Australia just missed out on a place in the final following a crushing 49-79 defeat against eventual winners France. That was despite their star player Jake De La Motte finishing head and shoulders above his opponents with 111 goals across the tournament.

France overcame Portugal 66-31 in the final to grab the world title.  Australia left with a consolation bronze.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Results will be available at the official competition website.

Archie Graham looks to the sky as he celebrates winning the Australian title in 2015

#Brisbane2019: Tennis stars expected to shine on Global Games court

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Defending tennis champions and medallists will take to the courts at the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, from 13 October.

The sport’s line-up at the Queensland Tennis Centre is expected to deliver multiple medals for hosts Australia as they go for glory on home soil.

But there will be more than a few challengers waiting to ruin the green and gold’s party.

British teenager Anna McBride upset the established order at the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tennis World Championships in Paris, France, when she stormed to gold in the women’s singles.

McBride, then aged just 14, beat Belgium’s double world champion Hanna Lavreyson in straight sets to take the gold.

Australia’s Kelly Wren, a multiple world title-holder and the Global Games champion, will line-up hoping to improve on her bronze from last year.

In the men’s singles, Australia have a bright hope in national legend Archie Graham.

Graham is the reigning world and Global Games champion and will surely be planning to make the most of the opportunity to win gold at home.

Great Britain’s Fabrice Higgins made it into both finals but struggled to overcome Graham in 2018 and at the last Global Games in 2015.

The women’s doubles features the powerful line-up of Australia’s Carla Lenarduzzi and Wren. The pair have not left a major Championships without a medal since they won gold in 2015.

Great Britain’s Dominic Iannotti claimed double gold in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles with Higgins and McBride in 2018.

Graham will be hoping to continue his success in the team events as well. He won gold in both 2015 and 2018 with Damien Phillips and Mitchell James, respectively. He is also grabbed the title with Lenarduzzi four years ago.

James followed-up by reaching the mixed doubles podium with Lenzarduzzi 12 months ago in Paris with silver and the duo were followed by Graham and Wren.

The tennis competition will also feature the Global Games debut of players competing in the II2 category – for athletes with a more significant impairment.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Results will be available at the official competition website.

#Brisbane2019: Track cycling comes to World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games

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The 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-19 October will break new ground in many ways.

Ringing the changes are the world’s best cyclists who will get the opportunity to compete on the track for the first time.

Whilst their performances at the velodrome are an unknown quantity, their record on the road is clear to see.

Women’s

The women’s road events – the time trial and road race – will see a number of medallists from the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cycling World Championships in Paris, France, compete for honours.

Chief amongst them is Great Britain’s Kiera Byland. At the tender age of 21, Byland is already a quadruple world champion having secured back-to-back titles in both disciplines since debuting in 2017.

France’s Aurelie Minodier is currently her closest rival. The Frenchwoman was the world title holder in the road race and time trial until Byland came along, Minodier still has the ability to threaten for the top of the podium.

Minodier left Paris with silver and bronze respectively and is expected to figure amongst the top finishers once again.

Russia’s Irina Nikitina is in a similar position as another podium finisher from 2018.

Men’s

Ecuador’s Erik Javier Sarango Tufino is one of the front-runners in the men’s events as the reigning road race world champion. Tufino will also be eyeing gold in the time trial as Dutch world title holder Lars de Jong will sit this edition out.

France’s Jeremy Texeira Pereira is also a medallist from Paris in the time trial. He is the 2017 champion in that and the road race.

In addition Pereira partnered with Leo Collet to take gold in the team time trial last year.

Track

On the track, six medal events will be contested for the first time at the Anna Meares Velodrome on the Sleeman Sports Complex:

Women’s Individual Pursuit 3,000m

Men’s Individual Pursuit 4,000m

Women’s 500m Time Trial

Men’s 1000m Time Trial

Men’s Sprint

Women’s Sprint

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Results will be available at the official competition website.

Futsal for athletes with an intellectual impairment

#Brisbane2019: The beautiful game comes to the Global Games

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Futsal competition at the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games is set to entertain the Australian crowds in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Following the opening ceremony on Saturday, competition will get underway at the Anna Meares Velodrome on Sunday as teams go for the title.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games will also act as the World Championships, giving the event an extra sparkle.

Portugal will return to the field as the defending champions and world title holders and will once again rely on players such as Guilherme Silva and Joao Campelo.

Campelo was Portugal’s most valuable player during their World Intellectual Impairment Sport Futsal Worlds win in 2017, scoring seven goals. Silva was just behind him on six.

The Portuguese just edged France to gold two years ago by one goal and will try again for the title in Brisbane.

Morgan Lebreaud was the tournament’s top scorer with an impressive eight goals overall.

Iran were third after eliminating 2015 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games silver medallists Argentina.

Their star player Behzad Amani joined Lebreaud at the top of scorers’ list.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Results will be available at the official competition website.

Hong Kong's Ka Man Wong lines up to hit the ball

#Brisbane2019: Table tennis set to light up World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games

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Some of the world’s top table tennis players are due to go for gold at the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-19 October.

The Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for these athletes and the 2019 edition will also go towards qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The event is approved by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) under their factor 20 sanctioning.

Factor 20 applies to players competing in the II1 category, known as class 11 at the Paralympics. Athletes will also compete in II2 – for athletes with a more severe impairment and II3 – for athletes with high functioning autism. The II3 competition will be demonstration events.

Men’s

In the men’s three of the world’s top five ranked players will compete.

Hungary’s Peter Palos collected silver at the 2018 ITTF Para Table Tennis World Championships and followed that up with the same colour at the Euros earlier this year. As a result he is the world No.2.

France’s Lucas Creange is the world No.3 and reigning World Intellectual Impairment Sport Table Tennis world and European champion as well as the defending Global Games gold medallist.

However Australia’s Sam Von Einem, the world No.4, is also expected to be firmly in the mix as he looks to impress on his home soil.

France’s Antoine Zhao and Hong Kong’s Wai Lok Wan are the respective silver and bronze medallists from the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Table Tennis World Championships.

Together Creange and Zhao form the winning men’s double team from two years ago and will be a formidable force in Brisbane.

But Hong Kong are notoriously strong on the table. Wan partnered with Chung Yan Leung two years ago to take silver. Ming Fai Tsoi joined Kwok Ho Wan to claim bronze.

France relied on Timothe Ivaldi and Richard Vallee to secure another medal with bronze.

In the men’s singles II2 France also reached success in 2017 when Cedric Courrillaud claimed a historic first world title in the category. Teammate Alexandre Sol joined him on the podium.

France were also the men’s team world champions ahead of Hong Kong and Czech Republic.

Women’s

The women’s is expected to feature a similarly deep field.

Hong Kong have dominated the II1 category in recent years, including at the Paralympic Games.

A friendly rivalry has emerged between teammates Mui Wui Ng and Ka Man Wong.

Wong is the Paralympic champion from London 2012 but at the Rio 2016 Paralympics was beaten by Ng for bronze.

Ng is the current world No.2 and 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Table Tennis world champion. Wong finished behind her once again two years ago but is the defending Global Games title-holder.

Japan’s Kanami Furukawa is aiming to impress at her home Paralympics next year. Furukawa joins the field in Brisbane as the world No.5 and ITTF Worlds bronze medallist.

Ng and Wong claimed the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Table Tennis doubles world title last time around. They lead compatriots Hiu Tung Li and Pui Kei Wong into silver. France’s Lea Ferney and Magali Rousset took the third podium spot.

In the team event Hong Kong are the World Intellectual Impairment Sport world title holders ahead of France and Thailand.

In the II2, France dominated in 2017 as they did in the men’s.

Carole Hennion, Lucile Poquet and Celine Delalande were the top three.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Results will be available at the official competition website where table tennis will be shown live.

Portugal hope to add to strong national futsal legacy in Brisbane

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By Giuseppe Napoli | For World Intellectual Impairment Sport

Defending world champions Portugal are hoping to add more silverware to their country’s trophy cabinet at the International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-19 October.

For the team, who claimed World Intellectual Impairment Sport Futsal Worlds gold in 2017, adding the Global Games title would add to their national haul from the UEFA European football and futsal Championships and Euro Beach Soccer League from recent years.

This trophy pursuit is built on strong foundations.

João Campelo was Portugal’s top scorer during the World Championships and joint third overall. Guilherme Silva was fifth. The two athletes are ready for this new challenge and aiming to achieve new success for their country:

“Our expectations are to get there and win although we respect the other teams,” said Silva. “It is an honour to play in such an important competition, I don’t feel any pressure because of our success, we are just asked to do the best we can.”

“Expectations are high of course, we are the champions of the world and we defend the title. For this we have to make it to the final, it is the main objective. Over the years we have become used to the pressure and found various ways to deal with it,” Campelo said.

The two players have similar objectives that transcend their individual talents: “I have no expectations on a personal level. I am going to help the team achieve the best possible result” said Silva, echoed by Campelo: “I hope to be at my best, to help the team achieving the goals we set ourselves. I do not think much individually, I value more teamwork and collective achievements.”

Despite its relatively small size, Portugal has proved to be an extremely successful footballing nation that has produced some of the world’s best players.

“Portugal and the Portuguese are passionate about sport, especially football, and futsal or some sort of adapted football,” Campelo reflected. “The national futsal Championship has a big importance in the country since 1990. Perhaps this and the huge investments of the federation along with the passion made it so successful.”

Campelo believes his team’s relationship is a key element of their success: “The team is very close, we are like family on the pitch and outside. That is the main secret behind the success of our team.”

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October

Jade Lucy poses on the podium at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Championships

#Brisbane2019: Swimmers to hit Global Games pool

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The countdown to the 2019 edition of the Global Games – the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with an intellectual impairment – continues.

Swimming is one of the largest sports that fans can enjoy in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-19 October.

Events will take place at the Brisbane Aquatics Centre as athletes go for titles. Some will also continue their road to Tokyo 2020 as Paralympic champions make the journey to Australia.

In swimming, medals will be awarded in three categories for the first time. II1 athletes – also known as S14 in the Paralympics – have an intellectual impairment. II2 athletes have a more severe intellectual impairment, such as Down syndrome. II3 athletes have high functioning autism – this category is a demonstration event for the 2019 Global Games as research continues.

Men’s

Hong Kong’s Wai Lok Tang is one of the main contenders in the men’s events, including in the 200m freestyle II1 and 100m backstroke II1.

The 200m free is on the Paralympic programme and in 2015 at the last Global Games in Ecuador, Tang topped the podium around one year before winning gold at Rio 2016.

However Brazil’s Felipe Caltran Vila Real is the International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Swimming champion. He took the win at the INAS Swimming Championships in 2017 in Tang’s absence.

In the 100m backstroke, Tang finished second in 2015. France’s Nathan Maillet is the 2017 gold medallist whilst teammate Simon Blaise finished second.

Hosts Australia will try to live up to expectations in one of their national sports.

Liam Schluter is amongst the world’s top five in the men’s 200m individual medley II1 as he tries to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

Japan’s Takuya Tsugawa is building towards a home appearance of his own as the silver medallist from the 2015 Global Games. Caltran could also feature as the 2017 champion.

In the men’s 100m butterfly II1, Brazil’s Gustavo De Oliveira Nunes will go head-to-head with the rest of the podium from 2017. Japan’s Haruki Takayanagi and Shunya Murakamki left with silver and bronze two years ago.

Women’s

An equally stacked field is expected in the women’s events.

Spain’s Michelle Alonso is the women’s 100m breaststroke II1 Paralympic champion, adding to her gold from London 2012.

Those who follow the sport closely will also know to look out for Brazilian twins Debora and Beatriz Carneiro.

Most recently Debora won Parapan American Gold in Lima, Peru, whilst her sister finished with silver. Debora is also the World Intellectual Impairment Sport champion.

In the 200m freestyle II1, Australia’s Jade Lucy will power out of the blocks as the world No.8 and 2017 gold medallist. Her teammate Ruby Storm is the world No.9.

The USA’s Leslie Cichocki is also a serial medallist and, as of 2016, a Paralympian. Cichocki made history at Rio 2016 when she became the first swimmer with an intellectual impairment to compete for her country.

The American has a silver in the 200m individual medley from 2015 as well as silver in the women’s 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke from 2017.

In the backstroke, Hong Kong’s Yu Lam Chan will challenge Cichocki as the world No.5.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

#Brisbane2019: World’s top track and field stars to line-up

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With 10 days to go until the start of the 2019 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games, top athletes are arriving in Brisbane, Australia, ready to take to the track and field.

Men and women will compete in a full range of events from long jump and shot put to hurdles and 10,000m between 14-18 October.

Medals will be awarded in three categories for the first time. II1 athletes – also known as T or F20 in the Paralympics – have an intellectual impairment. II2 athletes have a more severe intellectual impairment, such as Down syndrome. II3 athletes have high functioning autism – this category is a trial event for the 2019 Global Games.

Men’s

A series of Paralympic medallists, 2015 Global Games champions and top-ranked athletes will line-up at the Queensland Sports and Athletics Centre.

Cape Verde’s Gracelino Barbosa is a podium finisher from the Rio 2016 Paralympics in the men’s 400m II1/T20. Four years ago at the last Global Games in Ecuador, Barbosa also won gold in the event.

But he is talented elsewhere on the track as the defending Games and 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics champion in the 100m hurdles, as well as the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics champion in the 100m sprint.

2015 hosts Ecuador have sent a strong team to Brisbane.

This includes the shot put II1/F20 world No.1 Jordi Patricio Congo Villalba and his closest rival and teammate Stalin David Mosquera Congo, the world No.2.

Congo is also the defending discus title-holder.

Roberto Carlos Chala Espinoza is second in the world in the men’s long jump but will face a tough field of opponents.

Compatriot Ronny Mauricio Santos Iza collected bronze in 2015 and has gone on to hold a top five position in the world rankings.

Japan’s Kanta Kokubo also joins both the Ecuadorians as one of the best long jumpers.

Hosts Australia have their own horse in the race in the form of Jack Connors, the bronze medallist from 2017.

However the big draw in this event will be Portugal’s Lenine Cunha.

Cunha has won over 200 international medals, including gold from 2015 and 2017 and bronze from London 2012.

Ecuador’s Anderson Alexander Colorado Mina, the world No.3, and Japan’s Yuki Iwata, the No.9, will line-up in the 1,500m.

In the men’s II2, France’s Nicolas Virapin will continue to make history. In 2018 Virapin became the first man to win medals in the category at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Indoor Championships. He will go for the first Global Games titles in Brisbane.

Women’s

France’s multi-talented Gloria Agblemagnon is set to enter a variety of II1/T20 track and field events in her quest for gold.

Agblemagnon is the world No.2 in shotput and the 2015 champion in the hammer throw. She also holds the 2017 title in that and the discus.

Agblemagnon is likely to be challenged in the shot-put by Ecuador’s Poleth Mendes, the silver medallist from the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Sports and Regions Councils will gather delegates from around the world

Getty Images

A strong Japanese contingent is expected across other II1/T20 events as the country prepares to host the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Makiko Toyoshima returns as the women’s 3,000m II1/T20 champion from 2015.

Aimi Toyama is world ranked no.3 in the women’s 400m. Sayaka Makita has gone from finishing seventh in 2015 to the world No.5 in the 1,500m. Makita also secured bronze in the 3,000m in 2015.

Portugal’s Ana Felipe is a rising star of the women’s long jump and is amongst the world’s top three.

Australia will pin their hopes on Caytlyn Sharp, the 2017 gold medallist in the high jump II1/T20.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Nearly 1,000 competitors will go for gold in 10 sports in Brisbane from 12-19 October.

Notes to editors: World rankings refer to those held and administered by World Para Athletics.

Great Britain’s Kiera Byland: Daring to dream

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Great Britain’s Kiera Byland is ‘daring to dream’ of multiple medals from both the road and track during the 2019 Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, from 12-19 October.

Byland is the defending women’s time trial and road race world champion, but is also hoping to excel in the team events as well as at the velodrome when track cycling makes its debut.

“I’m excited to be representing Great Britain through UKSA [UK Sports Association, the Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport national member]. For the first time I will be able to compete in the female road team time trial with Lauren [Booth] and do track racing which I’m really looking forward to,” Byland said. “My goal is to be the best that I can be, to try and get some PB’s [personal bests] if I can and anything else will be an added bonus.”

In 2018 Byland grabbed double world gold in Paris, France. But the podium is not her only focus.

“I could say the medals are one of the less important things, what is really precious are the friendships you build through it. Sport definitely gave me an opportunity and changed my life.”

The last couple of years have seen Byland progress her performance and form rapidly. She made her international debut at the worlds in 2017, sealing double gold again and has not looked back.

As part of her rise to the top, the British rider has also used her talents as a platform to inspire other women and people with intellectual impairments.

Byland is now a motivational speaker and gets the chance to address children who might be facing the same challenges as she did as a youngster. The 21-year-old also attends business school but has one eye on a coaching career, maybe transferring her skills into her other sport of swimming.

“When I was younger, back at school, it was really hard for me,” Byland said. “I had problems of bullying, I did not have a big self-confidence. I believe that in these situations people should step in, even a nice gesture can make a huge difference.

“At the beginning it was not easy, I passed from not being able to ride a bike at all to competitions in a very short time. It was something that happened day after day, you gain that awareness you can do it.

“It was not a dream at the beginning, but it became one. Probably we just need to dare to dream sometimes. This is what I say to all the people who are in the situation I was: just dare to dream.”

The 2019 Global Games will feature nearly 1,000 athletes competing in 10 sports, including road and track cycling. Road cycling takes place from 14-15 October ahead of the debut of track cycling on 17 and 19 October.

The Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments.

Biggest ever anti-doping testing programme to take place at World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games

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The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has announced that the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, will feature the biggest anti-doping programme in the event’s history.

Alongside the Australian Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) and the Global Games Sports Company, World Intellectual Impairment Sport has been working to ensure that it meets its commitment to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Anti-Doping Code.

This not only includes increased testing, but also improving education efforts to ensure that athletes and teams have the information they need to compete clean.

Marc Truffaut, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President, said: “The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games are the world’s biggest high performance sports event for athletes with intellectual impairments. It is therefore only right that competitors are subject to the same rigorous testing as any other major international competition.

“The standard of athletes has increased an incredible amount as countries continue to invest in development. It is our responsibility to reflect that sea-change, as the worldwide body responsible for promoting these athletes and protecting their interests around the world.

“We are therefore proud to say that we fully support WADA’s anti-doping efforts, and with this announcement we are showing how that commitment translates into practice.”

The 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games will feature nearly 1,000 athletes competing in 10 sports.

For swimming, athletics and table tennis, Brisbane 2019 is a key stop on the road to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. For others it is the highest level they can compete at and various sports will enjoy the endorsement of the relevant International Federation.