Athletes are arriving in Coimbra, Portugal, for the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Athletics Half Marathon World Championships which take place on Sunday (21 October).

The 2018 Coimbra Half Marathon will include World Intellectual Impairment Sport athletes and is the fourth stage of the Running Wonders circuit.

Italy’s Fabrizio Vallone returns to defend his title from Udine, Italy, in 2017.

Last year the Italian just edged his teammate Alessandro Tomaiuolo to the finish line by 23 seconds.

However Vallone will feel the pressure from a series of other runners on Sunday as Tomaiuolo will not start.

The 2015 and 2016 world champion Jose Azevedo lines up for hosts Portugal hoping to return to the top step of the podium. Compatriot Paulo Pinheiro will also have gold in his sights as he looks to reclaim his world title from 2011 and 2013.

Outside of Europe, the USA’s Tyler Wigington and Colton Lohrenz are keen to make an impact.

Meanwhile an Australian team will compete for the first time. Harry Mezger, Carlo Manolitsas and Montgomery Cooper take on the men’s field. Georgia Powning, Chloe Turner and Montana Whiteley make their debut in the women’s.

Mezger said: “I love running and I have loved every training session, even the long dark wet runs through winter. We just called them adventure runs which gave us a great attitude to just keep pushing through rain, hail, puddles whatever was thrown at us.”

Of the team who are all aged under 25, Australian head coach, Liz Gosper, commented: “Since we identified the opportunity to compete in this event and represent Australia all of the athletes have been focussed on just one thing. Their commitment to training, competition and preparation has been outstanding.”

In the women’s Powning, Turner and Whitely will have to overcome Poland’s Arleta Meloch.

Meloch was the victor in 2017, retaining her title.

Her teammate Anna Bodziony was not far behind and returns in an attempt to overcome Meloch.

About Coimbra 2018

The 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Half Marathon World Championships will feature a 21.1km course that will weave its way through the beautiful city of Coimbra.

Over 20 athletes from more than five countries will compete.

Results will be available at the results, rankings and records page.

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has launched a search for hosts for the 2022 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football World Championships.

The competition is one of the most popular on the calendar and takes place every four years. Expressions of interest are invited from World Intellectual Impairment Sport members by 14 December 2018.

The 2018 edition took place in Karlstad, Sweden, in August with Saudi Arabia claiming the title.

John Ball, Chairperson of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football Committee, said: “This summer Sweden hosted an exceptional competition which raised the bar for future World Championships.

“As well as high quality training and match facilities across multiple venues, there was also a livestream of the games and the local organisers invested in raising awareness of the competition to the media and public in Sweden.

“By starting the bid process earlier than in the past, we therefore hope to give the winning Local Organising Committee the maximum possible time to prepare and deliver another exceptional event.”

The 2022 Worlds could feature 12 teams all vying for the title. After the expressions of interest closes, the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football Committee will work with interested members on submitting their full bids by 30 June 2019.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport looks to grow women’s game

Alongside the bid process for 2022, World Intellectual Impairment Sport also announced an aspiration to develop the women’s game.

The football committee is currently consulting with the World Intellectual Impairment Sport membership on which countries have a women’s team and who has a desire to build a side. The aim is to host the first international competition for female players with an intellectual impairment. This could be a full 11-a-side tournament or futsal.

Nick Parr, World Intellectual Impairment Sport Executive Director, said: “We play a crucial role in the growth of Paralympic and non-Paralympic sports all around the world. The development of women’s football is an important element of that drive.

“This year we launched our #WeAreSport project, which aims to inspire more women and girls into sport in the digital age. By using social media to promote themselves, we hope that the athletes that took part can be even bigger role models for the next generation.

“Perhaps, with the work of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football Committee and the results of #WeAreSport, in 2022 we might be able to host a World Championships for women too.”

Countries interested in hosting in 2022 should send their expressions of interest, including provisional dates and venues, to events@inas.org. Those who already have a women’s team, or who plan one in the future, are also encouraged to contact the same address.

By WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2019 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List); the 2019 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2019 Monitoring Programme.

The List, which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) on 20 September 2018, comes into force on 1 January 2019.

The List, which is one of six International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition, and which substances are banned in particular sports.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “WADA is pleased to announce the publication of the 2019 Prohibited List. Updated annually, it is one of the cornerstones of the global anti-doping programme. Every year, we review the List in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. It is vital that we stay ahead of those that endeavour to cheat the system so in reviewing the List, experts review sources such as scientific and medical research, trends, and intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies.”

The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes and their entourage can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for the substances in their body and the methods on the List; and, athlete entourage are also liable for anti-doping rule violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organisation (International Federation or National Anti-Doping Organisation) for advice.

The List’s annual revision process is led by WADA, beginning with an initial meeting in January and concluding with the publication of the List by 1 October. This is an extensive consultation process that includes WADA’s List Expert Group. They gather information, circulating a draft List among stakeholders, taking their submissions into consideration and revising the draft, followed by review by the Agency’s Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee.

The HMR Committee then makes its recommendation to the WADA ExCo, which approves the List during its September meeting.

For a substance or method to be added to the List, it must be determined that it meets two of the following three criteria:

It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance

It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes

It violates the spirit of sport

It should be noted that for athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List, they may be accommodated if they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE process has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders worldwide.

Languages and Formats

The 2019 Prohibited List; the 2019 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2019 Monitoring Programme are available for download on WADA’s website in English and French with Spanish to follow shortly.

Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest at info@wada-ama.org, by 27 October. If interested, WADA would provide the necessary files and, once the translation is finalised, would make the List available on the Agency’s website.

The List’s mobile-friendly digital edition will go live on 1 January 2019.

Australian track and field athlete Caytlyn Sharp has an increased presence on social media thanks to the International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) #WeAreSport campaign.

#WeAreSport aims to give female athletes the tools and knowledge to use social media more effectively to promote their lives as an athlete. This will enable them to inspire other women and girls to try sport.

Eleven athletes from around the world have been involved. Each has taken part in an online seminar with the support of an administrator.

Sharp is an World Intellectual Impairment Sport world champion in high jump II1 and the national record holder in the 200m. Before her involvement in the project, the Australian only had an athlete page on Facebook. So keen was the 15-year-old to get started, she created an Instagram account as soon as she was a confirmed #SportChampion for #WeAreSport in March. Then in August, despite some reservations about the platform, Sharp started a Twitter account during the seminar.

Sharp, who started athletics when she was eight, now has nearly 300 followers and her fan base is growing every day. The athlete has been using the hints and tips she picked-up to attract more followers.

Sharp said she enjoyed learning about social media and now has more confidence in using it. The new knowledge will stand her in good stead as she prepares for her home 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane.

Anula Costa is Sharp’s coach and also the nominated administrator, supporting the young athlete with her social media activities alongside Sharp’s mother Cindy. Costa was put forward by Sport Inclusion Australia, the World Intellectual Impairment Sport member in the country, alongside Chantel Lewis.

“The seminar was useful with good tips,” Costa said. “The most useful part of the seminar for me was following up steps on e-platforms. It was great.

“I have seen Caitlyn has improved and doing well.  I am looking forward to progress and increased public awareness.”

As well as supporting the current participants, it is hoped that the administrators can use the skills they have learned to encourage other athletes to use social media.

About #WeAreSport

#WeAreSport is supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the IPC, through their 2017 Grant Support Programme.

All materials used during the seminars, including a Quick Start Guide to Social Media and a longer guide, are available in a variety of languages for all World Intellectual Impairment Sport members to use here.