A Japanese skier with an intellectual impairment races during a Nordic skiing event

Five things to know about Zakopane 2018

/in /by

The 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships get underway on Tuesday (27 February).

They will gather 60 athletes from 10 countries for four days of skiing at the Suche ski resort and CentralnyOsrodekSportuZakopane.

Here are five things you may not know about host city Zakopane and the Championships themselves.

Crucial competition

For skiers with intellectual impairments, it does not get much bigger than the World Intellectual Impairment Sport alpine and Nordic skiing World Championships.

As non-Paralympic sports the Worlds are the most important competition on the calendar.

Zakopane is the place to be

Known informally as the ‘winter capital of Poland’ Zakopane is the place to ski and be seen. The Championships will take in two of the best venues in the area: the Suche ski resort for alpine skiing and the CentralnyOsrodekSportuZakopane for Nordic skiing.

Over three million people a year visit Zakopane – in the winter for skiing and in the summer for hiking in the beautiful Tatra mountains. Around 30,000 people live in the town all year round.

The best return

Several defending champions will compete at Zakopane 2018. These include France’s Melanie De Bonna, the title holder in the women’s giant slalom, slalom and super-G and Japan’s Yoshihidi Kimura.

Kimura will try to defend two golds – in the men’s super-G and slalom.

A return to Zakopane

This is the second time that skiers will compete at a World Championships in Zakopane, following on from 2016.

Other editions have been held every year since 2009 in Italy, France, Turkey, Estonia and Sweden.

Trial impairment groups to debut

The Championships will be the first to hold competitions for athletes in two new trial impairment groups. This is part of a move by World Intellectual Impairment Sport to be a more inclusive sports organisation providing high-level competition for a greater number of athletes with intellectual impairments.

Athletes competing in the II2 categories have more significant impairments, such as Down syndrome. Skiers in II3 have high-functioning autism.

Live results, updates and pictures will be available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on all competition days between 27 February – 2 March.

A cross-country runner celebrates winning gold

France reveal team for indoor athletics Championships

/in /by

The hosts of the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Indoor Athletics Championships have revealed a 19-strong team of athletes who will go for titles in Val de Reuil, France, between 2-4 March.

The team will feature a series of world champions and medallists from indoor and outdoor athletics.

They include Gloria Agblemagnon who won gold at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships in the women’s discus and hammer. Charles Antoine Kouakou will also compete having taken the men’s 200m title and bronze at the 2017 World Para Athletics Junior Championships in the 400m.

Marion Candelier will hope to continue her winning streak from the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross Country Championships in December, where she took double gold in the women’s short and long distance races.

Val de Reuil 2018 is expected to attract 100 athletes from 15 countries and will be held at the Jesse Owens Stadium. It follows on from the last edition in Ancona, Italy, in 2016.

It will feature athletes with an intellectual impairment (II1) as well two trial groups: II2 – for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment, and II3 – for athletes with high-functioning autism.

Full French team:

Women

Gloria Agblemagnon

Aminata Camara

Marion Candelier

Danielle Delage

Virginie Dreux

Laurie Brandell

Men

Rashid Boutasghount

Renaud Breuk

Saby Chelvalme

Abdoulaye Coulibaly

Quentin Foratier

Gael Geoffroy

Charles Antoine Kouakou

Florian Lariviere

Sebastian Mengual

Johan Roigt

Daniel Royer

Damien Rumeau

Nicolas Virapin

Melanie De Bonna is an alpine skier with an intellectual impairment

De Bonna: Skiing makes me forget my impairment

/in /by

France’s quadruple alpine skiing gold medallist Melanie De Bonna has spoken of how the sport helps her to overcome her impairment ahead of the upcoming World Championships.

De Bonna, the champion in the super-G, slalom, giant slalom and alpine combined from 2017 is gearing up for the 2018 International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships in Zakopane, Poland, from 27 February.

The 21-year-old said she aims to showcase her abilities through her performance on the slopes:

“My motivation is to show that I can do like everybody despite my impairment. Skiing makes me forget my impairment.

“I worked a lot with speech therapists. I also worked a lot at home. My family helped me a lot in my life and they never regret their choice to not put me in a special center for disabled people, and on the contrary to support me in everyday life.”

Having started the sport at three-years-old, De Bonna quickly found she enjoyed the “speed and bumps” of alpine skiing.

She also enjoys competing against others and the feeling of independence it gives her.

Looking towards Zakopane

In Zakopane De Bonna said she will be looking out for Japanese skiers who did not line-up in 2017. To gain the maximum advantage she has been training hard with the Lans en Vercors skiing club. She has also been completing gym work with her coach and competing in smaller competitions.

The Frenchwoman has a strong desire to retain her titles, but is cautious about her chances.

“I am waiting to be in Poland and see the slope. Before thinking about defending my world champion medals, I want to see how is the slope and how these Championships are organised.

“But of course I want to win.”

The 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships will feature around 60 skiers from 10 countries. The competition runs between 27 February – 2 March.

Live results, updates and pictures from the Suche ski resort the trails of the CentralnyOsrodekSportuZakopane will be available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A swimmer emerged from the water

World Intellectual Impairment Sport needs you! Volunteer positions available

/in /by

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has launched a search for committed, experienced individuals who want to make a difference through sport.

Volunteer members and Chairpersons are needed for World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ rowing, tennis, table tennis and swimming committees. These groups are responsible for development and growth across all regions, as well as competition management, classification and building relationships with partners.

The deadline for applications for all positions is 9 March. In depth role descriptions and more information is available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport vacancies page.

Volunteer positions at World Intellectual Impairment Sport

A Chairperson is needed for the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Table Tennis Committee. This crucial role, within a sport on the Paralympic programme, will provide leadership to the committee in line with the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Strategic Plan and Governing Board.

The person will also coordinate and manage the sport’s competition programme and work to grow participation, working with the Executive Director.

In addition members are wanted for the table tennis, rowing, swimming and tennis committees.

An Americas region member is needed for the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tennis Committee whilst swimming require representatives for Europe, Asia and Africa.

Table tennis and rowing are new committees and therefore members with relevant knowledge are encouraged to apply. Each person will take on responsibility for key areas based on their experience.

All applicants must have an excellent understanding and passion for sport for athletes with intellectual impairments. They should also have an in-depth knowledge of the relevant sport, and good leadership, organisational, communication and administrative skills.

Further information

Whilst each position is unpaid, costs of attending competitions will be covered. This offers successful applicants the chance to travel as part of their role. Meetings of each committee are often held via video conference.

All applications must be endorsed by the relevant World Intellectual Impairment Sport Member, who have to be in good standing.

More information is available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ vacancies page.

Alpine and Nordic skiers with intellectual impairments

Preview: Alpine and Nordic skiers take centre stage in February

/in /by

The first International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Championships of 2018 gets underway in February.

2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships

One of Poland’s most popular ski destinations, Zakopane, will host the World Championships between 27 February – 2 March.

Around 60 alpine and Nordic skiers with intellectual impairments from 10 countries are expected to compete at the Suche ski resort and on the trails of the CentralnyOsrodekSportuZakopane.

Alpine skiing will feature slalom, giant slalom and super-G. Nordic skiers will compete in the cross-country sprint, short and long distance races as well as a 3×2.5km relay.

The host nation have high medal hopes, particularly in the Nordic skiing. Men’s long distance defending champion, Patrick Jakiela, is confirmed to compete. The men’s 3x2km relay team will also return in an attempt to reclaim their gold from 2017.

In the women’s alpine skiing France’s Melanie De Bona will go for another sweep of titles. At her home World Championships in Gourette last year, De Bona picked up a trio of victories in the slalom, giant slalom and super-G.

The Championships will feature athletes with an intellectual impairment (II1) as well two new trial groups: II2 – for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment and II3 – for athletes with high-functioning autism. .

Live updates and pictures will be available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter throughout the event.

Zakopane 2018 kicks off an exciting year of major Championships for athletes with intellectual impairments. The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Indoor Athletics Championships follow from 2-4 March before the tennis and cycling Worlds in July. The football World Championships take place in Karlstad, Sweden, in August.

Support us

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.

We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more. 

World Intellectual Impairment Sport has opened the bids for the 2023 Global Games

World Intellectual Impairment Sport launches search for hosts of 2023 Global Games

/in /by

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has opened the bidding process for the 2023 Global Games, the sixth edition of its quadrennial multi-sport event.

Attracting more than 1,000 competitors, the Global Games are the world’s biggest gathering of elite athletes with intellectual impairments.

Featuring sports such as athletics, swimming, table tennis, futsal, hockey, indoor and outdoor rowing, road cycling, taekwondo and tennis, organisers can also submit applications for demonstration sports.

The event always takes place in the year ahead of the Paralympic Games. Many medallists have used the Global Games as a springboard, going onto make the podium at the Paralympics.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport President Marc Truffaut said: “The Global Games are our biggest, most prestigious event and one that is constantly growing in size and profile.

“They act as the World Championships for each sport in that year and for the non-Paralympic sports on the programme, it is the highest level those athletes can compete at.

“For organisers there are huge opportunities in staging an event of such importance, not least the chance to create a genuine legacy and attract attention from all over the world.

“With the next edition in Brisbane, Australia, in 2019 expected to raise the bar once again, we are looking for organisers who can take the Games to the next level.

“We look forward to receiving bids from World Intellectual Impairment Sport members who can demonstrate how their knowledge, experience, infrastructure and passion for sport could help them to deliver the best Global Games yet.”

How to bid

Countries wishing to host in 2023 must first submit an expression of interest by 30 April 2018. Candidates will then be announced on 31 May before formal bids are accepted up until 31 January 2018.

All bids will be reviewed by the Global Games Committee and the successful host announced in June 2019.

As part of the bid process, applicants must submit their plans in key areas such as facilities and transport; anti-doping; accommodation; media and digital media; marketing and branding; venues; legacy; staffing and budgets.

They must also be able to provide letters of support from national or local government and the national or local sports authority.

More information, including the expression of interest form and bid documents, can be found on the Global Games page.

 

New events added to Tokyo 2020 programme

Three new events added to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic programme

/in /by

Swimmers with intellectual impairments will have three new medal events at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board confirmed on Saturday (27 January).

The men’s and women’s 100m butterfly S14 has been added, as well as the provisional inclusion of a mixed gender relay.

The 4x100m freestyle S14 mixed gender relay will be confirmed after the 2019 World Para Swimming World Championships. Participation in the event at this competition will determine if it is included at the next Paralympic Games.

The swimming event programme as a whole for Tokyo 2020 will have a balanced stroke programme with no more than six events per class.

In all impairment groups there will be 146 medal events – six less than Rio 2016. These will be comprised of 76 for men, 67 for women and three mixed gender relays.

No change in athletics and table tennis

Athletics remains the same for athletes with intellectual impairments competing in T/F20 track and field. The overall programme will feature 1,100 athletes competing in 168 medal events – nine less than Rio 2016 – and will be made up of 93 events for men and 74 for women.

Table tennis also remains the same with one men’s and one women’s singles event for class 11 players.

Speaking on the Tokyo 2020 programme as a whole, IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “For both athletics and swimming, we have created programmes that ensure a good cross section of events for athletes in all classes. By reducing the number of events in both sports from Rio 2016, we also aim to increase the depth of talent in each field and ensure greater long-term event viability. The addition of mixed gender relays will also enable more countries to participate.”

In relation to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme, the IPC Governing Board approved which sports and disciplines should proceed to the next stage of the application process. International Federations expressed an interest in November.

The Board decided that the Taekwondo Poomsae discipline (being developed by World Taekwondo and World Intellectual Impairment Sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment) will not proceed to Phase 2. This is because it is not currently widely and regularly practiced in 32 countries, the minimum number required for individual sports and disciplines to be considered for Paralympic Games inclusion.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place between 25 August – 6 September.

Tokyo 2020 mascot designs

Tokyo 2020 mascot voting gathers speed

/in /by

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) announced on Monday (22 January) that almost 14,000 elementary schools in Japan – around 65 per cent of the total – have already registered for the selection process of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic mascots.

In December 2017, Tokyo 2020 published a shortlist of mascot design sets, each containing an Olympic and a Paralympic mascot. They invited schoolchildren across the country and in Japanese schools overseas to vote for their favourite set. As of Monday there is exactly one month until voting closes. The design set attracting the largest number of votes will be declared the winner on 28 February.

The 13,985 schools that have registered to vote so far include a total of 92 Japanese schools. These are in 51 countries and regions overseas. Tokyo 2020 is expecting to receive additional submissions in the final month.

“It was a wonderful opportunity that kids got to choose the mascots. I had fun with my classmates, hearing what they thought about the mascots too,” said Colette Schmidt, a fifth grader at the American School in Japan who voted last Thursday.

Masa Takaya, Tokyo 2020 Spokesperson, said: “The mascot voting is going very well, actually even better than we expected. The number of participating schools keeps growing, but more importantly, we have received positive responses from the children. At every school we have been to, we saw children being completey focused on their mission and feeling involved in the 2020 Games’ preparation. Their memories of this unique experience will be another legacy of Tokyo 2020, as we are aiming to engage a new generation in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.”

About Tokyo 2020

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place from 25 August – 6 September. Three sports – swimming, athletics and table tennis – will feature athletes with intellectual impairments.

Research into pacing for athletes with intellectual impairments

Vital research funded into pacing for athletes with intellectual impairments

/in /by

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) will receive funding from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to carry out classification research in athletics, swimming, Nordic skiing and cycling.

The project focuses on what impact intellectual impairments have on pacing in endurance sports. It will be carried out by the Leuven University in Belgium.

A growing number of scientists believe that pacing is linked to the brain. Several things affect this area of sport – the ability to plan tactics ahead of, and responding to tiredness during, a race and reacting to the actions of opponents.

Pacing is at least partly influenced by the intellectual capacity of an athlete. Therefore having an intellectual impairment will affect pacing ability and, as a consequence, the outcome of a race.

Insight in this area will help develop a classification system for Nordic skiing and cycling. It will also improve the existing sport specific tests for athletics and swimming.

Speaking about a total of seven research projects funded from across the para-sport spectrum, IPC Medical Director Peter Van De Vliet said:

“I would like to thank all applicants for their submission. It is great to see how an increasing number of IFs [International Federations] and sports turn their attention to a scientific approach of critically reviewing and further developing their classification system.

“Almost all applications made reference to the concepts of classification research currently adopted by the IPC, and I would like to thank the IPC Classification Research & Development Centres in assisting the IPC in promoting these concepts across the Movement.

“In the end, it was a difficult final selection under the available resources of the Grant Scheme, and the IPC is committed to further support this programme in the next years.”

Chelsey Gotell, IPC Athletes’ Council Chairperson, said: “Classification affects all athletes and is heavily discussed within the athlete community. As the Paralympic Movement continues to evolve, it is imperative that every International Federation takes a closer look at their current classification model to ensure that it is appropriately servicing their current and future athletes.

“As each International Federation embarks on critically reviewing their classification process, I urge them to engage their Athletes’ Councils and Athlete Representatives – or the IPC Athletes’ Council if they do not have a current athlete representative model in place – in the process, to ensure that the athlete voice is constructively and effectively incorporated into the future of the sport.”

Applications were reviewed by external scientific experts, and a Selection Committee made the final decision.

The IPC’s Research Grant Scheme was launched in June 2017. International Federations (IFs), International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSDs) and Recognised International Federations could apply to receive support for the development of sport-specific, evidence-based classification systems as defined in the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport celebrates record number of new athletes

World Intellectual Impairment Sport celebrates record number of new athletes in 2017

/in /by

The International Federation for Athletes with Intellectual Impairments (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) is celebrating a record-breaking year in 2017, with a historic high of more than 5,000 athletes registered to compete across all of its 14 sports.

Almost 600 new athletes were approved for international competition during the year, more than double the figure reached in previous years.

Eligibility to compete is determined on strict evidence provided by the relevant World Intellectual Impairment Sport Member organisation and assessed by experts on a dedicated panel. For the Paralympic sports of swimming, table tennis and athletics, it means athletes can progress to classification by the relevant International Federation. For other sports, once an athlete is approved, they can compete at World Intellectual Impairment Sport competitions.

The figures join a series of other successes in the last 12 months. These include a reach of more than 500,000 people on social media, 230,000+ website visitors and a number of new member organisations

World Intellectual Impairment Sport President Marc Truffaut, himself elected in 2017, said: “The record increases in the number of athletes who joined World Intellectual Impairment Sport last year and the impressive digital figures show that World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ mission is reaching more people than ever before.

“We manage a wide variety of summer and winter sports, the majority of which are outside the Paralympic programme. It is a joy to see so much new potential joining us across the board, even in lower profile sports. We look forward to adding even more depth to the field of athletes. Of course, these figures represent those athletes who registered for international competition – many more got involved at a national level across our Membership.

“We also welcomed our three newest Members, Bahrain, Morocco and the World Taekwondo Federation, our first International Federation Member. This has expanded our reach further and we are fielding enquiries from organisations all over the world who are interested in joining us.”

Promoting and supporting the world’s best athletes

In addition to increases in athlete numbers, Members and its digital following, World Intellectual Impairment Sport made huge progress in a series of other areas.

These included the launch of a new website, a rebranded international day celebrating the achievements of athletes and changes to governance to create clearer lines of management and accountability.

The introduction of two trial groups – II2 (for athletes with a more significant intellectual impairment) and II3 (for athletes with high-functioning autism) also made World Intellectual Impairment Sport a more inclusive sports organisation. These trials will continue into 2018, with II2 provisionally confirmed for the 2019 Global Games in Brisbane, Australia.

A research project into the effects of adaptive behaviour on sports performance – one of the measures of intellectual impairment – also concluded. This was supported by the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee.

Finally debut international competitions were held for equestrian, hockey and judo with help from partner organisations such as the European Hockey Federation and German Paralympic Committee.

A further 11 World Championships or international events were held in athletics (track and field, half marathon and cross-country), cycling, skiing, futsal, swimming, basketball, tennis, table tennis and cricket. Swimming and table tennis were livestreamed for the first time.

“It is clear that our vision that athletes with intellectual impairments across the world have the opportunity to achieve excellence in sport has taken a huge step forward,” Truffaut continued.

“I and my colleagues on the Governing Board will continue to work tirelessly to ensure we capitalise on our successes in 2018. We have another busy year with the launch of a project to encourage more female athletes and leaders, an eligibility conference, new regions and sports council gatherings and various Championships taking place.

“I would like to thank everyone, especially the volunteers, who make it all possible. We are in a strong position for the coming years, which will no doubt deliver even greater opportunities for para-sport and athletes.”