Wayne Bird awarded Life Membership of Sport Inclusion Australia

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Logo of Sport Inclusion Australia

By Sport Inclusion Australia

Sport Inclusion Australia President Wayne Bird has been awarded Life Membership of the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) member organisation.

Bird becomes only the second person to receive the honour after organisation founder and initial President Marie T Little OAM in 2006.  Bird took over the Presidency of Sport Inclusion Australia on Little’s retirement in 2011. Bird’s involvement commenced in 2006, when as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Basketball Victoria he attended his first meeting. So impressed by the movement, Bird welcomed the opportunity to join the board in 2007.

During his time as President, Bird has demonstrated incredible leadership and compassion.

A good listener, he has led Sport Inclusion Australia through major transformation. A new name, brand, significant governance changes, amalgamation with Vicsrapid and the inception of the National Inclusion Alliance have all been achieved under his tenure, while never deviating from the philosophy.

“Bird has led the organisation with integrity and distinction and apart from his list of accomplishments has not only increased the profile but also the professionalism of Sport Inclusion Australia,” Robyn Smith, CEO of Sport Inclusion Australia, said.

During his tenure Bird has also served as the Chairperson of World Intellectual Impairment Sport Oceania from 2013 to 2017.

Achievements

  • President of Oceania on World Intellectual Impairment Sport Governing Board 2013 – 2017
  • Representative of Finance Committee on World Intellectual Impairment Sport Governing Board 2013 – 2017
  • Development of the National Sport Inclusion Alliance
  • Support of New Zealand to join World Intellectual Impairment Sport
  • Successful bid and hosting of the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport General Assembly
  • Successful bid for the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games
  • Formation of the Global Games Sports Company

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. 

Female athletes with an intellectual impairment targeted through new campaign

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A female athlete celebrates winning gold

Getty Images

The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) will target potential athletes through a new campaign which aims to attract more women into sport.

#WeAreSport will recruit up to 20 current athletes to receive training in traditional and digital media techniques. This will help them to raise their profile and cement their place as role models for the next generation.

The same number of administrators from World Intellectual Impairment Sport member organisations will also be given resources and support to enable them to champion women in sport in their countries.

It is hoped that the activities of these ‘Sport Champions’ will lead to more women and girls trying sport and ultimately becoming elite athletes.

“We know from participation across the 15 sports we manage that female athletes are underrepresented,” Robyn Smith, World Intellectual Impairment Sport Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Sport Inclusion Australia who are co-funding the project, said.

“This is not unique to any particular sport or part of the world, but is a challenge faced by almost everyone in all regions.

“At the Paralympic level there were four countries who finished in the top 10 in the medals table that entered less women than men with intellectual impairments to Rio 2016.

“At the grassroots women and girls with intellectual impairments struggle with the confidence to try sport much more than their male counterparts. Awareness of sport specifically for this group is also still developing.

“We want to help showcase athletes who have not just overcome the same challenges, but have excelled on the global stage. And then we want to help build the structures and expertise so others can do the same.”

The first activities for #WeAreSport will take place in early 2018 with a training webinar for the 40 athletes and administrators. Each athlete will also receive a specially designed media pack containing their biography, pictures and graphics they can share on social media.

The administrators will be given materials and guidance to help them attract female athletes to try sports. As part of their commitment they will deliver at least one development workshop in their country for women and girls.

The project will mainly focus on Asia, Oceania and Africa. Athletes and personnel from other regions will also be included.

Activities will climax on the 2018 International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment which will carry the #WeAreSport theme.

#WeAreSport is supported by a grant from the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee.

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. 

Preview: Biggest gathering of swimmers since Rio 2016 set for November

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A photo montage of athletes with intellectual impairments

Three International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Championships will see more of the world’s best athletes go for medals in November.

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships

With 150 athletes from 20 countries, the competition will be the biggest gathering of swimmers since the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Taking place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, between 27 November – 4 December it will also be one of the marquee events of 2017.

Returning champions such as Chinese Taipei’s Jo Lin Tu headline the field. Tu dominated at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Ecuador in 2015, winning the women’s 50m, 100m and 200m butterfly.

One of her main rivals, Australia’s Jade Lucy, will try to defend her 400m and 800m freestyle titles. Teammate Nikesha Sophia Harding is also the women’s 50m breaststroke champion.

In the men’s Brazilian Paralympian Felipe Caltran Vila Real will look to retain his 200m butterfly gold from 2015. He will also try and improve on silver from the 50m fly.

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

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships

Loano, Italy, is preparing to host the World Championships between 20-26 November.

Australia have dominated the court in recent years and return as the women’s 3×3 champions. The Pearls could face Japan in a rematch of their gold medal game in Ecuador from 2015.

Senior players in Eliza Mills, Kim Perry, Molly Urguhart-Moran, Kaitlyn Papworth and Nicole Harris form the core of the Australian team.

The men’s competition will feature the 5×5 format. Games get underway on 22 November.

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

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Indoor Rowing Championships

The 2017 edition of the Championships will take place in Gavirate, Italy, from 25-26 November.

Races in the 500m and 1,000m individual men’s and women’s and mixed relays will be contested.

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

Torneo Internacional de Futbol

Calbuco, Chile, will host this international tournament between 6-10 November.

The competition has been sanctioned by World Intellectual Impairment Sport in the build-up to the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Football Championships in Karlstad, Sweden, from 2-18 August.

#SupportTheBest: dinner and auction

World Intellectual Impairment Sport will host a dinner and auction in aid of the world’s best athletes at the Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield, Great Britain, on 23 November. Auction lots include trips to World Intellectual Impairment Sport Championships in 2018, signed sports memorabilia and much more.

More information and tickets is available here.

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. 

 

‘Successful’ site visit for football World Championships

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Football for athletes with an intellectual impairment

A ‘successful’ site visit to Karlstad, Sweden, the host city of the 2018 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Football Championships, has taken place.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport Football Committee Chairperson John Ball returned from the visit optimistic of a great Championships between 2-18 August.

“My visit to Sweden was very productive and successful and I am certain we will have a well organised World Championships in August 2018,” Ball said following his visit earlier in October.

As part of the trip to Karlstad he also inspected the five stadiums and training facilities which will be used for the 34 games played over 16 days.

“It was the end of the football season in Sweden but the quality of the pitches in terms of the conditions of the grass was excellent, as though it was the start of the season.  Changing facilities are excellent and each team will have their own grass training pitch so there will be no sharing,” Ball reported.

He was also confident of the ability of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Parasport Sweden, to deliver a memorable Championships:

“They have many and varied talents and expertise in different fields and should be an asset to the organisation across the many aspects it will cover.”

A total of 12 teams are expected for the 2018 World Championships. Sweden automatically qualify as the host country. European qualifiers held in 2016 saw Poland, France and Russia advance whilst Saudi Arabia return as the world champions. The other teams were determined from the world rankings and include Germany, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Korea and South Africa.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

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

Germany dominate at 2017 World Championships for Judoka

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Two female judoka fighting

Credit: Erik Gruhn/DJB

By German NPC and German Judo Federation

Hosts Germany put in an incredible performance at the 2017 World Championships for Judoka in Cologne between 21-22 October, winning seven titles, 17 silver and 17 bronze medals at the first edition of the event.

A total of 106 athletes from 13 countries competed in two sport classes in 23 weight categories. The competition was sanctioned by the International Federation for Intellectual Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) as part of the development of judo. It was organized by the German National Paralympic Committee and German Judo Federation.

Judokas from Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Croatia, Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Sweden, Great Britain and Germany competed.

Athletes were separated into two ‘levels’ according to their functional ability. Judoka in level 1 are able to compete against able bodied athletes and can carry out most techniques. Those in level 2 are able to do a smaller number of techniques.

Germany’s Jennifer Strauss claimed the first gold on offer in the women’s up to 48kg, level 2.

Michaela Stutz (women’s up to 52kg, level 1); Jasmin Siebelitz (women’s up to 63kg, level 1); Carina Niemeyer (women’s up to 78kg, level 1); Andreas Gramsch (men’s up to 60kg, level 1); Timo Karmasch (men’s up to 90kg, level 1) and Christine Schlachter (women’s over 78kg, level 2) secured the other titles for Germany.

Among the guests of honour were Friedhelm Julius Beucher, President of the German Disabled Sports Association/National Paralympic Committee of Germany. Cologne’s Lord Mayor Henriette Reker also attended.

The Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Klaus-Peter Gdowczok of VG Project e. V., thanked all participants, volunteers and supporters who made the event a success.

The competition also attracted the patronage of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The event was made possible by the Gold Kraemer Foundation, the Kämpgen Foundation, Gemeinnützige Werkstätten Köln GmbH and Alexianer Werkstätten GmbH.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

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

#SupportTheBest: List of auction lots grows

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A flyer for an auction in support of the world's best athletes with an intellectual impairment

Just under one month away from its #SupportTheBest dinner and auction in Sheffield, Great Britain, on 23 November, the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has given a glimpse of the list of items to be sold.

Headlining the swag on offer in support of the world’s best athletes is two trips to World Intellectual Impairment Sport sport events in 2018.

The lucky winners of the first lot will be flown from Great Britain to Paris, France. There they will enjoy a two night stay for two people at the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport European Games between 14-22 July. They will get to experience a variety of sports first hand including athletics, swimming, football and table tennis.

The next incredible item is another two night break for two people at the 2018 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Football Championships. Travelling from Great Britain to Karlstad, Sweden, any time between 2-18 August they can witness the thrills and spills of the beautiful game.

Continuing the holiday theme event partners and hosts, the four star Copthorne Hotel, are offering a one night stay in their luxurious penthouse suite.

Dinner guests will also get the chance to bid on a series of signed sports and arts memorabilia. These include shirt and picture displays from England footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, Arsenal favourite Thierry Henry and newly crowned Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton. In addition a signed and framed display of photographs of music legend Phil Collins is on offer.

Smaller items such as dinner for two at Nonna’s Italian restaurant in Sheffield and a family ticket for a Sheffield Sharks basketball game mean that everyone can have a go at bidding.

The evening will be highlighted by a speech from British Paralympian Jessica-Jane Applegate. The swimmer will recount her story, life as a Paralympic medallist and why organisations like World Intellectual Impairment Sport are so important for thousands of athletes.

Attendees will enjoy a delicious three course dinner and will get to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best sportspeople.

Ticket information

Tickets are still available for the dinner and auction which gets underway at the Copthorne Hotel in Sheffield at 7pm on 23 November. A table of eight is priced at £273 whilst individual tickets are £39 per person.

France claim historic double at World Intellectual Impairment Sport table tennis Worlds

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A table tennis player with Down's syndrome

The French men’s and women’s teams took two historic titles at the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Table Tennis Championships on Monday (23 October), securing the first titles for players with Down’s syndrome.

Lucille Poquet, Camille Frson, Celine Delalande and Carole Hennion were the victors in the women’s on the opening day of competition in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

They overcame the Egyptian side of Norhan Aboutale and Nermen Abdelhafez 3-0.

There was similar success for the French men. Cedric Courrillaud, Ludovic Morainville, Jean Bachevillier and Alexandre Sol also beat Egypt 3-0. Kareem Elzeiny and Mazen Elsamay proved no match for their opponents.

The Championships in Hradec Kralove are the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport competition to feature the new trial eligibility groups of Down’s syndrome and autism.

The new categories join the existing classification of players with an intellectual impairment where matches were also played on Monday.

Hong Kong’s Paralympic bronze medallist Mui Wui Ng and teammates Hiu Tung Li and Pui Kei Wong claimed gold in the women’s junior team competition.

They triumphed over hosts Czech Republic featuring Jana Feixova and Denisa Macurova, 3-0.

Away from the medal matches the men’s team and men’s junior competition for players with intellectual impairments got underway.

Defending champions France won their opening group games against Egypt and Austria, both 3-0, to advance to the next round.

Hong Kong beat Thailand 3-0 in the men’s junior competition.

Hradec Kralove 2017 runs until 27 October.

News and updates will be available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website (www.inas.org) and Facebook and Twitter.

Full results are available at the competition website.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

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

Athletes prepare for historic World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships

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A table tennis player throws the ball into to air ready to serve

Photo by Harry Engels/Getty Images

Around 65 athletes from 14 countries have begun to arrive in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, for the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Table Tennis Championships which get underway on Monday (23 October).

As well as athletes with intellectual impairments, the Championships will be the first to feature new trial eligibility groups for Down’s syndrome and autism.

Amongst those playing will be defending women’s singles champion Ka Man Wong and Mui Wui Ng, both from Hong Kong.

London 2012 Paralympic champion Wong lost out on a medal to her teammate at Rio 2016. Ng claimed bronze in the women’s singles.

Wong, who has the benefit of 17 years’ experience playing the sport, sees Hradec Kralove 2017 as a crucial stop on the calendar:

“I hope I can perform well in the competition and strive for medals. This is one of the most important competitions after the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I am looking forward to it.”

Ng is also targeting the podium:

“My aim for the Championships is to gain more competition experience and at the same time, striving for my best performance and fighting for medals,” Ng said. “There are lots of competitive players. If I have to win a game, I have to be focused and put my best effort during the games.”

In addition Wong and Ng are the defending women’s doubles champions.

In the men’s competition France’s Lucas Creange is the singles title holder. He returns to defend his gold from Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2015.

Creange will also aim to retain the men’s team crown alongside Richard Vallee and Antoine Zhao who competed two years ago.

The hosts are sending a strong squad that features Denis Ksandr, Lukas Schauer, Marcela Cervenakova, Jana Feixova, Jan Pokuta, Ondrej Vitvar, Denisa Macurova, Kveta Telvakova, Filip Zahalka, Pavel Richter and Marie Horvathova.

Hradec Kralove 2017 officially opens on 22 October, with competition running from 23-27 October.

News and updates will be available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website (www.inas.org) and Facebook and Twitter.

Results will be available every day at the competition website.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

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. 

International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment announced

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A montage of photos of athletes with intellectual impairments

Credit: Getty Images

The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has re-launched its dedicated day for celebrating and raising awareness of high performance and grassroots sport worldwide.

The occasion – formerly known as Global Intellectual Disability Day – has been renamed the International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment. It will be held on 3 December, 2017.

This year’s edition will have a theme of ‘the world’s best athletes’. The aim is to showcase and promote the incredible abilities of the sportspeople World Intellectual Impairment Sport supports.

The organisation is encouraging its 80+ member organisations, the wider para-sport movement and the public to get involved on a national and international level.

“From arranging meet and greets with athletes and trying out sports with them, to sharing memories, photos and videos on social media of their favourite stars, there is something everyone can do to celebrate the new International Day of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment,” World Intellectual Impairment Sport President, Marc Truffaut, said.

“There is no better way for people to get to know the most successful athletes from their country and to raise awareness of their achievements. It is also a great way to promote grassroots sports for people with intellectual impairments, autism and Down’s syndrome.

“We are timing this year’s celebrations to coincide with the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships – one of our biggest competitions – as well as the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities to really maximise the reach of the event.

“We want as many people as possible to know about high performance sport for athletes with intellectual impairments, to follow them during their careers and share their favourite moments and memories using #SupportTheBest.”

At the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships, a range of digital content, videos, images and athlete stories will be shared to celebrate the day. The Championships begin on 28 November and closes on 3 December in Aguascalientes, Mexico

World Intellectual Impairment Sport will also be sharing updates from member organisations and athletes. As a charity it aims to use the day to raise funds to support its work.

Aguascalientes 2017 is expected to attract around 150 athletes from 20 countries. It will be the biggest gathering of swimmers with an intellectual impairment this year.

About World Intellectual Impairment Sport

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.

Wong looks towards ‘most important competition since Paralympics’

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Hong Kong’s former Paralympic champion Ka Man Wong is excited about the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Table Tennis Championships, believing it to be the most important event since the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Wong is the defending women’s singles world champion having beat teammate Mui Wui Ng to gold at the 2015 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The 31-year-old could face Ng once again for the world title from 23-27 October in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.

“I hope I can perform well in the competition and strive for medals,” Wong said. “This is one of the most important competitions after the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I am looking forward to it.”

Ng now 20, does have the potential to beat her compatriot at a major event. At Rio 2016 she beat Wong to bronze with a 3-0 victory in the women’s singles.

With the two athletes remaining amongst the best in the world, a rematch could be on the cards in Hradec Kralove.

“Ng is an athlete with high potential. We know about the style of play of each other very well,” Wong said. “At that match [during Rio 2016], I just had a bit of advantage over her in terms of experience, so what I did is to play focused and find ways to win.

“I am not certain [about which athletes could challenge me], but it’s all about my own play on the spot. All I have to do is to be concentrated and properly execute the tactics suggested by my coaches.”

Wong, who is recovering from a persistent knee injury, is also looking forward to the team event: “I can play with my teammates as a team who can share the joy or frustration together. At the same time, it keeps me motivated to play better too.”

Having taken up table tennis in 2000, this year Wong is celebrating 14 years since she won her first major international medal at the 2003 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships in Mexico. Since then she has collected multiple singles and doubles titles and remains one of Hong Kong’s best medal hopes.

“Table Tennis provides me with unexpected opportunities in visiting different places for competitions, which has widened my horizons,” Wong said. “Besides, I meet friends and teammates through training, which has also widened my social circle.”

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, will feature around 65 players from 14 countries. As well as athletes with an intellectual impairment, it will also be the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport competition to trial new eligibility groups for Down’s syndrome and autism.

Updates will be available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website, Facebook and Twitter throughout the competition. Results will be published at the official event website.

The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (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 world’s biggest impairment group in sport and society without your support.

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