US launches search for equestrians with an intellectual impairment

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By World Intellectual Impairment Sport and Athletes Without Limits

 

An equestrian with an intellectual impairment competes on their horse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The search is on for equestrians with an intellectual impairment in the USA as Athletes Without Limits celebrate the launch of their national programme.

The sport is their newest addition and they want to hear from budding riders who could potentially represent their country in international competitions.

Based out of Bend, Oregon, the programme opens the door to International Federation for Intellectually Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) and other high-level equestrian opportunities.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport is currently developing new opportunities for accomplished equestrians to compete on an international level including a video competition on 9 September. This will allow participants to compete against riders from all over the world without sacrificing the security of their own horse and coaching team.  As an international athlete, there may also be future opportunities to travel.

Athletes Without Limits goal is to support US equestrian athletes who want to compete locally, nationally, or internationally by offering coaching and competitive opportunities for riders to hone their skills under the guidance of Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) coaches and judges.

They are also in the process of developing local competitive opportunities for developing riders who want to showcase their current abilities and work towards representing the US in international competition in the future.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport currently offers events in dressage for international equestrian competitors, and qualified riders are expected to perform tests in accordance with the FEI.

The 1st World Intellectual Impairment Sport Para-Equestrian Video Competition will feature the FEI Para-Equestrian Grade IV test.

Who is eligible?
US Athletes (regardless of sport) who wish to compete at the international level through World Intellectual Impairment Sport or join the official US team must meet World Intellectual Impairment Sport eligibility requirements for intellectual impairments. Athletes who do not wish to compete at the international level only need to meet the eligibility requirements of the local events in which they compete.

Equestrians interested in competing internationally who are riding independently at the walk, trot and canter and have reached proficiency in dressage or an equestrian sport other than dressage should contact Athletes Without Limits to develop a plan for transitioning into World Intellectual Impairment Sport dressage competition.

At the local, regional, and national levels, it is their goal to develop competitive opportunities for equestrians that include a variety of disciplines and skill levels.

Athletes Without Limits are eager to hear from athletes, family members, coaches, trainers, show managers, therapeutic riding instructors, horse owners, health professionals, or any other community members interested in supporting their mission to expand the training and competitive opportunities for equestrians with intellectual impairments.

 

 

World Para Athletics Championships to be shown live

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An intellectually impaired runner

The USA’s Breanna Clark celebrates winning gold in the women’s 400m T20 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images for Tokyo 2020).

By World Intellectual Impairment Sport and World Para Athletics

World Para Athletics has announced that all 10 days of action from the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London, Great Britain, will be livestreamed at www.worldparaathletics.org.

Around 1,300 athletes from 100 countries are expected to compete at London 2017 between 14-23 July, contesting 213 medal events.

The event is the first major gathering of international stars since the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where athletes set a staggering 69 world records.

Big names set to line-up on the track for hosts Great Britain include Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft, Richard Whitehead and Georgina Hermitage, who between them have won 13 world and 11 Paralympic titles.

In the field British medal hopes lie with four-time world champion Aled Davies, and Paralympic champions Joanna Butterfield and Hollie Arnold. In the F20 category for athletes with intellectual impairments, Sabrina Fortune will get to experience the roar of a home crowd as the women’s shot put Rio 2016 bronze medallist.

International stars who will light-up the iconic London Stadium include Australia’s men’s shot put F20 world champion Todd Hodgetts, the USA’s women’s 400m T20 Paralympic title-holder Breanna Clark and men’s 1,500m T20 Paralympic and Worlds gold medallist teammate Michael Brannigan.

Dutch sprinter Marlou van Rhijn, Canadian wheelchair ace Brent Lakatos and German long jump sensation Markus Rehm are also expected. The world’s fastest male and female Para athletes – Ireland’s Jason Smyth and Cuba’s Omara Durand – will look to lower their own 100m world records on a track they know well from London 2012.

Craig Spence, the International Paralympic Committee’s Director of Media and Communications, said: “London 2017 is promising to be the best World Para Athletics Championships to date with athletes continuing their outstanding from last September’s Paralympic Games.

“Already this year we have seen many of the sport’s leading stars in record breaking form and I expect many more to records fall during 10 days of exhilarating competition.

“Following the phenomenal success of London 2012, the iconic London stadium holds a very special place in the heart of many Para athletes, many of whom will be eager to defend or win world titles in the British capital. The action is not to be missed, so we’re glad to be showing all 54 hours of coverage via our website.”

All morning and evening sessions will be streamed live during the event and expert commentary will be provided by Will Downing and Tulsen Tollett. German Paralympic long jump champion Vanessa Low will join the pair to provide in-depth analysis.

In addition to live streaming all 54 hours of coverage, and providing daily highlights and clips of all races and events, live results will also be provided here.

*Please note the coverage will be geoblocked in certain territories.

Entry deadlines approach for World Championships

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An intellectually impaired table tennis player from Asia

Japan’s Maki Ito competes in the women’s singles table tennis – Class 11 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images for Tokyo 2020)

Entry deadlines for International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Championships in basketball, table tennis and road cycling are edging closer, including the first competition to feature athletes with down syndrome and autism.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, from 21-29 October will feature the two new impairment groups and is one of the year’s most anticipated events.

The additions were signed off at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport General Assembly in April, in an exciting development for high performance intellectual disability sport.

The deadline for teams to register their intention to compete is 30 June. The entry pack is available on the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website. 

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cycling Championships will take place as part of the European Junior Cycling Tour Assen between 30 July and 4 August in the Netherlands. Organisers have been busy creating an exciting programme for athletes both in and around the competition, including a cultural day on 2 August.

The individual time trial will kick start the action on 1 August, followed by the team time trial on 3 August and road race 24 hours later.

The entry deadline is 15 June and can be made via World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ athlete registration system ISMS. 

Rounding off the trio of events is the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships in Loana, Italy, from 20-26 November. The entry pack is available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website and must be submitted by 30 June. 

Judo and swimming World Championships will also take place in 2017.

From 19-22 October judoka will gather in Cologne, Germany, for the World Intellectual Impairment Sport sanctioned competition. Then from 27 November to 4 December swimmers will compete in Aguascalientes, Mexico, for the first World Championships in the Americas.

Information about entries for both events is available at the World Intellectual Impairment Sport website. 

Countries name teams for World Para Athletics Championships

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An intellectually impaired runner

The USA’s Breanna Clark celebrates winning gold in the women’s 400m T20 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images for Tokyo 2020).

By World Intellectual Impairment Sport

A series of countries have named top athletes with intellectual impairments to their teams for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, which get underway in London, Great Britain, on 14 July.

The hosts have selected four athletes to compete in T20 and F20 events on the track and field, choosing a mix of youth and experience amongst their 49-strong team as Para athletics returns to the Olympic Park.

Sabrina Fortune will get to experience the roar of a home crowd as the women’s shot put Rio 2016 Paralympic Games bronze medallist.

Middle distance runners James Hamilton and Stephen Morris will go head-to-head in the men’s 800m and 1,500m. Morris will also go for the podium in the 5,000m.

Martina Barber, 22, makes her World Championships debut in the long jump.

Great Britain’s Para athletics head coach Paula Dunn said: “We have selected a very strong team for the World Para Athletics Championships in London, and I am delighted to see so many medallists from Rio lining up alongside some new faces at the senior level. Having a home World Championship is very special for all the athletes, coaches and team staff, so we are all very honoured to be representing the British team this summer.”

The 2019 International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games hosts Australia are sending two field athletes to London.

Defending men’s shot put world champion Todd Hodgetts takes his place alongside long jumper Nicholas Hum.

Amongst the team representing the USA is Breanna Clark. The 22-year-old made a stunning debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by winning gold in the women’s 400m.

Compatriot Michael Brannigan is the men’s 1,500m Paralympic and world title holder. He will also be looking to improve on his silver medal from the 2015 Worlds in Doha, Qatar, in the 5,000m.

Kaitlyn Bounds and Michael Murray complete the US line-up.

Paralympic Games hosts Brazil are looking to build on a solid performance from Rio 2016.

Daniel Tavares will try to defend his men’s 400m world title from Doha as the new Paralympic champion and world record holder.

Long jumper Alain Villamarin will compete at his second World Championships for Argentina.

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships will be held in the same city as the IAAF World Championships for the first time.

London will host approximately 1,300 athletes contesting 213 medal events across 10 days of competition in all classifications.

Tickets and more information is available at the event website. 

Australia helps spread inclusive sport in China ahead of World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games

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By Sport Inclusion Australia and World Intellectual Impairment Sport

Sport Inclusion Australia, the organisers of the 2019 International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games, have been helping to grow inclusive sport in China.

Working closely with the Australia Department of Foreign Affairs through its Asian Sports Partnership (ASP) and the Brisbane City Council, where the 2019 Global Games will be hosted, organisers delivered a week of basketball training in May.

More than twelve months in the making, the project came to fruition when Australian Basketball representative, Kelly Bowen, gave training to young students and teachers at the Yuanping Special School in Shenzhen.

Bowen, who is a member of the Australian 3 v 3 women’s basketball team, will also deliver more sessions in the future.

China has huge untapped potential; none of the athletes who competed at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games had an intellectual impairment and the number who currently participate in World Intellectual Impairment Sport events is low.

Sport Inclusion Australia Chief Executive Officer, Robyn Smith, visited the country in March 2017 to meet with the education hierarchy of the Shenzhen Foreign Affairs Office, key staff at the Yuanping Special School and the Chinese Paralympic Committee.

Smith was stunned by the facilities, numbers of students and willingness of the Chinese authorities to participate in the programme:  “Australian schools and sporting organisations would be amazed at the facilities available here at a special school for over 1,500 students with a disability. There are over 1,000 special schools across China with millions of students with an intellectual disability.”  

Further opportunities for the Global Games, which gathers hundreds of athletes to compete in nine sports, and World Intellectual Impairment Sport have also been discovered.

“It is clear that China is very supportive of students with an intellectual disability, but their participation in the Paralympics and World Intellectual Impairment Sport events has been restricted due to lack of accessible eligibility processes.” Smith said. “If we [World Intellectual Impairment Sport] want to expand into non-English speaking countries we need to be open to change and ensure that the process is open and translated in multiple languages.”  

With the coaching and education programme now underway and in the capable hands of Bowen, Smith will now focus on ensuring that the eligibility process is made available to the Chinese in her role as Vice President of World Intellectual Impairment Sport.  

One of highlights of the ASP project has been Sport Inclusion Australia’s ability to bring together a number of stakeholders to maximise the effectiveness and mutual benefit to all involved.  

The Brisbane City Council, in particular the Lord Mayor’s Office, has played a large role through engaging the Foreign Affairs Office and Mayor of Shenzhen, which ensured the project had credibility.   

Sport Inclusion Australia plans to develop a relationship and inclusive opportunities in China, in particular the city of Shenzhen, a sister city to Brisbane.

The project will work with the Yuanping Special School and the Shenzhen Leopards national basketball club to enhance the skills of the children with an impairment in the sport. It also aims to build the capacity of local coaches and clubs to be fully inclusive and ensure these initiatives are sustainable.   

Once a successful model is developed it will be expanded to include other sports and has the potential to reach 1,000 special schools across China.  

Sport Inclusion Australia will also work with the Chinese Paralympic Committee to discuss the possibility of starting a high performance programme for those more talented athletes, to ensure there is a pathway through to World Intellectual Impairment Sport events and the 2019 Global Games.

England reveal squad for cricket tri-nations

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By England and Wales Cricket Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

England Learning Disability have announced a 15-man squad for the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Tri-Nations supported by British bank NatWest.

The tournament, which will be live scored on ecb.co.uk for the first time, will see England, Australia and South Africa lock horns at club grounds across Cheshire from 9-21 July.

England, led by skipper Chris Edwards, will be looking to win the Tri-Nations for the third time in a row following victories in 2011 and 2015.

Matt Browne and Jack Perry are new call-ups to the side while Dan Thomas and Thomas Wilson will also be hoping to make their England debuts having featured in previous squads.

The hosts will start their campaign to retain the trophy against South Africa on 10 July at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club.

The tournament is being supported by the English and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) new principal partner NatWest as part of their new ‘Cricket Has No Boundaries’ campaign.

England Learning Disability Head Coach Derek Morgan:

“The entire team is very excited about the tournament. Australia and South Africa will provide a stern test but we have picked a squad we believe is good enough to retain the trophy.

“The players are going into the tournament confident in their own abilities and that of the squad as a whole.”

England Head of Disability Cricket Ian Martin said: “We hope the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series will be a fantastic advert for our sport. Our aim is to raise the profile of disability cricket for all cricket fans, no matter their background or challenges in life.

“It is brilliant news that NatWest are supporting all forms of cricket. Their support for our recreational game is all important as our national disability squads continue to show that cricket is a game for everyone.”

Martyn Wilson, NatWest Head of Sponsorship, Events & Hospitality, said: “We are immensely proud to have supported cricket for nearly 40 years. Our new role as principal partner of the ECB has enabled us to align our own values of diversity and inclusion and develop our ‘Cricket Has No Boundaries’ campaign. We want all our customers and colleagues to feel valued and welcome, and supporting the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series is a great reflection of this.”

England squad

Chris Edwards (captain) (Cheshire)

Dan Bowser (Devon)

Matt Browne (Surrey)

Matt Cowdrey (Essex)

Jonny Gale (Surrey)

Rob Hewitt (Yorkshire)

Ronnie Jackson (Essex)

Alex Jervis (Yorkshire)

Dan Levey (Surrey)

Jack Perry (Cheshire)

Callum Rigby (Shropshire)

Lee Stenning (Surrey)

Dan Thomas (Essex

Thomas Wilson (Lancashire)

Tayler Young (Surrey)

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cricket Tri-Nations schedule

9 July: opening ceremony, Cranage Hall

10 July: England v South Africa, Chester Boughton Hall CC (40 over)

11 July: England v Australia, Grappenhall CC (40 over)

12 July: South Africa v Australia, Nantwich CC (40 over)

13 July: South Africa v England, Bramhall CC (40 over)

14 July: Australia v England, Tattenhall CC (40 over)

16 July: South Africa v Australia, Oxton CC (40 over)

17 July: Final, Neston CC (40 over)

18 July: England v Australia and Australia v South Africa, Toft CC (T20)

19 July: South Africa v England and England v Australia, Chester Boughton Hall CC (T20)

20 July: England v South Africa and South Africa v Australia, Oxton CC (T20)

21 July: Final, Nantwich CC (T20)

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships

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World Intellectual Impairment Sport is delighted to confirm that Loano, Italy will host the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships.

 

Further information

World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships open in Bangkok

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The 11th World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships open today in Bangkok – Thailand, the first time the event has been held on the Asian continent.

Taking place every 2 years, the event features a full programme of track and field athletics, and is approved by World Para Athletics.

Lenine Cuhna (Portugal) and Barbara Niewiedzial (Poland) are amongst the 130 athletes from 19 nations competing at the championships. Both will receive a special presentation during the opening ceremony having been voted Best Male and Best Female Athletes at the recent World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards following their performances in the Rio Paralympic Games and in World Intellectual Impairment Sport competition over the past two years.

For the first time, the event also features a youth-age competition category. World Intellectual Impairment Sport President Marc Truffaut explained “As performance standards rise year on year, it becomes harder for younger athletes to break into the sport. This year World Intellectual Impairment Sport will be launching a number of new initiatives to help grow sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment and to support our younger athletes into the competition pathway”.

The event takes place in Bangkok’s Supachalasai Stadium between May 15th and 19th.

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport General Assembly agrees changes

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World Intellectual Impairment Sport Member organisations from around the globe met in Brisbane, Australia from April 20-24 for the biennial World Intellectual Impairment Sport Conference and General Assembly. This year’s General Assembly was particularly important as it included elections of Governing Board officers as well as consideration of a number of proposals for changes to governance and strategic priorities.

A new Governing Board structure, agreed by the Assembly, sees 9 Members At Large elected by the five World Intellectual Impairment Sport Regions. From within these 9, three honorary positions of President, Vice President and Secretary General are then identified.  This new structure brings World Intellectual Impairment Sport Regions into the heart of World Intellectual Impairment Sport governance whilst also making them more accountable to the international body.

Marc Truffaut (France) was elected President whilst Robyn Smith (Australia) and Barry Holman (USA) were re-elected as Vice President and Secretary General respectively. These officers are joined by Members At Large Amal Mobadda (Egypt), Emma DeLa Cruz (Mexico), Emma Linnea Bjorndahl (Sweden) and Patrick Chan (Hong Kong) as well as re-elected Members At Large Fausto Pereira (Portugual) and Paul Charnvit (Thailand).

A further three independent positions will now be recruited from outside the membership allowing for key skills and experience to be brought to the Board.

 

In a seperate proposal, World Intellectual Impairment Sport revised its membership categories and will now permit membership from a much wider range of organisations supporting athletes with an intellectual disability, whilst a new strategic plan sees the organisation trial new eligible categories (for athletes with additional impairments and autism) in addition to the existing intellectual disability category.

Taken together, the changes mark a significant moment for the organisation. A new Board structure brings improved governance, whilst membership changes give a greater number of organisations the opportunity to work with World Intellectual Impairment Sport, and eligibility group changes give a much larger number of people with an intellectual impairment a competitive opportunity in sport.

Krzysztof Kaczmarek – Poland

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World Intellectual Impairment Sport is saddened to report the death of Krzysztof Kaczmarek of Poland. Krzysztof is a former World Intellectual Impairment Sport and Paralympic medalist having competed in the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. He was currently ranked 5th in the Shot Put.

As a mark of respect, the recent World Intellectual Impairment Sport General Assembly noted Krzystof’s achievements, whose funeral was held earlier this week.