Preview: Cycling Worlds highlight August’s action

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With the summer season now in full swing, the world’s best athletes with an intellectual impairment continue their quest for glory on the global stage in August.

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cycling Championships

Athletes from nine countries, including hosts the Netherlands, will compete on the road between 1-4 August in and around Assen. The French duo of Jeremy Pereira and Aurelie Minodier are both defending champions, and will contest their titles in the men’s and women’s individual time trial and road race. A team time trial is also scheduled.

Live updates and pictures from Assen 2017 will be available World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter throughout the event.

Route maps, results and entries are available at the Championships website.

Table tennis Asian Championships

From 23-31 August Para table tennis players will light up Beijing, China, for one of the most competitive regional Championships in the sport.

More information is available at the International Table Tennis Federation website. 

2017 World Para Athletics Junior Championships

The competition in Nottwil, Switzerland, is the first of its kind and will feature around 275 aspiring young athletes. These will include future stars of track and field with an intellectual impairment competing in T/F20 events.

Portugal’s Ana Filipe will compete on the back of a bronze medal in the women’s long jump T20 at July’s World Championships in London, Great Britain.

Expect a fast and furious few days between 3-6 August as athletes take to the notoriously fast track at the Sport Arena.

More information is available at World Para Athletics’ website.

2017 Pan American Para Taekwondo Championships

Featuring Poomsae for athletes with an intellectual impairment, the Pan Ams will see three age categories contested – junior (12-15 years), under 30 (16-29 years) and over 30.

The event will take place on 29 August in San Jose, Costa Rica.

More information is available at the Pan Am Taekwondo Union’s website.

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 sport and society without your support.

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

World’s best cyclists ready to take on World Championships

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Elite level cyclists from nine countries have arrived in Assen, the Netherlands, for the 2017 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Cycling Championships which get underway on Tuesday (1 August).

The competition, featuring team and individual time trials and road races for men and women, is being run alongside the European Junior Cycling Tour.

The field is highlighted by the return of respective French men’s and women’s world champions Jeremy Pereira and Aurelie Minodier.

In 2016 Pereira claimed the men’s road race and individual time trial titles in Racice, Czech Republic.

The 23-year-old wants to “win the world champion title once again” in Assen but is also aware of the threat from the hosts.

“I think the Dutch could beat me, especially as we are racing in their home country, it is definitely an advantage for them,” Pereira said. “I am planning to follow thoroughly the instructions of my coach.”

One of Pereira’s toughest competitors will be Joannathan Duinkerke. The Dutch athlete was the bronze medallist from the 2016 road race and one-half of the title-winning duo from the team time trial with teammate Davy Mertens.

Mertens will challenge for gold in the individual time trial as the third place finisher from the last edition.

Minodier meanwhile will try to defend her road race and individual time trial golds from Racice.

The 24-year-old Frenchwoman aims to “keep [her] titles and pursue [her] efforts to the end” but will be looking over her shoulder at the Polish and Russian racers.

Russia’s Liubov Tarasova will be looking to improve on her silver medal from the individual time trial and bronze in the road race from 2016.

Action gets underway with the men’s and women’s individual time trial on 1 August. The men’s and women’s team time trial follows on 3 August (subject to entries) with the men’s and women’s road race on 4 August.

Full entries, course maps and results are available at https://inasdrenthe.com/ and live updates posted to Facebook.com/World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport and Twitter (@World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport).

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 and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

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

Former World Intellectual Impairment Sport President receives honorary doctorate

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Credit: Leeds Beckett University

By Leeds Beckett University

The former President of the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport), Dr Bob Price OBE, has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Leeds Beckett University, where he graduated from the Carnegie School of Sport in 1970 with a physical education degree.

Dr Price started his career as a physical education teacher for children with severe physical impairments, before moving on to become head of delegation to the Great Britain team in five consecutive Paralympic Games.

His subsequent roles as Chairman of the British Paralympic Association, President of the European Paralympic Committee and more recently World Intellectual Impairment Sport have seen unprecedented achievements in para-sport.

Dr Price has campaigned throughout his four-decade career for the equal promotion of impairment groups within the Paralympics. However, when athletes with intellectual impairments were excluded from future Paralympic Games after Sydney 2000, Dr Price was encouraged to intervene directly, by accepting the World Intellectual Impairment Sport presidency and working with the International Paralympic Committee for their re-inclusion from London 2012.

Speaking about receiving his honorary degree, Dr Price said: “Receiving an honorary degree from any institution is a cause for gratitude and receiving one from Leeds Beckett University has a special and added significance because it was on this campus that I first began as an undergraduate more than 50 years ago. There is a real sense of circularity associated with the fact that 50-odd years later the same institution has asked me back to a graduation ceremony.”

In 1993 he was awarded an OBE for services to sport and people with impairments, and gained membership of the Paralympic Order in 2006.

Offering advice to this year’s graduates, Dr Price said: “What I would suggest to all of today’s young graduates is that they seize whatever opportunity comes before them. You never really know what’s around the corner in your career; but, unfortunately, I’ve come across too many people who, too late in life, think back to opportunities that they could’ve taken but didn’t. I would say to anybody graduating today, at the other end of their career: whatever opportunity comes along, grasp it eagerly, work at it, work with it and, almost certainly, it will lead you somewhere else every bit as exciting. Don’t let them go by!”

Dr Price was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport Science on Friday (28 July), for his global services to para-sport.

Leeds Beckett University Chancellor, Sir Bob Murray CBE, said: “Dr Price’s achievements in disability sport have had significant global impact; something we aspire to for all of our students here at Leeds Beckett University.

“His success leaves a lasting legacy for all athletes with an intellectual disability across the world, and shows our students just what can be achieved with the grounding of a degree from our university and the ‘can do’ attitude of a truly inspirational campaigner. He has worked tirelessly for the inclusion of Paralympic athletes, and we are extremely proud to call him an alumnus of the university and now an honorary doctorate.”

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 and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

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

France’s Pereira targets cycling world title defence

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Jeremy Pereira and

French men’s road race and individual time trial world champion Jeremy Pereira is eyeing the successful defence of his titles when the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cycling Championships roll into Assen, the Netherlands, from Wednesday (2 August).

At the last edition in the Czech Republic in 2016 the 23-year-old stormed to double gold and was part of the French duo that claimed silver in the men’s team time trial with Mickael Collin.

He is clear what he wants this time around: “Win the world champion title once again.”

But Pereira knows he will face tough competition, especially from the hosts.

“I think the Dutch could beat me, especially as we are racing in their home country, it is definitely an advantage for them,” he said. “I am planning to follow thoroughly the instructions of my coach.”

One of Pereira’s toughest competitors will be Joannathan Duinkerke. The Dutch athlete was the bronze medallist from the 2016 individual road race and one-half of the title-winning duo from the team time trial alongside teammate Davy Mertens.

Duinkerke has had a great season, winning in the road race at the Dutch Championships for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Pereira favours the time trial as he hopes to convert his training performances into success on the road.

“My favourite contest is the time trial because I achieve good results in all of my trainings and it is often done on a short circuit so I can give all I have all along the race.”

The Frenchman has been cycling for fun since the age of 12. He began competitive cycling with the French Federation of Adapted Sports in 2014 after riding 300km from Pont Audemer in France to London, Great Britain, ahead of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I can escape, I am not thinking of anything else and it feels good, and I also like seeing the landscape,” Pereira said of his love for two wheels. “It is helping me to release my stress, I climb on my bike almost daily in order to relax.”

Pereira is also on the road to the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Brisbane, Australia, where he will try to improve on his silver medal from the individual time trial and retain the team title with Collin. Collin will also compete in Assen.

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cycling World Championships will feature the world’s best cyclists with an intellectual impairment from nine countries.

Action gets underway with the men’s and women’s individual time trial on 1 August. The men’s and women’s team time trial follows on 3 August with the men’s and women’s road race on 4 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 and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

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

Swimming Championships to go ahead in Aguascalientes

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The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has confirmed that the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships will go ahead in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Crucial documentation, which confirms that the competition pool is suitable for major international competition, has now been received from the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

Earlier in July World Intellectual Impairment Sport informed the LOC, the Federación Mexicana de Deportistas Especiales (FEMEDE), that it would be forced to find another venue for the Championships if the paperwork was not made available.

With everything now in place, World Intellectual Impairment Sport have confirmed that entries have re-opened and the event will go ahead from 27 November – 4 December.

Nick Parr, Executive Director of World Intellectual Impairment Sport, said: “We are delighted to have solved this issue with the LOC and are looking forward to a great event later on this year.

“Whilst the site visit at the end of June identified uncertainty around the competition pool, the organisers showed a high level of commitment to staging a memorable Championships.

“They have ambitious plans for infrastructure, athlete facilities and media and broadcasting and we are excited to see what they can deliver for one of our most important events.”

Around 150 athletes from 20 countries are expected to compete in Aguascalientes at the biggest and most important event for swimmers with intellectual impairments in 2017.

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 and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the world’s biggest impairment group in society without your support.

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

Grant and scholarships awarded to next generation of Australian athletes

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A group of people at a presentation

Recipients of the Next Generation Athlete programme grants and scholarships with Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, Lady Mayoress Anne Quirk and Robyn Smith CEO Sport Inclusion Australia.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Lady Mayoress Anne Quirk of Brisbane, Australia, announced Next Generation Athlete grants and scholarships to 17 local athletes at a reception held at the Town Hall on Tuesday (25 July).

The fourth round of the programme is intended to help athletes realise their sporting dreams and is supported by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust. It could also assist in their preparation for the 2019 International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games, which are being held in the Australian city.

“Over the last 50 years the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust has improved the wellbeing of the most marginalised and vulnerable members of our community. I would like to congratulate all recipients today and take this opportunity to thank Sport Inclusion Australia for their hard work and dedication to facilitate inclusiveness in all sports across the Brisbane community. It is our pleasure to make a positive difference in the lives of these young athletes,” Quirk, who is also an World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games Patron, said.

Inspired by fellow Brisbane resident and world welterweight boxing champion Jeff Horn, the Lord Mayor also provided some encouraging words to athletes: “Follow your dream to be the best that you can be in your sporting endeavours.”

Athletes acknowledged the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust and the importance of the grants in helping them meet the costs of training, equipment and competition as they strive to reach their potential.

Grants and scholarships were awarded to athletes across athletics, cricket, indoor cricket, netball, swimming and tennis.

“Sport Inclusion Australia is delighted to have developed the Next Generation Athlete programme with the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust. The Next Generation Athlete programme is an innovative way of identifying and supporting young athletes with an intellectual impairment in the Brisbane metropolitan region on their athletic pathway. It will assist aspiring young athletes with the help of state sporting organisations and Queensland school sport to provide an opportunity to compete at local, state, national and international level and if possible the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games here in Brisbane,” Robyn Smith, Chief Executive of Sport Inclusion Australia, said.

The presentation also provided an opportunity to release the latest Next Generation Athlete promotional video highlighting stories of current scholarship holders. Jack Ireland (swimming), Yasmin Sanders (tennis), Mac Russell (rowing) and Alberto Campbell-Staines (athletics) have all benefitted from the project.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games Ambassador and Paralympic medallist swimmer Daniel Fox was also in attendance.

The next round will open in December 2017 with grants and scholarships to be awarded in 2018.

Grant recipients
Alex Baker (tennis)
Haydn Brumm (cricket)
Thomas Burrows (athletics)
Harry Cahill (swimming)
Jennifer Collins (netball)
Summer Dullaway (swimming)
Caitlin Kerby (swimming)
Shane Kuilboer (indoor cricket)
Lisa Lenton (netball)
Shaun McKee (indoor cricket)
Patrick O’Brien (swimming)
Ashley-Kate Schlenner (swimming)
Chelsea Stebbing (swimming)
Brett Wilson (cricket)
Aaron Wood (cricket)

Scholarships
Yasmin Sanders (tennis)
Bailey Stewart (swimming)

The 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games will gather more than 1,000 athletes from around the world to compete in nine sports between 9-20 October.

England win World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Nations T20 final

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NESTON, ENGLAND – JULY 17: Dan Bowser of England batting during the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Learning Disability Tri-Series Trophy match between England and Australia on July 17, 2017 in Neston, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

England claimed the T20 trophy with a thumping eight wicket win over South Africa as they finished the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series supported by NatWest unbeaten.

England stuck the South Africans in at a blustery Nantwich Cricket Club. Ronnie Jackson picked up an early wicket before Elridge George and Keketso Chabedi helped South Africa ease into the game with a 37 run partnership.

As the saying goes, one quickly brought two as George (18) fell working the ball to square leg before Chabedi was bowled by Tayler Young for 25 leaving South Africa 55-3.

Matt Cowdery picked up two wickets in two balls before missing out on his hat-trick after Mzwandile Mhlongo got his bat down on another straight delivery.

Jan Makololo battled for 20 before a late flurry of boundaries from Mhlongo (19*) saw South Africa up to 105-6 from their 20 overs.

Birthday boy Jonny Gale went early in the reply for 9. Dan Bowser and Jackson set about taking a chunk out of the target a rapid 43 run partnership.

Jackson fell leg before to Jali Mkhululi for 21 but Bowser continued his explosive form with the bat to finish 61 not out and lead England home with over nine overs to spare. Bowser gave one final demonstration of his skill as he ended the game with successive sixes.

Cheshire’s own Jack Perry finished a successful debut series with 13 not out.

England win World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series Final

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NESTON, ENGLAND – JULY 17: Dan Bowser and Chris Edwards of England during the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series Trophy match between England and Australia on July 17, 2017 in Neston, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

England took the first honours in the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series supported by NatWest with a comprehensive eight wicket victory over Australia in the 40 over final today.

Australian skipper Gavan Hicks won the toss on a glorious day at Neston Cricket Club and had no hesitation in opting to bat first.

The decision looked justified as he and Boyd Duffield raced to 80 without loss within 12 overs. England quickly fought back as Duffield became one of three dismissals for England captain Chris Edwards (3-24) as a mini collapse saw the Australians slump to 94-5.

Hicks kept his team in the hunt as he top scored with 77 to help Australia post 165 all out. Alex Jervis was again amongst the wickets, going for only nine runs in his eight overs while picking up two wickets.

Dan Bowser and Edwards broke the back of the reply with a partnership of 123 for the second wicket. Edwards fell for 42 but Bowser steered England home to victory with an unbeaten 93 at better than a run a ball.

The competition now switches to T20 format with all three sides playing at Toft Cricket Club tomorrow.

For more: www.ecb.co.uk

World Intellectual Impairment Sport urge LOC of 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships to submit crucial documentation

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The International Federation for Intellectual impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has notified countries that the location of the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships may change if the Local Organising Committee (LOC) cannot produce crucial documentation relating to the competition pool in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport requires the documentation as part of the hosting agreement with the Federación Mexicana de Deportistas Especiales FEMEDE), as it is a condition of the sanctioning and recognition of results by World Intellectual Impairment Sport and other international sport bodies.

The situation arose when the LOC recently requested permission to move the venue from Morelia, the original host city in the bid document, to Aguascalientes. A subsequent site visit revealed that documents that guaranteed the proposed pool was suitable for major international competitions were not available.

FEMEDE had assured World Intellectual Impairment Sport that the paperwork would be available by Wednesday (12 July), however key documents have still not been submitted. World Intellectual Impairment Sport may now be forced to find a new host for the competition.

The World Intellectual Impairment Sport Swimming Championships are the biggest and most important competition for swimmers with intellectual impairments in 2017.

Dave Harman, World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Sport Director for swimming, attended the site visit in late June.

“We are very keen to keep the Championships in Mexico, as it would be a landmark event,” Harman said.

“The first World Intellectual Impairment Sport event of its kind to take place in the Americas, it offers many benefits for the reach and profile of swimming for athletes with intellectual impairments, for the local community and for the country and region as a whole.

“The bid and site visit showed the huge potential and ambition of the LOC, with excellent plans for the infrastructure, facilities for the athletes, media and broadcasting.

“However, whilst I was hugely encouraged by the plans of the LOC in many areas, crucial elements of their preparations fell short of World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ standards. Primarily I was disappointed to learn that there was no certification that the newly proposed competition pool meets the requirements of a major international event, as laid out in the hosting contract.”

Following the site visit World Intellectual Impairment Sport suspended entries to give the LOC time to produce the documentation.

“FEMEDE were able to provide us with a date of when the pool would be assessed, but that has now passed,” Harman continued. “Each delay takes us closer to the Championships, which is not ideal.

“To ensure the quality of the event and in the interests of the athletes taking part, we may have no choice but to remove the right to host the competition from a very capable LOC if the necessary paperwork is not received.”

Support us 

World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 250,000 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. Find out more 

Another win for England in latest tri-nations match

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By England and Wales Cricket Board

The England Learning Disability side have qualified for the 40 over final of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Series supported by NatWest after a 224 run victory over South Africa.

After England posted an imposing total of 316-3 South Africa could only muster 92 in reply.

After losing the toss and being put into bat, skipper Chris Edwards and Jonny Gale built an excellent platform with an opening stand of 109. After Gale fell for 41, Dan Bowser took control with an extraordinary innings of 108 from 56 balls.

Bowser hit eight sixes as he moved from 50 to 100 in only 12 balls. Edwards fell ten short of his century after being caught at midwicket for 90 but Ronnie Jackson provided able support to Bowser with a quick-fire 40*.

South Africa’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Tayler Young removed Phaphama Mthana for a second ball duck in the first over. A run out and a second wicket for Young saw South Africa slump to 27-3.

In-form Edrich George (38) attempted to launch a fightback but saw wickets regularly fall around him. Edwards (4-12) picked up three wickets in his first over to leave South Africa with little hope of reaching their target.

They were eventually dismissed for 92 with Young finishing with 3-49.

 

For a full match report head to www.ecb.co.uk