World’s best athletes with an intellectual impairment to return to London

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An intellectually impaired runner

Credit: Alexandre Loureiro/Getty Images)

The world’s best athletes with an intellectual impairment have arrived in London, Great Britain, ahead of the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships which get underway on Friday (14 July).

Many of those returning to the Olympic stadium – scene of athletics at the London 2012 Paralympic Games – are International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Global Games champions, defending world title holders and Paralympic Games medallists.

Headlining the men’s field in T20 track events is Brazilian Daniel Martins, 21. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Martins won the men’s 400m in world record time.

He made his international debut just the year before at the 2015 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in Ecuador where he won the 400m. Later that year he claimed gold at his first World Championships.

Polish teammates Sylwester Jaciuk and Daniel Pek are the 2015 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games champions in the men’s 800m and 1,500m, respectively. Pek is the 2016 Paralympic silver medallist.

Japan’s Daisuke Nakagawa is the defending world champion in the men’s 5,000m. Two years ago in Ecuador Nakagawa beat teammate Ryo Kaneko to the Global Games title, with Kaneko settling for silver.

Portugal’s World Intellectual Impairment Sport Ambassador and Global Games gold medallist Lenine Cunha heads out in the men’s long jump T20. He will face tough competition from Rio 2016 silver medallist Zoran Talic of Croatia and Ukraine’s bronze medallist Dmytro Prudnikov.

Cunha is also the Global Games and defending world champion in the triple jump.

In the women’s track events Poland’s Barbara Niewiedzial is the Paralympic champion in the 1,500m. She will go against Ukraine’s Liudmyla Danylina, the Global Games title holder and Rio 2016 silver medallist.

Hungary’s Illona Biacsi just missed out on a medal at the 2015 World Championships but regained some form at the Paralympics, leaving with silver after taking the same colour in Ecuador.

Ewa Durska will look to dominate for Poland once again in the women’s shot put F20. The 40-year-old is unbeaten at a World Championships since 2011 and in 2016 won her third Paralympic title. Durksa is also the Global Games champion.

The 2017 World Para Athletics Championships run from 14-23 July. All the action is being livestreamed at worldparaathetics.org. Fans can follow the T20 events on World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter. 

 

 

 

World Intellectual Impairment Sport launches search for sponsorship and fundraising Governing Board member

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The International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) has launched a search for people with a flare for fundraising and a substantial network to fill a new sponsorship and fundraising position on its Governing Board.

The volunteer role was one of a number of new positions signed off by the World Intellectual Impairment Sport membership in May alongside significant governance changes. The organisation also agreed to a trial of two new impairment groups for athletes with autism and down syndrome.

In order to support its work at the start of an exciting new era, World Intellectual Impairment Sport is asking for individuals with expertise in fundraising and partnerships to come forward.

The person will work with the Executive Director and an existing group of industry experts, also volunteers, who form the current World Intellectual Impairment Sport Fundraising and Marketing Committee.

It is hoped the new Governing Board member can help to identify new funding streams and open the door to organisations who may be looking to support a global para-sport charity.

Nick Parr, World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Executive Director, said: “The increasing profile of para-sport means that this is an exciting time to be involved in our work and big opportunities are clearly out there.

“The potential is massive but like other small charities, even though we are an international organisation, we need a helping hand to capitalise on it.

“Whoever fills this position has the chance to make a real difference to the lives of 100,000s of people around the world.”

World Intellectual Impairment Sport is a member of the International Paralympic Committee. It is formed of more than 80 member organisations who manage sport of athletes with an intellectual impairment nationally. The World Intellectual Impairment Sport programme features 14 sports, three of which – swimming, athletics and table tennis – are in the Paralympic Games. World Intellectual Impairment Sport manages part of the pathway for elite athletes in all its sports, as well as World Championships and other competitions, promoting social inclusion along the way.

Further information

Rain causes draw for England and Australia in cricket Tri-Nations

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A cricket player celebrates

Credit: ECB

By England and Wales Cricket Board

The second match of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Nations between England and Australia was lost to the weather at Grappenhall Cricket Club in Cheshire, Great Britain, on Tuesday (11 July), with just 21 overs possible on a frustrating day.

It was enough time though for England’s Alex Jervis, the 22-year-old seamer from Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire who represents Yorkshire, to follow up his five for 46 against South Africa from Monday (10 July) with a mightily impressive three for 19 from his five overs.

That display helped England restrict Australia to 110-4 from the 21 overs. But Australian captain and opener Gavan Hicks had provided a hint of his talents, making 36 from 43 balls before being sensationally caught by Lee Stenning – the highlight of the play that was possible.

An early lunch was called at 1.35pm, when the third spell of light rain arrived, but that rain became torrential during the interval and play was abandoned at 2.24pm. Both teams took a point.

All matches in the 40-over and T20 tournament are being played at grounds across Cheshire.

Australia move on to Nantwich CC to take on South Africa on Wednesday (12 July), with both sides looking for their first win of the series. England are back in action on Thursday (13 July) when they take on South Africa at Bramhall CC.

Speaking after the match was abandoned, England captain Chris Edwards said: “Weather unfortunately beat us, which is a bit frustrating because we were making good inroads and fighting back well. First 20 overs I thought we bowled well early doors, contained them fairly well.

“It was wet from overnight rain but it was firm and the wicket played true and well.

“A win yesterday [Monday] was very important for us. To not get any result out of today means it will be very interesting going in to Thursday and Friday. Also how tomorrow’s [Wednesday] result pans out as well.

“For us it’s about working hard now on Thursday and Friday and using that energy we could perhaps have used today.

“Australia look very good batting at the top of the order. They got off to a really good start. We had some opportunities that didn’t quite go to hand but we pushed back well against them.”

Edwards was also full of praise for seamer Jervis: “He’s hungry for wickets. He’s got that enthusiasm that rubs off on the rest of the team. That self belief and determination he’s worked so hard for and it’s starting to pay rewards in these first two games.”

Australia skipper Hicks said: “It is frustrating. The first few days we were here were absolutely glorious and now we try to play cricket and it’s a completely different matter. But you can’t control the weather.

“It was very competitive. Good wicket, the ground was quick enough even with the rain on it. It would have been a pretty good match if it had gone ahead.

“It was nice to have a hit and get used to English conditions and the way the pitches are a bit different to home. It was nice to get a few in the middle, unfortunately got out and the weather set in.

“England are very disciplined in the way that they go with their bowling. They set very straight fields and make you make the mistakes. Very good batting order too, especially their top four. It’s always a good battle against them and I’m looking forward to the next match.

“We’ll certainly be wary of Alex Jervis next time we play them.

“We played a practice match against South Africa. They’ve had five guys from a previous tournament so it was good to face them again. You never know what you’re going to get, they’re athletes and it should be a good game tomorrow.”

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Nations features a series of 40-over and T20 games between hosts England, Australia and South Africa. Matches are being played at grounds across Cheshire until 21 July.

Live scoring is available throughout at the England and Wales Cricket Board website.

Jervis stars for England in cricket Tri-Nations opening win

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A cricket player takes applause

Alex Jervis and Dan Bowser combined to earn England a comfortable win in the first game of the International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Cricket Tri-Nations at a blustery Chester Boughton Hall in Cheshire on Monday (10 July).

Jervis, a 22-year-old seamer who plays club cricket for Clumber Park in Nottinghamshire but represents Yorkshire, took five for 46 as South Africa lost momentum after a flying start.

Then Bowser, a powerful left-hander from Devon who has played second team cricket for Leicestershire and Somerset, made short work of the target with an unbeaten 84 from 56 balls, as England cruised home with six wickets and more than 15 of their 40 overs to spare.

“It’s a very good start to the series for us,” said Jervis, who was named man of the match after claiming his first five-wicket haul for England.

“We were a little bit over-excited in the first few overs but after that we calmed down and played well. Taking five wickets for England is a great feeling but I had great support from the bowlers at the other end and also our fielding. And Dan Bowser played some great shots to give us a perfect start.

“Now we are looking forward to meeting up with some old friends in our first game against Australia.”

That game will be played at Grappenhall on Tuesday (11 July), and another victory would leave England on the brink of qualification for the 40-over Tri-Series final at Neston next Monday (17 July) – before the three teams play a T20 Tri-Nations over the next four days.

Tayler Young, a tall fast bowler from Chessington in Surrey, provided a spectacular start to the two weeks of competition, uprooting the off stump of opener Keketso Chabedi with a superb delivery after South Africa had won the toss and chosen to bat.

But England were then thrust on to the back foot by a second-wicket stand of 80 inside nine overs between Phaphama Mthana and Eldrich George.

A squally rain shower gave them a chance to regroup, and it was Young again who broke the partnership with the wicket of George, a left-hander who hit 10 fours in racing to 44 from 30 balls – but was brilliantly caught by Jonny Gale low down at backward point.

Then Jervis took over, claiming five of the next six wickets as skipper Chris Edwards let him bowl his eight-over allocation in a single spell.

Mthana was the first to go lbw, before Mzwandile Mhlongo drove to Matt Cowdery at mid-off.

Matt Browne, another of the five Surrey-based players in the team, interrupted the Jervis show with a beauty to bowl Ayanda Kolisi, a wicket which was the least his bustling spell deserved on an impressive debut.

South Africa’s captain Jan Makololo counter-attacked with a big six off Jervis before he was the victim of another fine catch, this time by Bowser at extra cover.

Jack Perry, a teenage wicketkeeper making his England debut in his home county – and looking forward to playing at his home club of Oxton later in the series – claimed Winston Johnson as his first victim standing up to Jervis.

Browne and Edwards then polished off the last couple of wickets, meaning South Africa had lost their last nine for 81.

But England made a nervous start to their reply, with Gale surviving one dropped catch before he was out for 10, driving to mid-off.

Edwards, England’s experienced captain who was on familiar territory near his base on the Wirral, seemed determined to play patiently but he fell for 11 in the 10th over.

Then Lee Stenning went lbw to Makololo, and England were wobbling slightly at 86 for three.

But Bowser, who also spent his early years on the Wirral before moving to the south-west where he now plays and coaches at the North Devon club, eased their nerves by hitting regular boundaries all around the wicket. He reached his half century from only 32 balls and continued to dominate the scoring as Yorkshire’s Rob Hewitt played a sensible supporting role in a fourth-wicket stand of 74 in 10 overs.

Hewitt fell for 20 with only 14 runs required but Bowser completed the job with a flurry of boundaries. “I’m just pleased to be enjoying my cricket again,” he said afterwards. “But the credit today should go to Alex Jervis, for taking those five wickets.”

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Nations features a series of 40-over and T20 games between hosts England, Australia and South Africa. Matches are being played at grounds across Cheshire until 21 July.

Live scoring is available throughout at the England and Wales Cricket Board website.

Tri-Nations to get underway with England v South Africa

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By England and Wales Cricket Board

It is a long way from Lord’s to Chester Boughton Hall – but Chris Edwards and his team will be representing England with as much pride as Joe Root and co when they face South Africa in the first match of the International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Tri-Nations, also involving Australia, on Monday (10 July).

It will be an especially significant occasion for Edwards, a mainstay of a dominant period for England against their rivals, as Chester is so close to his cricketing roots on the Wirral.

“It’s a dream come true to have an international series right on your doorstep,” the 24-year-old told the mini-magazine that has been produced to accompany the series – which itself provides tangible evidence of the growing stature of cricket for athletes with an intellectual impairments, and the England team, with the series also being supported by British bank NatWest.

It is only 12 years since they played for the first time, in a series involving the same three nations in Cape Town, South Africa.

Australia won that series, and the two that followed in 2007 and 2009 – when Edwards made his debut, at the age of 17.

So he was well-established by 2011, when the Tri-Nations returned to South Africa and England were crowned champions for the first time after winning the final in Kimberley.

And two years ago Edwards led from the front in Australia as England won a bilateral series 5-1 – rounding things off with a century in Melbourne.

This time Derek Morgan’s team will have home advantage on a number of leafy Premier League grounds around Cheshire, with the first phase of two weeks of competition involving 40-over matches before the action switches to T20.

After the opener in Chester, England face Australia in Grappenhall near Warrington on Tuesday (11 July), with return matches against South Africa in Bramhall, and the Aussies at Tattenhall, on Thursday and Friday (13-14 July).

They will then hope to be involved in the final in Neston, even nearer to Edwards’ home club ground of Caldy, on Monday 17 July – with the two Australia-South Africa matches in the Tri-Nations being staged at Nantwich on Wednesday, and Oxton on Sunday (16 July).

The T20 competition involves three double-headers, starting at Toft near Knutsford on Tuesday 18 July.

England play both South Africa and Australia the following day, back at Chester Boughton Hall, before the series returns to Oxton and then finally to Nantwich on Wednesday 21 July.

“What an exciting and competitive two weeks of cricket we have in prospect,” said Ian Martin, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB’s) Head of Disability Cricket, also expressing his gratitude to those who have helped to stage an Opening Ceremony and cap presentation night on Sunday at the beautiful Cranage Hall.

“ECB would like to thank the Cheshire Cricket Board and the hosting clubs as well as Richard Morrell and his team at Cranage Estate for all their help in making this event a success. We can’t wait to watch some fantastic cricket at the wonderful venues across Cheshire that are hosting the matches.

“We hope that this tournament 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.

England’s team is drawn from all parts of the country. Dan Bowser, a 29-year-old from Devon, made a major impact in Australia two years ago.

Alex Jervis and Robert Hewitt will be the Yorkshire voices in the squad, with Thomas Wilson ensuring Lancashire representation.

Wilson is one of four uncapped players with Dan Thomas of Essex, Jack Perry – who is from Oxton so will be playing on home territory like Edwards – and Matt Browne of Ashtead, one of five Surrey-based players in the squad.

Match schedule

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)

Assistant coach Dodd ready for cricket Tri-Nations

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A batsman and a wicket keeper

 

By University of the Sunshine Coast

A student is helping a national team take on the ‘Old Enemy’ after being appointed to the coaching staff of the Australian cricket team for players with an intellectual impairment.

Nathan Dodd, 37, was named assistant coach for the team, which is in the final build-up to the biennial International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Cricket Tri Nations against South Africa and England from 9-21 July.

Dodd previously played as an opening batsman for the Kent and Worcester county cricket teams and worked in finance before enrolling at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) in Queensland three years ago.

He said he was delighted to have been chosen by Cricket Australia for the international tournament, and was confident his team would perform well:

“Inclusive cricket is something that the major sporting bodies are really starting to get behind, and there’s a real buzz around this tournament. It’s fantastic to be coaching on an international tour while I’m still studying.

“Generally, I don’t coach the players with an intellectual disability any differently to how I would treat any other first-grade cricketer. They just want to be considered as athletes.

“Communication-wise, I tweak things a little bit, but you do that in every team, because everyone learns in different ways.”

Dodd will hone the team’s performance throughout the three-week tournament, which will include four one-day matches, followed by a run of four Twenty20 match-ups.

He aims to use the skills he has gained in his USC degree to build a career in coaching at a national or international level.

“Coaching is a competitive field and I wanted to make sure the knowledge that I could bring to a team would be first-rate,” he said. “That’s why I decided to study sport and exercise science at USC.

“I believe that having that thorough understanding around strength and conditioning, injury recovery, statistics and performance analysis can really set me apart.

“I’ve only got one semester left, and after that I’m hoping to gain a full-time position in the coaching field – potentially in youth or women’s cricket.”

The 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cricket Tri-Nations will take place at grounds across the county of Cheshire in Great Britain. More information, including the full list of fixtures, is available at World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ website.

Preview: July to feature world’s best athletes in cricket, cycling

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A jam-packed month of sport for athletes with intellectual impairments is on its way in July, highlighted by an International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) World Championships in cycling.

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cycling Championships

Assen, the Netherlands, will host the most important competition on the calendar for the world’s best cyclists between 30 July – 4 August.

The French duo of Jeremy Pereira Teixera and Aurelie Minodier are the defending champions in the men’s and women’s individual time trial and individual road race, respectively. A team time trial event will also be held.

Athletes will compete at Assen 2017 alongside the UCI European Junior Cycling Tour. Updates will be shared on World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter throughout the event.

2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cricket Tri-Nations

Defending champions England host South Africa and Australia at grounds across Cheshire between 9-21 July. Two trophies are up for grabs – T20 and 40 over.

England open their campaign against South Africa on 10 July in the first 40 over match.

Live scoring will be available for the first time at England Cricket’s website.  Updates will be shared on World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ Facebook and Twitter throughout the event.

2017 World Para Athletics Championships

Para sport returns to the Olympic Park in London, Great Britain, for what is expected to be 10 days of incredible action from 14-23 July.

A variety of track and field events for athletes with intellectual impairments (T20 for track and F20 for field) are on the programme. Brazil’s 400m T20 world and Paralympic champion and world record holder, Daniel Martins, is amongst the big names.

Live coverage will be available at World Para Athletic’s website.

2017 World Para Swimming World Series

The final World Series event of the season takes place in Berlin, Germany, from 6-9 July.

Great Britain’s Bethany Firth, who competes in S14 events for swimmers with intellectual impairments, currently leads the women’s world rankings for all Para sport classifications.

Live results will be available at World Para Swimming’s website. 

International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) events

Two competitions in Asia feature players with intellectual impairments competing in class 11 competitions.

The 4th Taichung Table Tennis Open for the Disabled 2017 in Taichung, Chinese Taipei, from 16-19 July and the Korea Open in Mungyeong, South Korea from 21-24 July are both events to keep an eye on.

More information is available at the ITTF website. 

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 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. 

Australia announce squad for World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cricket Tri-Nations

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A batsman and a wicket keeper

By Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia has selected a 14 player squad for the International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) Tri-Nations to be held from the 9-21 July in Cheshire, Great Britain.  The tournament will bring together the best cricketers with an intellectual disability from Australia, England and South Africa.

The historic tour marks the first time an Australian cricket team for players with any type of impairment has travelled abroad since the country’s Commonwealth Bank and Cricket Australia announced the single largest investment in women’s sport and diversity sports programmes. A key milestone of that investment being that cricket is the first non-Paralympic Australian sport to fully fund its national teams.

As a consequence, players in this squad will not have to pay to represent their country where previously they had to find up to AUD 5,000 each to participate.

Vittoria Shortt, Group Executive of Marketing and Strategy at Commonwealth Bank, said the bank’s partnership with Cricket Australia is particularly focused on strengthening the foundations of cricket for women, Indigenous players, players with impairments, and the local clubs around the country that are the lifeblood of the game.

“Supporting players with disabilities is a focus of our partnership, and we are delighted to be able to play a role in helping the 14 outstanding players that have been selected to represent Australia in the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Tri-Nations series.

“We wish the team all the very best for the tournament and know they will be excellent ambassadors for the country.”

The Australian side depart for Great Britain on 4 July looking to claim back the title it last won in 2009. After bringing home silverware at the first three editions of the event, Australia finished third in 2011 and runner-up in 2015.

At this event Australia will have two opportunities to claim a title with separate 40 over and T20 tournaments being contested between the three nations.

Head coach John Lonergan believes increased professionalism and a targeted approach over the last two years gives his squad every chance of making up significant ground on defending champions England.

“In 2015 the coaching team identified a large gap between the athleticism and fielding ability of England compared to that of the Australian Squad,” said Lonergan. “This has been a specific focus right from the start in identifying the initial training squad of 22 players.”

“At our training camp at the BUPA National Cricket Centre we called out three key focus areas for this tour.  We must enjoy this experience of representing Australia and touring overseas.  Each individual should strive to be the best cricketer they can be and finally, we are an elite cricket team representing Australia, so as with Cricket Australia’s overall philosophy we want to be the No.1 cricket nation in our respective division,” continued Lonergan.

Former Australian Test and ODI cricketer Julien Wiener will also join the support coaching staff on this tour as a player mentor having worked closely with several members of the squad at the National Cricket Inclusion Championships in Geelong.

“I’ve been so impressed with how excited and proud these guys are to represent their country and how this has positively reflected in their preparation and willingness to learn and get better,” said Wiener. “This is a squad with a strong team first ethic who are always looking for ways to support their teammates.”

2017 Australia squad

Gavan Hicks (Captain)
Lachlan MacRae
Mitchell Cutter Rabl
Daynah Hopkins
David Alford
Brett Wilson
Haydn Brumm
Brendan Westlake
David Baird
Nicholas McConnell
Boyd Duffield
Anthony Kalimeris
Luke Goodman
Justin Nilon

John Lonergan – Head Coach
Nathan Dodd – Assistant Coach
Jo Connolly – Team Manager
Julien Wiener – Coach and Player Mentor

Australia will open their campaign on 11 July against England in a 40 over match.

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)

World Intellectual Impairment Sport Vice President nominated to IPC Governing Board

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The International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) is pleased to announce that its Vice President Ms. Robyn Smith has been nominated to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board. The nomination was confirmed by the IPC on Monday (19 June) with Ms. Smith amongst 22 candidates for 10 Member-at-Large positions.

The first woman to hold the Governing Board position of World Intellectual Impairment Sport as Vice President, Ms. Smith has more than 25 years of national and international experience working in senior leadership roles in Paralympic sport management, coaching and administration. This includes the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games where she was Australia’s Assistant Chef de Mission and more recently as the country’s Chef de Mission at the 2015 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games.

Ms. Smith has a wealth of experience successfully engaging with all levels of government, corporations, sports and the community to lobby for the development and enhancement of inclusive sporting opportunities for athletes with an impairment.

“It is a true honour to be nominated by the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Governing Board and have the opportunity to contribute to the Paralympic Movement in a positive way for all athletes globally,” Ms. Smith said.

“We are very pleased to be able to nominate someone of Robyn’s ability,” Marc Truffaut, President of World Intellectual Impairment Sport, said. “She has been a driving force within our organisation and if elected will also be a positive contributor within the Paralympic Movement.”

If elected Ms. Smith will be the first nominee from World Intellectual Impairment Sport on the IPC Governing Board since Australia’s Marie Little OAM in 1993.

Elections will take place at the IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on 8 September 2017.

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.