2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships
World Intellectual Impairment Sport is delighted to confirm that Loano, Italy will host the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Basketball Championships.
World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships open in Bangkok
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
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
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.
Entry details available for 1st World Intellectual Impairment Sport para-equestrian competition
World Intellectual Impairment Sport is delighted to announce details of the 1st World Intellectual Impairment Sport Para-Equestrian Competition. The event is managed by the World Intellectual Impairment Sport para-equestrian working group.
Entry details available for 1st World Intellectual Impairment Sport para-equestrian competition
World Intellectual Impairment Sport is delighted to announce details of the 1st World Intellectual Impairment Sport Para-Equestrian Competition. The event is managed by the World Intellectual Impairment Sport para-equestrian working group.
Czech Republic to host 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships
World Intellectual Impairment Sport is pleased to announce that the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Table Tennis Championships will be held in the Czech Republic, in the historic city of Hradec Kralove.
The event takes place between October 21st and 29th 2017 and the entry process will open shortly.
Amaury Russo, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President said “It is great to see this championship awarded to Czech Republic who have a long history of hosting World Intellectual Impairment Sport events, including the 2nd World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games in 2009. We look forward to an exceptional competition later this year”.
Pavel Svoboda, President of hosts Czech Sports Association for Intellectual Disability said “Dear friends, let me cordially invite you to Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic to the World Championships in Table Tennis. It’s a beautiful city in a beautiful country”.
World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Youth Challenge event launched
World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics is pleased to confirm that the forthcoming World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships will feature a new ‘Youth Challenge’ event. The competition, specifically for younger athletes, is part of World Intellectual Impairment Sport strategic objective to grow participation and is the first step towards an World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Youth Championships in the future.
To be eligible to take part, athletes must be aged Under 18 on 31st December 2017 and hold a minimum of a provisional eligibility registration.
The event features a large track and field programme and will run alongside the Championship event. Further details.
Entry to the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships is already open, and entry to the Youth Challenge event will be open via the ISMS later this week.
2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards – nominations open
Nominations are now open for the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of para-athletes with an intellectual disability and those who work tirelessly to support them.
Award Categories include:
- The Marie Little Best Female Athlete Award
- Best Male Athlete Award
These awards recognise an outstanding female and male athlete who have excelled in competition and training. The best female award is named in honour of Marie Little – former World Intellectual Impairment Sport Executive Committee member and a lifelong supporter of women and girls in sport – who passed away in 2014.
- Unsung Hero Award
This award recognises the outstanding contribution of a volunteer, coach, staff member or supporter who has made a significant difference to an athlete or sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.
- World Intellectual Impairment Sport Hall of Fame
This award recognises the unique and outstanding contribution of an individual during their career – either an athlete, a volunteer, coach, administrator or other significant role.
Nominations close 31st January 2017. To nominate, visit the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards webpage.
2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards – nominations open
Nominations are now open for the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of para-athletes with an intellectual disability and those who work tirelessly to support them.
Award Categories include:
- The Marie Little Best Female Athlete Award
- Best Male Athlete Award
These awards recognise an outstanding female and male athlete who have excelled in competition and training. The best female award is named in honour of Marie Little – former World Intellectual Impairment Sport Executive Committee member and a lifelong supporter of women and girls in sport – who passed away in 2014.
- Unsung Hero Award
This award recognises the outstanding contribution of a volunteer, coach, staff member or supporter who has made a significant difference to an athlete or sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.
- World Intellectual Impairment Sport Hall of Fame
This award recognises the unique and outstanding contribution of an individual during their career – either an athlete, a volunteer, coach, administrator or other significant role.
Nominations close 31st January 2017. To nominate, visit the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards webpage.
Virtus is the brand name of the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the UK (1173901)