Dr Bob Price (Inas President) has decided to retire from his role as the Chief Executive of Linkage Community Trust in the UK, at the end of April 2012.  Dr Price had earlier announced his intention to retire at the end of the year, but has brought forward his retirement due to ill health.

In taking retirement, Bob has expressed a wish to dedicate more time to Inas and to sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Bob has been Chief Executive of Linkage for over 15 years, joining the Trust from the Cabinet Office in 1996 and has overseen significant expansion of the work of the Trust.

Apart from his Linkage responsibilities, Bob has been associated with the disability sport movement for almost 40 years.  He has led the GB Team to five Summer Paralympic Games, been President of both British and European Paralympic Committees and is currently President of the International Sports Federation for Para-athletes with an Intellectual Disability (World Intellectual Impairment Sport).

Dr Price was a prime mover behind the International Paralympic Committee’s decision in 2009 to re-include athletes with intellectual disability in future Paralympic Games, beginning with London 2012. Bob was awarded and OBE in 1993 for services to sport for the disabled.

Michael Oliver, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Linkage, said: “I am very sorry that Bob’s health has caused him to retire earlier than he had planned.  I am very grateful for all that he has done for the Trust and hope that he is well enough to attend the London Paralympic Games and to celebrate the inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities, for which he has worked so hard.  We wish him and his wife Shelagh a very happy retirement.”

Inas has agreed to extend the Final Entry Deadlines for the following events:

• World Alpine and Nordic Skiing Championships (Turkey) – final entry deadline is now 20.2.2012
• World Indoor Athletics Championships (UK) – final entry deadline is now 24.1.2012
• European Football Championships (Sweden) – final entry deadline is now 15.4.2012

Nations considering entering these events are encouraged to submit their entries as soon as possible.

England have been crowned champions of the 4th Inas Tri-Nations Tournament at the De Beers Diamond Oval in South Africa.

The victory came after England had gone unbeaten throughout the 40-over tournament dominating reigning champions Australia and defeating South Africa twice each, before holding their nerve to claim a 19-run victory over South Africa in the final today.

Captain Gavin Randall said: “I didn’t know what to do when Chris (Edwards) got that final wicket – jump up and down, run off the pitch, celebrate.

“To go unbeaten is such an achievement. I thought we could push Australia and South Africa but I didn’t think we could win every game.

“On the trophy it lists Australia as the only winners of this tournament. Now it will say England and that’s such a good feeling.”

The men’s 1,500m T20 event was won by a Venezuelan one-two with Rene Rafael Norono Verdejo (4:25.89) taking gold ahead of teammate Jovito Gutierrez (4:29.92). Bronze went to USA’s Nigel Murray (4:33.40)

Leslie Mendoza (9.70m) has claimed gold for Mexico in the women’s Shot Put F20 by just 7cm ahead of Venezuela’s Eddy Guerrero (9.61m).

The men’s 100m Backstroke S14 was an extremely tight affair which was just edged by Canada’s Adam Rahier (1:06.63) ahead of Venezuela’s Alberto Vera Moron (1:06.83). Bronze went to Brazil’s Gutemberg Ferreaz (1:11.60)

Canada’s secured gold in the women’s 100m Backstroke S14 through Kirstie Kasko (1:20.10). Her teammate Jana Murphy (1:21.23) took silver with Mexico’s Mariana Diaz de La Vega (1:27.48) the bronze.