Morrison Insurance Solutions continue support to intellectual disability sport

/in /by

MIS logoWorld Intellectual Impairment Sport – the International Association of Sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability – are pleased to announce that Morrison Insurance Solutions – a leading UK independent insurance broker and specialists in the charitable & non profit making sector – have continued their support for a third consecutive year.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport is a global organisation supporting athletes with an intellectual disability in Paralympic and non-Paralympic sports. It operates in 79 nations globally, both promoting sport and delivering a worldwide competition programme in 15 sports.

Morrison Insurance Solutions, established in 1989, is based in the West Midlands (UK) providing tailored insurance products to a range of industries and businesses.

Amaury Russo, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President said “We are delighted that Morrison Insurance Solutions have once again chosen to support World Intellectual Impairment Sport. Not only is 2016 a Paralympic year, but World Intellectual Impairment Sport also celebrates its 30th Anniversary, having been launched back in 1986. Since then we have grown into an international organisation supporting more than 130,000 athletes every year, but we depend entirely on our fundraising activities to fund the work we do.

The support of Morrison Insurance Solutions is vital if we are to achieve our ambition of reaching more athletes in more nations and in more sports”.

The announcement was made during Global ID Sports Week – a week-long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability across the world which takes place from 25th June to 1st July.

For more information visit inas.org or morrisoninsurance.co.uk

New World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athlete Ambassadors celebrate Global ID Sports Week

/in /by

TableTennis_WONG_Ka_ManCunha-Lenine_London-2012Swimming_TANG_Wai_LokIMG-20150604-WA0010

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are delighted to announce 5 new World Intellectual Impairment Sport athlete ambassadors as part of Global ID Sports Week.Lenine Cuhna (Portugal), Alberto Cambell (Australia), Wai Lok Tai (Hong Kong), Ka Man Wong (Hong Kong) and Eldrich George (South Africa) join existing athlete ambassador Jessica-Jane Applegate (Great Britain).

The announcements are part of Global ID Sports Week – a week-long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability across the world.

Lenine is one World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ most successful athletes collecting more than 160 international medals since his debut in 2000. He was a bronze-meddalist at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London competing in Long Jump.

Alberto is a 24 year old multi-talented cricket and football player from Grahamstown in South Africa. He was first spotted playing at school level and was later selected to the National Team that competed in the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Cricket Tri-Nations against Australia and England that took place in Kimberley, South Africa in 2014.

In 2015, Wai Lok Tai and Ka Man Wong became the first winners of the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Awards. As a swimmer in both World Intellectual Impairment Sport and Paralympic competition, Wai Lok is one of Asia’s top swimmers with an intellectual disability whilst Ka Man is a 2012 Paralympic Gold meddalist in table tennis.

Alberto Cambell is a Jamaican born sprinter now representing Australia. He is part of Australia’s “Winning Edge” and is hoping for qualification to the forthcoming Paralympic Games in Rio De Janiero.

Announcing the appointments, Amaury Russo (World Intellectual Impairment Sport President) said “I am delighted that Lenine, Alberto, Wai Lok, Ka Man and Alberto have become athlete ambassadors for World Intellectual Impairment Sport. As we celebrate the organisations 30th anniversary, we are determined to give athletes with an intellectual disability a greater voice and the platform upon which they can inspire more young athletes from across the world to get involved”.

Global ID Sports Week runs from 25th June to 1st July and will see a series of events and announcements taking place around the world.

You can support the day by:

  • Telling us about your activities
  • Posting stories and photos to the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook page (World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport)
  • Liking and re-tweeting our many social media posts using the hashtags

#Global_ID_Sports_Week

#THIS_IS_World Intellectual Impairment Sport

Global ID Sports Week 2016 launched

/in /by

logoGlobal ID Sports Week 2016 – a week-long event  – has begun across the World, celebrating sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Launched by World Intellectual Impairment Sport, the International Association of Sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability, the project runs from 25 June to 1 July 2016 and this year celebrates World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ 30th anniversary. The organisation was launched in 1986 by a small group of people who realised that there were limited opportunities for elite athletes with an intellectual disability. There were just 14 nations in membership, but this has grown to 79 today, supporting more 130,000 athletes globally. The first 1st World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability were held in Harnosand, Sweden in 1989 and today the programme has grown to include 15 sports and an annual programme of 12 world and regional championships per year.

Amaury Russo, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President said “This is a very special year for our organisation. It has a long and very proud history and whilst we have faced challenges along the way, our vision of a world where athletes with an intellectual disabled athletes can compete to the highest level has never waivered. Of course we still have some way to go in achieving this, but in 30 years we have made some fantastic progress”.

GIDSW 2016 will be recognised across the world:

  • Colombia will see 100 athletes competing across athletics, football, basketball and swimming in the “National Games FEDES”.
  • England will host the National Athletics Championships
  • Australia will announce the next 20 recipients of the NEXT GEN Athlete awards – a project to support promising athletes ahead of the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games
  • France will host a series of local and regional events across the country including the National Tennis Championships and National Youth Championships in athletics, basketball, 5 and 7 aside football, swimming and table tennis.
  • Portugal will host a series of events across the country celebrating the great partnerships forged between ANDDI and the national sports federations including the National Open Adapted Athletics Championships for the Disabled, and the ANDDI Basketball Final 3 Portugal Cup.
  • Completing Global ID Sports Week 2016, Turkey will host the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Open Athletics Championships

Throughout the week World Intellectual Impairment Sport will be making a series of announcements including the confirmation of events hosts in 2017, new athlete ambassadors and other exciting news.

You can support the day by:

  • Telling us about your activities
  • Posting stories and photos to the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Facebook page (World Intellectual Impairment Sportsport)
  • Liking and re-tweeting our many social media posts using the hashtags

#Global_ID_Sports_Week

#THIS_IS_World Intellectual Impairment Sport

Launching the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Blog!

/in /by

Welcome to the first post of World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ new blog page!

Each week we will provide an update on some of our activities, ideas for projects, news from around the world, or anything else that we think might be of interest. If you have ideas or would like us to focus on a particular topic then please feel free to contact us.

Last week the World Intellectual Impairment Sport staff had the opportunity to attend a one-day social media course with internet expert Jonny Ross. Jonny runs a consultancy company to help organisations such as World Intellectual Impairment Sport achieve the most from platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube and though we have been using these sites for around 5 years, it was great to learn more about the opportunities they can offer to help promote sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.

logoThe timing of the workshop was perfect as we are just a few days away from the start of Global ID Sports Week 2016 (GIDSW). This is a week long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability and we will be using social media to share stories and make announcements about the work we and our many member organisations around the world do.

GIDSW begins on 25th June when the World Intellectual Impairment Sport staff will be joining around a hundred young athletes competing in the English Open National Athletics Championships where perhaps the next World Intellectual Impairment Sport athlete will be spotted!

You can support GIDSW by sharing your stories and news, or simply by following us on social media and re-posting our posts and tweets. Please share our pages with your friends and colleagues too and help us to make the most of social media during Global ID Sports Week 2016.

Countdown to Global ID Sports Week Continues

/in /by

logoToday marks 10 days until Global ID Sports Week – a week-long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability running from 25 June to 1 July 2016.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport member nations across the world are planning activities to collaboratively raise awareness of sport for intellectually disabled athletes and celebrate their success.

In Colombia celebrations have started early with 100 athletes competing across athletics, football, basketball and swimming supported by more than 40 volunteers. The “National Games FEDES – World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global ID Sports Week” takes place in Chocó, a state of Colombia close to the pacific coast with television and radio coverage showcasing the nation’s athletics talents.

In the UK, Mencap Sport will be hosting the National Athletics Championships to kick off Global ID Sports Week on 25 June in Barnsley. In its 19th year the event will host over 100 athletes each challenging their best.

On 28 June Sport Inclusion Australia are set to announce the next 20 recipients of the NEXT GEN Athlete awards at City Hall – a project to support promising athletes established following the announcement that Brisbane will host the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games, the worlds largest sport event for elite intellectually disabled athletes.

France will host a series of local and regional events across the country of which the French National Tennis Championships will take centre stage from 27 to 29 May in Mont de Marsan. This is followed by the National Youth Championships in Saint Denis with competition in Athletics, Basketball, 5 and 7 aside Football, Swimming and Table Tennis.

Likewise Portugal will host a series of events across the country celebrating the great partnerships forged between the World Intellectual Impairment Sport member organisation ANDDI and the national sports federations. The week starts on 25 and 26 June with the National Open Adapted Athletics Championships for the Disabled, an IPC approved event in Maia city fully integrated with the Portuguese National Athletics Championships for able bodied athletes. Basketball tips off on 26 June in Lousã with the ANDDI Basketball Final 3 Portugal Cup. Completing Global ID Sports Week in Portugal on 1 July in Setubal, one of “2016 European City of Sport”, will be a Para-Volley Challenge Meeting promoted in partnership by ANDDI and the Portuguese Volleyball Federation.

Inas is the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability within the Paralympic movement and is a recognised member of the International Paralympic Committee.

Activities culminate in Turkey with the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Open Athletics Championships – Europe where a strong field of athletes from across Europe will compete to be crowned Champion, including France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and Poland. The Championships are being held in Ankara, Turkey where World Intellectual Impairment Sport has previously hosted the 2013 World Basketball Championships.

In addition to activities on the ground World Intellectual Impairment Sport will be working with members, partners and supporters to flood social media with tweets, posts, photos, stories, future event information and excitement about ID sport.

@inassport         #Global_ID_Sports_Week        #THIS_IS_World Intellectual Impairment Sport

That’s just a snapshot of some of the activities taking place.

Countdown to Global ID Sports Week Continues

/in /by

logoToday marks 10 days until Global ID Sports Week – a week-long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability running from 25 June to 1 July 2016.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport member nations across the world are planning activities to collaboratively raise awareness of sport for intellectually disabled athletes and celebrate their success.

In Colombia celebrations have started early with 100 athletes competing across athletics, football, basketball and swimming supported by more than 40 volunteers. The “National Games FEDES – World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global ID Sports Week” takes place in Chocó, a state of Colombia close to the pacific coast with television and radio coverage showcasing the nation’s athletics talents.

In the UK, Mencap Sport will be hosting the National Athletics Championships to kick off Global ID Sports Week on 25 June in Barnsley. In its 19th year the event will host over 100 athletes each challenging their best.

On 28 June Sport Inclusion Australia are set to announce the next 20 recipients of the NEXT GEN Athlete awards at City Hall – a project to support promising athletes established following the announcement that Brisbane will host the 2019 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Global Games, the worlds largest sport event for elite intellectually disabled athletes.

France will host a series of local and regional events across the country of which the French National Tennis Championships will take centre stage from 27 to 29 May in Mont de Marsan. This is followed by the National Youth Championships in Saint Denis with competition in Athletics, Basketball, 5 and 7 aside Football, Swimming and Table Tennis.

Likewise Portugal will host a series of events across the country celebrating the great partnerships forged between the World Intellectual Impairment Sport member organisation ANDDI and the national sports federations. The week starts on 25 and 26 June with the National Open Adapted Athletics Championships for the Disabled, an IPC approved event in Maia city fully integrated with the Portuguese National Athletics Championships for able bodied athletes. Basketball tips off on 26 June in Lousã with the ANDDI Basketball Final 3 Portugal Cup. Completing Global ID Sports Week in Portugal on 1 July in Setubal, one of “2016 European City of Sport”, will be a Para-Volley Challenge Meeting promoted in partnership by ANDDI and the Portuguese Volleyball Federation.

Inas is the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability within the Paralympic movement and is a recognised member of the International Paralympic Committee.

Activities culminate in Turkey with the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Open Athletics Championships – Europe where a strong field of athletes from across Europe will compete to be crowned Champion, including France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Ukraine and Poland. The Championships are being held in Ankara, Turkey where World Intellectual Impairment Sport has previously hosted the 2013 World Basketball Championships.

In addition to activities on the ground World Intellectual Impairment Sport will be working with members, partners and supporters to flood social media with tweets, posts, photos, stories, future event information and excitement about ID sport.

@inassport         #Global_ID_Sports_Week        #THIS_IS_World Intellectual Impairment Sport

That’s just a snapshot of some of the activities taking place.

2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Tennis Championships begin in USA

/in /by

13413175_10154257801679520_8405492983959684694_nSea Colony Beach and Tennis Resort, Delaware USA, sees the worlds top tennis players with an intellectual disability compete at the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Championships this week. The Championship takes place June 13 through 18. Players from the United States, Australia, Belgium, Czech Republic and Italy will compete for men’s and women’s singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team honors.

Kelly Wren of Australia will attempt to continue her multi-year unbeaten streak in women’s singles. Brittany Tagliareni of the USA hopes to unseat Wren after a very competitive finals last year in Ecuador. The men’s side is also led by an Australian, Archie Graham, the current world champion with tough competition expected from his countryman Mitchell James as well as strong players from the Czech Republic and USA. Belgium, USA and Australia will renew battles fought in women’s and mixed doubles in previous events in France, Australia and Ecuador while newcomer Italy looks to garner medals for their home country.

Amaury Russo, Board President of Inas, the international federation for athletes with intellectual disability and the governing body of the event, will attend. According to Russo, “We are so pleased to have this event hosted in Delaware USA. We know the facility is top rate and the organization of the event is excellent. The tennis will be fantastic and I invite the community to come and see these fantastic players from around the world.”

Barry Holman, President of Athletes Without Limits, the US member of Inas, notes that “Sea Colony is an exceptional location to host the Inas World Tennis Championships, the first-ever such event held in the US. The Sea Colony Tennis Center is first-rate and Thomas Johnston and his staff, as well as the Resort Quest staff have been outstanding in helping us plan the event for the players and their families. We are very grateful as well for the other national event sponsors such as the Professional Tennis Registry, Skratch Labs, Champion System and the Kim and Don Richards Family Foundation. The local community has stepped up as well with volunteer ball kids, medical service and helping provide meals for the players. This will be a very exciting week!”

The tournament is run under the rules of the International Tennis Federation and will be officiated by USTA professional chair umpires. Players must meet eligibility requirements set by the International Paralympic Committee and Inas. Semi-finals will take place June 17 with Finals and medal ceremonies on June 18. The public is encouraged to attend and it is free to spectators.

1 month until Global ID Sports Week 2016

/in /by

logoToday marks a 1-month until Global ID Sports Week – a week-long celebration of sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.

The initiative, now in its second year, uses the power of social media to grow awareness of opportunities for athletes with an intellectual disability around the world to enjoy sport and competition to the highest level.

This year will mark a particularly special milestone for World Intellectual Impairment Sport – the International Association of Sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability – as it coincides with the organisations 30th anniversary having been founded in 1986.

Amaury Russo, World Intellectual Impairment Sport President explained “Sport for athletes with an intellectual disability does not enjoy the same high profile as other areas of sport and so this year a number of our member organisations will be holding events and activities around the World in an effort to grow awareness”.

Amongst the activities being held are an athletics championship in the UK and a large multi-sport event in Colombia. It will culminate in the opening ceremony of the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships (Europe) that take place in Ankara, Turkey.

In 2015, World Intellectual Impairment Sport saw a 1200% increase in its social media activity as a result of the project.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport confirm Japan 4x200m Freestyle World Record

/in /by

download (27)World Intellectual Impairment Sport have confirmed that the Japanese Men’s squad broke the World record in the 4x200m Freestyle event at the recent World Intellectual Impairment Sport Asia Regional Championships held in Thailand.

The team comprising Deguchi Eigo, Sakakura Koki, Tokairin Dai and Miyazaki Saturo took the record in  8.17.58 and are now set to receive an award from the Japanese Ministry of Sport in June.

World Intellectual Impairment Sport swimming records can be found on the swimming page.

Thailand to host 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Athletics Championships

/in /by

IPC Athletics World Championships - Day SixWorld Intellectual Impairment Sport – the International Federation for sport for para-athletes with an intellectual disability – are pleased to announce the awarding of the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships to Thailand. The event will be hosted by the Sport Association for Intellectual Disability of Thailand from 12 to 19 May 2017

Following the successful hosting of the 2016 World Intellectual Impairment Sport Asia Swimming Championships – the first World Intellectual Impairment Sport Asia regional championships in any sport – World Intellectual Impairment Sport is excited about the prospect of taking the world championship athletics event to the region for the first time.

With recent editions of World Intellectual Impairment Sport’ largest single sport event having been to Czech Republic, Italy, Brazil, Australia and Tunisia, the 2017 Championships provides an opportunity to engage and showcase athletes with an intellectual disability to a new audience.

Paul Charnvit, President of World Intellectual Impairment Sport Asia, “This is Asia’s first opportunity to host an World Intellectual Impairment Sport world athletics championships and thus a great step forward in allowing Asian athletics athletes to go further into world-class competitions. We hope that the international athletes will have the opportunity to visit the beautiful country of Thailand and take part in developing disabled sports here – the Land of Smiles.”

Over 150 athletes from more than 20 countries are expected to compete across the full athletics programme, making it the biggest athletics event for elite intellectually disabled athletes globally.  For many the World Intellectual Impairment Sport Athletics Championships is the pinnacle to their athletic career and a chance to compete against the best intellectually disabled athletes in the world.