Celebrating 40 Years of Virtus: Championing Excellence since 1986 

For four decades, Virtus has stood at the forefront of inclusion in sport – creating opportunity, recognition and a global stage for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Established in 1986 by a group of professionals determined to ensure that athletes with an intellectual impairment must have the chance to compete, be recognised, and belong, Virtus has grown from just 14 founding members into a worldwide movement representing more than 500,000 athletes across 90+ nations. Today, the federation continues to champion fairness, excellence and opportunity across every region of the world.

From the first General Assembly in 1988 and the inaugural World Games in Sweden in 1989, to athletes’ early Summer Paralympic appearances in Madrid (1992) and Winter Paralympics appearance in Nagano (1998), the journey has been one of resilience, progress and unwavering belief in the ability of every athlete.

The launch of the Global Games in 2004 marked a new era of international competition. Since then, six editions of the Global Games have been successfully delivered, strengthening elite pathways for athletes with an intellectual impairment worldwide.

This progress contributed to athletes with an intellectual impairment competing across seven summer and one winter Paralympic Games editions with multiple World and Paralympic Records being broken. Virtus continues to work alongside IFs and the International Paralympic Committee to strive for re-inclusion in the winter Paralympic Games along with more sports at the summer Paralympics.

In 2019, the organisation embraced a new identity – Virtus – with a clear purpose: to make the invisible visible, placing the talent and ability of athletes at the centre of everything it does. That same commitment continues today, highlighted by milestones such as the introduction of full medal events for athletes with an intellectual impairment and significant other impairment (II2) in 2019 INAS Global Games and for athletes with autism (II3) at the 2023 Virtus Global Games.

In 2024, Virtus ambassador Lenine Cunha became the first athlete with an intellectual impairment to join the IPC’s Athletes’ Council. With Lenine as the chairperson, Virtus has also established its own Athletes’ Council comprising of 7 members in total representing all three eligibility groups.

To honour this legacy, we are unveiling our upgraded anniversary logo – a logo that reflects our brand values and our mission.

As Virtus celebrates 40 years, this anniversary is not only a reflection on the past, but a recognition of the athletes, leaders, partners and communities who have shaped its journey – and a renewed commitment to building even stronger, more inclusive pathways for the future.

40 years of progress.

40 years of partnership.

40 years of championing excellence through sports – and the journey continues.