Inaugural Virtus Americas Regional Games announced for 2022
The 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games Will Be Held In Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Virtus would like to congratulate CBDI – Confederação Brasileira de Desportos para Deficientes Intelectuais (Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Intellectual Disabled) as the successful National Member Organisation.
This multi-sport event will take place at the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center from 18 to 23 September 2022. We hope this first Virtus regional multi-sport event in the Americas region, will help grow our reach and provide access to more athletes in more countries. With 16 countries under the Virtus Americas Memberships, the doors are open for new nations to join our global program of elite sports for athletes with intellectual impairments. This first Regional Games will showcase the very best athlete talents representing their countries, competing for medals and achieving personal best performances.
The 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games will set a competitive schedule across these Virtus eligibility groups:
- II1 (athletes with an intellectual disability),
- II2 (athletes with a significant additional impairment), and
- II3 (a trial group for athletes with autism who are not eligible in II1).
The sports program is being finalised. The following sports are currently planned for the competition schedule – Athletics, Basketball, Futsal, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Swimming. There may also be demonstration events following consultation with Virtus and National Members in the coming months. The Final Sports Program is subject to change and final approvals.
Virtus President, Mr. Marc Truffaut said the 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games now secures the third Regional Games event, joining Europe and Oceania/Asia Games on the Virtus sports program for 2022.
“Congratulations to Mr. Adilson Pereira Ramos, President of CBDI, and his team for their winning bid,” Mr. Truffaut said
“I am looking forward to seeing a celebration of sport come together in the cultural and vibrant city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.”
“Through sport, Virtus and its athletes are changing attitudes, challenging perceptions and strengthening communities locally and globally” he said.
The Brazilian Paralympic Training Center features indoor and outdoor sports facilities that are used for training and competitions at Paralympic standards. In addition, it has a residential area with accommodation for 280 people, a cafeteria, laundry and an administrative sector with rooms, auditoriums, and other spaces of support.
CBDI President, Mr. Adilson Pereira Ramos said hosting the first Virtus Americas Games in Sao Paulo, with the use of world class facilities built for Paralympic training, allows athletes to experience the same stage as Paralympians.
“This event will contribute to the nation’s goal to help massify Paralympic sport in Brazil and help in the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society”, Mr. Ramos said.
“I would like to thank our key supporters in this bid – Brazilian Paralympic Committee, Municipality of São Paulo, Government of the State of São Paulo, Ministry of Sports, Brazilian Swimming Confederation – CBDA and Liga Nacional de Futsal.”
“Our vision for this event, is to shine light athletes from every part of the Americas region, where even a young man or woman, from a small town, can become a national athlete on a world stage.”
“Sport and competition is in our DNA and my team and I will be calling on our current Regional Members and hopefully new nations to bring their best athletes to put on a great competitive multi-sport event,” he said.
More information about the event program, sport, and eligibility will be shared when available.
Virtus invites interest nations and partners to stay up to date about this event via social media and website. Governments, International Sport Federations and Partners are also invited to be part of the Inaugural 2022 Virtus Americas Games.
For more information visit www.abdem.com.br and follow @ABDEMCBDI and @virtus.sport to stay updated.
