Virtus extends its condolences to the family and friends of Charmaine Hooper

Virtus was immensely saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Charmaine Hooper, CEO of World Ability Sport, on Friday.

Charmaine was an incredible advocate of sport for people with an impairment, leading our partner IOSD since 2007. She fought strongly for the rights, inclusion and recognition of people with a disability at all levels of sport and was a great friend to Virtus and sport for people with an intellectual impairment.

She began her work in the world of disability in the UK, after moving there from her native South Africa in 1999. After several years leading competitions and events at Disability Sport England, she took up a role at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) which later became known as World Ability Sport.

Virtus, the International Blind Sport Association, The Cerebral Palsy International Sport & Recreation Association and World Ability Sport – collectively known as the International Organisations of Sport for people with a Disability (IOSD’s) – were the founding members of the Paralympic movement, and we continue to work in partnership today to give people with an impairment the opportunity to excel in sport globally.

Robyn Smith, Virtus President, paid tribute to Charmaine saying “On behalf of the Virtus family and all the people who’s lives have been touched by Charmaine over so many years, I want to extend our condolences to her family and to her friends and colleagues at World Ability Sport. This is a terrible shock to everyone and a huge loss to the world of para sport. Her commitment and enthusiasm was unwavering and I want to thank her for everything she did for sport inclusion”.

World Ability Sport have opened a book of condolences and memories here.