Around 500 athletes are expected to descend on the Complexo Desportivo Vila Real de Santo Antonio in Portugal between 24-28 November. This edition will be extra special as it comes in the year that IWAS celebrates 70 years at the forefront of growing Para sports.

Athletics, cerebral palsy football, powerlifting and swimming will form an exciting programme which for some athletes will form part of their road to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

All four sports will be recognised by their relevant International Federation and classification has been confirmed for athletics and powerlifting.

In athletics, as part of a full schedule of track and field events for athletes with physical impairments in both youth and open categories, frame running and wheelchair slalom will be on offer.

Six teams are expected for cerebral palsy football playing a round-robin tournament ahead of the final on 28 November. Entries are open to both IWAS and International Federation for Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) members.

Powerlifting is set to feature all weight categories from up to 41kg and up to 49kg for women and men to over 86kg and over 107kg. Junior and senior medals will be up for grabs as the sport returns to the IWAS World Games for the first time since 2011.

Finally swimming, a regular and popular feature of the Games, is also open to all athletes with physical impairments.

Charmaine Hooper, IWAS CEO said: “The IWAS World Games 2022 represent not only the return of the Games for the first time since 2019, but also a great partnership between the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) ahead of our merger in 2023, the IFCPF, World Para Athletics, World Para Swimming and World Para Powerlifting.

“In the same tradition of previous IWAS World Games, we are delighted to include events that are not currently on the Paralympic programme such as cerebral palsy football, race running and wheelchair slalom, the latter two of which have been developed by CPISRA in recent years. The Games have a strong track record of supporting governing bodies as they try to gain a place for their sports or events on the Paralympic programme and we hope to be able to do the same again.

“We are also excited to welcome runners, wheelchair racers, throwers, jumpers, swimmers and powerlifters to Portugal. We look forward to receiving entries from our members over the coming weeks and hosting another memorable World Games.”

IWAS members will receive information direct to their inboxes about the opening of entry by number on Wednesday. This process will last for around one month ahead of entry by name from 1 September.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio 2022 will be the second time that the Portuguese destination has hosted a World Games, following on from 2017.

More information, including the entry information pack, can be found at the IWAS website.