Thursday 6th September 2012

Today saw the signing of the ‘Statement of Cooperation’ between IWAS and CPISRA.

The agreement which will pave the way for both organisations to commit to the creation of activities through cooperation and the sharing of resources where appropriate for the common good of their members.

These will include development of both existing sports such as Electric Wheelchair Hockey and Racerunning along with new sports.

It will also enable a platform to create classification systems for any new sport and enable the evaluation and review of current system where appropriate.

The two organisations also hope to work together and along with others to champion the role of women in sport as well as athletes with high support needs and provide support where it’s needed.

Following the successful inclusion of athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) in the IWAS World Junior Games 2011 in Dubai, UAE and later in the year at the IWAS World Games in Sharjah, UAE the signed statement will reinforce the cooperation for athletes with CP to continue to be included in the IWAS Games in future years, providing them with more sporting opportunities within multi-sport competition.

The signing of the agreement today marks a significant accomplishment for the working group that has been driving towards bringing together the common goals and visions from both organisations and this work will continue in a more formal relationship with the creation of the Coordination Committee which consists of three representatives from each organisation.

On behalf of IWAS,

Vice President – Karl Vilhelm Nielsen

Secretary General – Maura Strange

Head of Development Commission – Pieter Badenhorst

On behalf of CPISRA

President – Koos Engelbrecht

Secretary General – Sandy Hermiston

Head of Development – Craig Carscadden

The committee have undertaken to seek funding opportunities for future joint activities as well as to report and provide recommendation to their membership and Governing Board of each organisation.