The International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) is delighted to announce a Solidarity Programme for the inaugural IWAS Women’s World Games 2018, in celebration of International Women’s Day.

The programme, aimed at expanding the reach and impact of the very first edition of the event, will open the competition to countries and athletes who are not currently IWAS members.

Sporting bodies, impairment and sport-specific organisations will have the opportunity to enter athletes who may not have previously had access to compete at any previous IWAS World Games.

IWAS President, Rudi Van Den Abbeele, said: "The IWAS Women’s World Games are a landmark event aimed at promoting and providing opportunities for women in sport, globally. Following discussions with the IWAS Executive Board, we believe this opportunity should be inclusive to allow more athletes from more nations to benefit from this unique chance and through the Solidarity Programme, we hope to achieve this."

The IWAS Women’s Games will be hosted from 27 August – 1 September in Worcester, Great Britain, offering a sports programme of athletics, Para-badminton, swimming, table tennis, Para taekwondo and wheelchair fencing.

Three facilities across the city will host the competition including the University Arena – the country’s first to be purpose-designed for athletes with physical impairments. Malvern College and Nunnery Wood Sport Complex will also welcome teams competing in swimming and athletics.

Para Taekwondo world champion, Great Britain’s Amy Truesdale, will make her third IWAS World Games appearance this year on home soil.  An avid supporter of women in sport, she said:

“It is great that the IWAS Women’s World Games 2018 is promoting women in sport and those with an impairment – two important areas that do not have enough exposure in the media or public eye.
 
“The event will also be extra special for me as it’ll be on home ground where I hope to inspire young people from England to get involved in disability sport.”
 
Following elections in December 2017 three female Members at Large, representing Asia, Africa and Europe, now make up the IWAS Executive Board representing further progress towards gender equality.

Iran’s Maryam Shokouhi said: ‘“International Women’s Day celebrates the power of women, and to be powerful we must believe in our abilities. The IWAS Women’s World Games will feature worldwide achievements of women forging positive visibility of them through sport. With the Solidarity Programme, this is your chance to push for progress and inspire the world. Happy International Women’s Day!”

Organisations wishing to learn more about the opportunity should contact [email protected] for more information.