With just over a week  to go until the start of the IWAS (International Wheelchair Amputee  and Sports Federation) World Games in Stadskanaal in the Netherlands the organisers can confirm that approximate 240 athletes from 23 countries will be competing in three sports.

The World  Games for athletes with physical difficulties will take place in  the City of  Stadskanaal near Assen in Holland,  at the Pagedal Sports Complex  between 15th to 21st September  and  athletes will compete in  Athletics, Swimming and Archery.

Countries participating include Brazil, China, UAE, Iraq, Russia, Finland, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria and the host nation Netherlands.

Last year the IPC European Athletics Championship took place at the same venue and a number of current London 2012 Paralympians will be competing.

Bert Eillert,

Chairman of the organizing committee of the Disability Games Foundation.

"It is a great honour for me to welcome you to Stadskanaal to join the IWAS World Games 2013. I welcome you on behalf of the organizing Disability Games Foundation and the LOC. We acknowledge that these Games are in a lot of cases ‘Development Games’ for athletes that will have their first international experience in Stadskanaal. For others, Stadskanaal is a familiar place because the IPC Athletics European Open took place here last year. We hope that for everybody, this event will give you a lot of satisfaction in reaching your goal"