The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) will host the 10th IWAS World Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in the UK from 3 to 7 August 2014.

IWAS has now received entries from 350 athletes who will be accompanied by 150 team staff from 32 countries.  Athletes will compete in seven sports: Archery, Athletics and Race Running, Powerlifting, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Fencing. Para-Taekwondo will be included as an exhibition sport.

Athletes between the ages of 14 and 22 will be competing at the Games that will provide valuable competition for athletes on their pathway to the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The Games takes place just weeks before the IPC Athletic European Championships in Swansea, Wales.

IWAS took the decision in 2013 to once again organise the games here at Stoke Mandeville to give the world’s best young athletes the opportunity to compete at an elite level at the birthplace of the Paralympic movement.  *The first International Stoke Mandeville World Games was held in 1952 – ISMGF became ISMWSF became IWAS http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/about-iwas111/history/

A number of London 2012 Paralympians made their international debut at the 1^st IWAS World Junior Games here at Stoke Mandeville in 2005 including Marcel Hug (winner of the 2014 London Wheelchair Marathon), Aled Davis and Holly Arnold.

Following the first IWAS World Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville in 2005, the Games were held in Ireland in 2006, South Africa 2007, the USA 2008, Switzerland 2009, Czech Republic 2010, UAE 2011, Czech Republic 2012 and Puerto Rico in 2013.

Paul DePace, IWAS President said “IWAS is fortunate to be able to build on the legacy of London 2012 and the renewed interest in para-sport especially so here in Buckinghamshire – the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement.”