New talent

Apart from the highly competitive nature of the IWAS World Games this week when Paralympic athletes renew old battles and strive to win gold, one of the most important aspects is the opportunity for first time international experience that the IWAS Championships brings to young promising athletes.

One such athlete is 20 year old Ida Yessica Neasse from Norway. The youngster who has a leg impairment has been training and competing for the last 10 years wasn’t aware that she might be able to compete in disability sport until she was spotted recently.

Ida whose favourite event is the Javelin (but she will compete in the 100m, long jump, discus and shot putt)  travelled with her Mum and the rest of the Norwegian team to Stadskanaal hoping to get classified.  After going through a series of tests over the last few days she has been given a F/T44 category and will compete here this week.

Ida said that “ This is my first time in this setting mixing with disabled athletes from so many countries but it’s fun. I am delighted to be classified to compete in disability sport as it would be fairer and give me some equal competition and I wish to prove that I can compete for Norway at a competitive level.

However I have some mixed feelings as all my friends don’t have a disability and how will they react ?”.

Fellow Norwegian athlete Runar Steinstad who is an experienced field athlete said “ It is important that athletes like Ida are spotted and are given a chance to compete, we need to encourage the next generation of Norwegian Paralympic athletes

For further information, please visit website:   http://www.disgames.org or www.iwasf.com

Please contact:

Tony Garrett IWAS Press Reporter (07764 182632) [email protected]

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 Our Mission: IWAS is a founder member of the Paralympic movement, has the mission to develop sporting opportunities for athletes to maximize their potential.

It is the only organisation that provides a full international competition programme at the entry, development and qualifying levels in support of the IPC and the Paralympic movement

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The 10th World Junior Games are scheduled to be held at Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium in the UK between the 3rd to the 8th August 2014.

For further details please contact: Charmaine Hooper

Chief Operating Officer e-mail:  [email protected]