The 9^th  IWAS  (International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation) World Junior  Games for Athletes aged 23 and under gets underway on Friday 9^th August  in the city of Mayaguex in Puerto Rico.  

Over 200 athletes and officials have arrived from all over the world,  and with final training completed the competitors are ready to showcase their talents in some impressive venues in the city of Mayaguex.

130 athletes from 15 countries will be competing in four sports Swimming,  Athletics,  Archery and Para Triathlon over six days of competition from Friday August 9^th thru to Wednesday 14^th August.

Countries participating include USA, Russia, Iraq, Germany, Finland, Chinese Taipei,  Brazil, Finland, Sweden, Barbados,  Denmark, Thailand, Bulgaria and India.

A number of athletes participated at the London 2012 Paralympics and indeed  quite a few competitors have just been taking part at the

IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon, France.

The Games were officially opened by the Mayor of Mayaguex Mr. Jose Guillermo Rodriguez  Thursday evening in the Central American Stadium .

The action gets underway Friday morning with two days of swimming in the impressive open air RUM Aquatic Complex.

Over 75 swimmers will be competing in approximately 55 events during the swimming including two 14 year old swimmers from China and 15 year old Sanjay Swapnil

who is the only competitor from India.

Saturday 10^th August the Archery competition gets underway at the Altos de Saman Archery Complex followed on Sunday by three evenings of top quality track and field

competition in the Central American Stadium.

The Para Triathon event concludes the World Junior Games on Wednesday 14^th August before the evenings Closing Ceremony.

With the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil fast approaching these World Junior Games will help promote Paralympic sport in Central America and the Caribbean and with the theme of the Games slogan “Inspire, Excel and Succeed”  the Championships is a valuable event in the Paralympic calendar to help develop young athletes from grass roots through to the elite level of sport.

The city of Mayaguex is the third largest city in Puerto Rico and is located in the West coast of the Island.

========================================================================================================================

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 information, please visit website:      http://www.iwasjr2013.com/ or  www.iwasf.com