December 7th 2009

PRESS RELEASE
After a week-end to recoup since returning back to England, IWAS HQ takes the opportunity to provide a brief overview of our 2 weeks in Bangalore, India on the occasion of the IWAS World Games 2009 hosted by the Paralympic Committee of India as the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

With nearly 1,000 participants in the IWAS World Games 2009 from 44 countries and the staging of a mixture of development events as well as IWAS Athletics World Championships, Swimming and Power-lifting events as approved IPC Competition, an official ranked IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup and a FITA para Archery competition, we can announce the Games as fully reaching its objectives, despite an initial unsteady start and the acclimatisation to the uniqueness of the Indian work-culture.

The international sport teams that were brought in by IWAS to support local competition management should be proud of their sterling effort which went a long way to ensuring good competition and environment for athletes’ achievements.

The development initiatives established by the sports and included on the programme were:

 • Introduction of sports new to the IWAS Games programme – Sitting Volleyball, Badminton and Golf.

 • The opportunity taken by established Paralympic programme sports to initiate official education, training and accreditation programmes for          coaches/athletes/officials/classifiers both on the run up and during the Games, eg Table Tennis, WC Fencing, Athletics and Powerlifting alongside their respective competitive opportunities.

• Wheelchair Rugby, as a newly announced independent IPSF, took advantage of coaching the Indian and Brazilian teams, who are relatively new to the sport, to introduce them to the international level and also give information and advice to nations present to start up the sport in their own countries.

All sports have felt that the opportunity provided at the Games at all levels have proved successful and that it is important to introduce the Games into countries where there is opportunity to assist in developing event management expertise specific to the expectations of the Paralympic movement, as this would more readily impress the public and government to support the respective nation’s para-athletes from grass roots to elite.  Although they would no doubt also add that the specification check-lists supplied should be adhered to and no changes made without relevant consultation.  This would include as basics – acceptable accessible amenities, transportation and good communication systems. 

The LOC introduced a solidarity programme for several countries to attend, covering flight, board and accommodation and it is therefore good to know that Nepal and the Philippines are going home with medals to justify their participation and we look forward to their continuing involvement in IWAS events.

Congratulations to all sports and athletes – you gave us all and the media in India and beyond, a positive and energising view of your commitment and dedication in your chosen sport.

Several records have been broken in the IPC Sports of Athletics, where Team Germany scooped and held onto the lead in the medal tally until the end, as well as in Power-lifting.  Good crowds were attracted to the Swimming Competition at the outdoor pool and they were treated to good competition, with the host nation of India’s swimmers achieving success on their pathway to future World Championships and Paralympic Games.

A strong relationship between IWAS and the World Organisation of Volleyball for the Disabled has been initiated through the introduction of a Sitting Volleyball Clinic into the IWAS Games for the first time and run by President Pierre Van Meenen.  We are now looking forward to working further with WOVD in the IWAS Games programme for coming years.

We were able also to stage the IWAS Development Summit, General Assembly and Wheelchair Fencing Sport Assembly, due to the support of the LOC.  Further reports on these can be found on this website.

A very important legacy has been left behind in India and we trust that the experience of holding the IWAS Games will provide a strong motivation for the PCI to concentrate on sport and develop stronger relationships with sports bodies (both able-bodied and disabled) and ensure that infrastructure exists for training and education across all states of India to recruit potential athletes so that they can show the world that achievement in sport is the right of everyone.  “Lessons learnt” are many for all of us, but we trust that they are not forgotten.

Contact details for further information – http://www.paralympicindia.org.in/iwas/ for  results and pictures of 2009 IWAS World Games or [email protected] for enquiries on IWAS programmes and services.