OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 2 | 2012

www.paralympic.org

Great Expectations London 2012 will be a milestone in the Paralympic Movement

RZ_Paralympian_02_2012_Title_final.indd 1 01.08.12 18:58 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

“The Paralympic Spirit is stronger than ever. 14 You can just feel it.” world records were broken at the 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships

I do not think there has ever been a Paralympic People are going to watch Parlaympic sport in their Games that has been quite as ‘expectant’ as this billions – whether in the venues or on TV or online time around. at www.paralympic.org. One million tickets were sold within weeks of them going on sale, which has We wanted to capture these expectations in the lead never happened before. There is a hunger to see article of this edition of The Paralympian. these Games like never before.

We knew we were going to have a great Games London 2012 has signed broadcasting agree- in Beijing, especially after the Chinese President ments with the major territories around the world Hu Jintao, proclaimed in 2006 that the Paralym- and broadcasters have guaranteed record levels of pics would “be of equal splendour to the Olympics”. coverage both before and during the Games.

But we were still surprised by what happened. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) media department is also planning unprecedented Things really kicked off , and Beijing 2008 put the online coverage of the Games (details on page 46). Paralympic Games on the map. Through sport, we inspired a nation and the world, and changed People know more about the Paralympic Games attitudes towards people with an impairment. than ever before, and they are beginning to sit up and recognise the sporting excellence. Following those incredible Games, we have changed continents and are heading back to where the Records will be smashed and the bar will be raised Games started in 1948 with a small competition in in all sports in London. It is a great credit to the ath- Stoke Mandeville, just outside of London. letes and National Paralympic Committees for the work they have carried out over the last four years. I believe that London is going to go one step further than Beijing. Everything is coming together for a wonderful festival of Paralympic sport. The Paralympic Spirit is stronger than ever. You can just feel it. Enjoy the magazine and enjoy the Games. In this edition you can read all about how that spirit will spread around Britain in the Paralympic Torch relay.

We have also included the 10 sports again that we Sir Philip Craven, MBE already covered in the last edition, to make this a IPC President special Games-time companion magazine.

Four wheelchair rugby teams tested out the London 2012 venue in April

Italy’s Martina Caironi’s world record time of 15.89 in the 100m T42 was also one of the 27 European records broken at the 2012 IPC Athletics European Championships CONTENT ISSUE NO. 2 | 2012

Enjoy this edition of “The Paralympian” – the offi cial award-winning magazine of the Paralympic Movement! 4488 1188

GREAT EXPECTATIONS 06 PARTNERS & PATRONS 42

As excitement mounts for what will be the biggest Paralympics yet, Ottobock spreads its passion for the Paralympics in a travelling we take a look at people’s expectations for London 2012 exhibition, and Adecco and Visa also prepare for the Games

TORCH RELAY 12 FUTURE GAMES 44

The Paralympic Torch Relay will travel around the British Isles Find out the latest on London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and spreading the Paralympic Spirit PyeongChang 2018

LONDON 2012 SPORT PREVIEW 14 NPC PROFILE 46

A day-by-day guide highlighting what to watch at the Paralympics NPC Antigua & Barbuda talks about sending its only athlete, Jamol Pilgrim, to the Games LONDON 2012 SPORT PROFILES 18 SPORT REVIEW 48 A look at all 20 Paralympic sports IPC Athletics Euros, Roland Garros, the BT Paralympic World Cup, ATHLETE PROFILE 38 London 2012 Test Events and Athlete of the Month

See how Czech cyclist Jiri Jezek is preparing for the Games EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT 52

MEDICAL & SCIENCE 40 World Sport Day, the Barcelona Foundation, Agitos Foundation Winter Youth Camp and more A look at what has changed in classifi cation, including the return of athletes with an intellectual impairment PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT 54

3388 5566 A fi nger on the pulse of the Paralympic Movement around the world LONDON 2012 ONLINE 56

The IPC’s plans to provide the most comprehensive coverage of the 5522 Games ever, plus a look at where the Agitos have been appearing

4422

www.twitter.com/paralympic www.facebook.com/ParalympicGames www.youtube.com/ParalympicSportTV www.paralympic.org 06 GREAT EXPECTATIONS GREAT EXPECTATIONS 07 Great Expectations There is a real buzz in the air about the London 2012 Paralympic Games with phrases such as “like never before” and “watershed year” being banded about. As the anticipation rises, we asked several key fi gures to tell us what their expectations are for the London Games.

IPC @Paralympic

For chance to appear in next edition of our magazine, using#TheParalympian tell us: What are your expectations for@London2012 Paralympics?

Paul Raymond @paulnray @Paralympic @london2012 would love to see all #teamGB break or get close to pb’s if that wins them medal great #TheParalympian

Rwanda Paralympics @npcrwanda @Paralympic @London2012 Rwanda expects to have 2 gold medals & 400m and 800m T46 by Hermas MUVUNYI. Many fans for Rwanda S Volleyball/Pool B rachel @rachel66001515 @Paralympic @London2012 awesome athletics and easy accessibility in London!

Lou Jayne Iontton @Lil_Misspdrfan @Paralympic @London2012 #TheParalympian I expect to be very busy but having an awesome, once in a lifetime, experience!!!:)) Can’t wait!!:)) 8 GREAT EXPECTATIONS GREAT EXPECTATIONS 9 Lieven Coudenys GarethADavies IPC Offi cial Photographer Paralympics Correspondent, The Telegraph, UK

he Paralympic Games will be the later, with a mid-week start, the Paralym- The parallel Games ince my first Paralympics ‘surprise package’ of this summer. pic Games slips into town for its Opening has a duality – in Atlanta 1996 I’ve seen Ceremony. sport and an un- the Games grow exponen- London is the sixth Paralympic derstanding of tially in numbers of partici- TGames I’ve covered for The Telegraph and The feel-good factor returns because of its what disability Spating countries, athletes and media. the pattern is almost always the same. Ex- unique nature. It feels like the Olympics means in our world. haustion has set in by the end of the Olym- have come back again – through thousands Everybody knows the Beijing Paralym- pics, the feel-good factor has been there, of athletes with amazing human interest In the Paralympic pics were amazing and I’m sure London three weeks at a million miles an hour, and stories doing quite staggering physical Movement, athletes are 2012 will be just as wonderful. London everyone needs a rest. things: stories of the triumph of the human demonstrating quite will be the biggest Games ever! spirit; battling back from adversity; a tome clearly not that they are And they do. of amazing, and often extraordinarily hon- disabled, but what they I always try to capture the athlete in the est people, pushing the boundaries of their are able to do. middle of the action and at the peak of But within a week, after that rest, reflection own physicality. their eff orts, the incredible happiness begins on what was a great few weeks, the I’m genuinely inspired after victory or the disappointment of memory of that constant ‘feel-good’ factor, Engaging with the Paralympics requires a by many of these peo- losing. that buzz in the streets, in the stands, subtlety, an understanding that it is pos- ple. I hope many jour- night and day. Then, quietly, two weeks sible to be different, and think outside the nalists in Britain feel @GarethADaviesDT When people afterwards say it took box. the same. them a while to see that the athletes in my photos actually have an impairment, because they were mostly looking at the action or emotion in the picture, I know I did a good job. Justin Holdforth It’s the athlete that counts, not the impair- ment. So I’m looking forward to a lot of Head of TV Sport & Events, ABC Television, Australia high level competitions in London where the Paralympians go to the limit. That, in BC Television will broadcast over the traditional ABC audience: older with a It’s branding and content is vibrant and combination with the beautiful venues and 100 hours from the London 2012 female skew. distinctive, focused on entertainment and the undoubtedly very enthusiastic crowds, Paralympic Games. factual programming. will be the recipe for an amazing Games and Our nightly live programming will be on photos. ABoth the Opening and Closing Ceremonies ABC 2. This is a channel aimed at 25-49 As a result two very different daily pro- will be live and broadcast in full. year olds. grammes are being produced.

Each day of competition will Our live show will have three feature a minimum of eight studio hosts two of which are hours of live event coverage well-known comedians and plus an hour of prime-time sport fanatics. highlights. Coverage will also be available on our catch up A situation comedy has been channel iview. commissioned as companion programming. Each episode In terms of hours broadcast, involves a different Australian this is not significantly differ- Paralympian or Paralympic ent to what we did in Beijing. team. The show will aim to at- There is a big difference, how- tack some of the stigma and Lieven’s favourite: “It’s not really the greatest picture as far as artistic quality is concerned, but it defi nitely is one of the best ‘goose-bumps moments’ I’ve had! The photo is of Jean de Dieu Nkunda- ever, in how we are approach- misconceptions around disa- bera from Rwanda. He won his country’s fi rst ever Paralympic or Olympic medal (bronze in 800m ing it. bility. T46) at Athens 2004. After he fi nished, he was so happy, he went back to the fi nish line, knelt down, put his arms in the air and started shouting.” Our live breakfast content is on We hope to deliver a completely the ABC primary channel, ABC new audience to Paralympic 1. This a comprehensive broad- sport. @LievenCoudenys cast channel targeted towards The Australian broadcaster, ABC, will bring the Paralympics down under 10 GREAT EXPECTATIONS GREAT EXPECTATIONS 11 Get Set School Children Tim Reddish

housands of schools across the UK Chairman and President, British Paralympic Association are learning about Paralympic val- ues, sports, and athletes through Get Set, the official London 2012 ur goals are that we as a team Athletic performance will inspire the nation sport within the TEducation programme. Schools have been are the best we can be, so and the world. Whatever the athletes do on UK and we’ve got to inspired by Paralympic themes and are get- that means the best prepared the field of play will make a difference to manage that. We want ting really excited about the start of the athletes, the best prepared the world and to our movement. the Games to inspire for Paralympic Games in September. Ostaff, the best prepared management. the future, but we’ve We’re all using the terminology “this is a got to manage it and In May, students from St Margaret’s Our athletes will have fun. They will go once in a lifetime opportunity” and “it is a work in partnership Primary School in West Sussex attended through blood, sweat and tears, but they watershed year.” with all the stake- the athletics test event at the Olympic Sta- will all have fun and enjoy the experience. holders because dium after winning tickets through a Get So from a host nation perspective, we There is a high expectation that the Lon- we are not the Set competition, in which schools had to want to ensure that that experience is a don Games will be the answer to every- delivery agents on submit their plans for World Sport Day on positive experience for all athletes and all thing around disability and Parlaympic everything. 25 June. their support staff.

Students at Ling Bob Primary School, UK, played goalball at their Paralympic festival Carlos Arthur Nuzman President of the Rio 2016™ Olympic and Paralympic Organising Committee “Going to the Paralympics test event was amazing. I was inspired by the Paralympians following their dreams”. “The atmosphere at the events we have he London 2012 Paralympic experiencing the routine of specific jobs Isabelle, 9, St Margaret’s Primary School Games will be an important mile- or even working in the organisation of the been to so far has been great, and I can see stone for the preparation of the event. the Paralympic Games being even better!” Rio 2016™ Organising Committee Liam, 16, Young Games Maker, London 2012 Paralympics Tfor the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The London 2012 Games will also be a chance to showcase what can be expected After months of planning and co-opera- from Rio and Brazil in 2016. tion with the London Organising Commit- tee of the Games, a significant part of the During the London 2012 Paralympic Rio 2016™ staff, from various functional Games, Casa Brasil (Brazil House), in Som- areas, will be in the British capital as part erset House, will be an exciting focal point of the Observer’s Programme, with the pur- for everyone to experience Brazil’s vi- pose of exchanging knowledge and bring- brant culture and creative energy. ing positive experiences. This effort will culminate in Rio 2016™’s It will be a unique opportunity to study in segment during the London Paralympic detail the operation of the Summer Par- Games Closing Ceremony, when Rio de alympic Games before it is Rio’s turn to Janeiro will receive the Paralympic flag host them. and invite the world to visit the city in four “I hope that holding the Paralympics years’ time. in London will encourage people London 2012 will be even more special be- around the world to take a cause the Paralympic Games will return to The experience of being part the country where the idea of sports com- of this extraordinary event in great interest in Paralympic sports “My favourite part was when the people went running petitions for people with an impairment London – along with the confi- for those with disabilities” past on the springy legs/feet because they must was born. dence that in 2016 the Brazilian Aaron, 11, St Margaret’s Primary School have wonderful balance. I think the Paralympics is a team will consolidate its posi- really good idea because even people with disabilities In addition, every aspect involving the ex- tion as a Paralympic power – will ecution of the Games will be analysed, certainly make the Rio Games can achieve the hardest challenges.” the Rio 2016™ team will have members equally unforgettable. Charlotte, 10, St Margaret’s Primary School 12 TORCH RELAY TORCH RELAY 13

Tokyo 1964 Heidelberg 1972 Caz Walton Sir Philip Craven Athletics (in 1964) Athletics (in 1972) Lighting up Great Britain Great Britain Great Britain Arnhem 1980 Jan Wilson Swimming with the Paralympic Spirit USA

Building on the traditional Torch Relay format, the London 2012 tainment events staged by LOCOG with the assistance of the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay Route Paralympic Torch Relay will begin in London on 24 August with host Local Authority. the lighting of England’s flame. The United Kingdom’s other three capital cities – Greater Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh – will then Once a national flame has been lit, it will multiply, visiting local Helen Hynd is one of 50 people light a flame on each of the following days, at special Flame Light- community groups and key locations in and around Britain in selected by the IPC to carry the Harrow Paralympic Torch ing events, followed by Flame Festivals, which are public enter- Flame Celebrations. Waltham Forest

The Edinburgh Flame Festival celebration Edingburgh Glasgow will be held in Inverleith Park on 26 August Barnet including music and entertainment.

A procession of athletes (past, present and fu- ture) will carry the flame to light a cauldron on Hackney stage at the end of the evening. Brent Willesden Sports Centre London Fields Lido Olympic Stadium Barking Park

Waterloo Place, Derry

Strabane Ballymena Beamish Newham Carrickfergus Stratford Park Cookstown Belfast Tower Bridge Lagan Valley Island Westminster Abbey Road The Belfast Flame Festival will be a three-hour packed pro- Newry & Mourne Canary Wharf gramme of activity and enter- Southwark tainment starting at 18:30 on 25 August on the lawns in front York Beverley of City Hall. Leeds Preston Westminster Greenwich Huddersfield Abbey

Knowsley Manchester

Sheffield

Colwyn Ellesmere Port Lewisham

Stoke on Trent

On 28 August, all national Flames will be com- bined at a Paralympic Flame Lighting Cannock Chase Wisbech, Fenland In total 580 Torchbearers will light the way to the Paralympic Both Helen’s sons took up swimming at a very early age and for Leicester Norwich Ceremony in Stoke Mandeville to cre- Peterborough Games by carrying the Paralympic Flame on a 24-hour over- the last eight years she has had six 05:00 starts a week taking ate the London 2012 Paralympic Flame, which East Cambridgeshire night journey from Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual birthplace of Sam and Ollie training, and made various other sacrifices, so they will be taken in a 24-hour Torch Relay to the Coventry Huntingdonshire Milton, South Bury St Edmonds Cambridgeshire the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Stadium for the Open- could pursue their Paralympic dreams. Olympic Stadium to light the Cauldron at the Biddenham Cambridge Opening Ceremony. Bedford ing Ceremony. Hereford Dunstable Ipswich

Aylesbury “At first I thought it was a hoax when I found out I was going to St Albans Athletes from all the past Paralympic Games from 1960 to 2012 carry the Paralympic Torch,” said Helen. “But then I felt a feel- Stoke Mandeville Swansea will take part in the Torch Relay, as well as a group of inspirational ing of shock, disbelief and delight when it started to sink in.” South Benfleet people, who were nominated by members of the public on www. London Cardiff Bath paralympic.org earlier this year. Helen Hynd is one of 50 torchbearers selected by the IPC to take part in the London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay. Horsham One of those was Helen Hynd, the mother of S8 swimmers Sam The Cardiff Flame Festival and Ollie Hynd, who have both been selected to represent Para- will take place on 27 August be- ginning with the lighting of the lympicsGB at London 2012. Athens 2004 Jon McCollough Flame in the morning and contin- Weymouth and Portland uing throughout the day. Football 7-a-side Plymouth USA Stoke Mandeville / New York 1984 The London 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay Paul Noble will begin in London on 24 August with the lighting of Swimming England’s flame. The flame will then spread to each Barcelona 1992 Great Britain of the UK’s capital cities for Flame Festivals and split Esther Weber Flame Celebration Flame Festival into smaller flames to the surrounding areas for Flame Wheelchair fencing Celebrations. It returns to London in the Torch Relay on Germany 29 August, which culminates at the Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. 14 SPORT PREVIEW SPORT PREVIEW 15

The fi rst day of competition will go off with a bang with the fi rst medal going to The Paralympics will open with a ceremony called “Enlightenment”. This spec- the winner of the women’s R2 10m air rifl e standing SH1. Do not miss the highly tacular celebration will refl ect the inspirational spirit of the Paralympic Games competitive equestrian mixed team test events at Greenwich Park with Great Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 and challenge the perceptions of human possibility. Britain and Germany traditionally fi elding the strongest teams. The Aquatics Sport Centre will be action-packed for the swimming heats in the morning and fi nals 30.8. 31.8. 1.9. 2.9. 3.9. 4.9. 5.9. 6.9. 7.9. 8.9. 9.9. in the evening. Ukraine’s Yevheniy Bohodayko is expected to shine in the men’s 100m backstroke S6, whilst Spain’s Serai Gascon will likely go head to head with Archery South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit in the women’s 100m butterfl y S9. NOT TO BE MISSED ! Athletics 09:30 Swimming: men’s 100m backstroke S6, women’s 100m butterfl y S9 14:00 Equestrian: mixed team test 1b 16:50 Cycling: women’s individual C5 pursuit Boccia

Cycling road

Cycling track

Equestrian

Football 5-a-side

Football 7-a-side

Goalball

Judo

Powerlifting Start the day watching Brazil’s football 5-a-side team, the current world champi- This is another great day to head down to the Aquatics Centre. Expect to see ons, face France at the Riverbank Arena. Venezuela’s Naomi Soazo is a favour- stunning performances from Great Britain’s Eleanor Simmonds and Brazil’s ite for the -63kg judo competition in ExCeL, whilst the China v USA women’s Daniel Dias amongst others. Go for the morning heats, then spend the after- Rowing sitting volleyball match in the same venue is likely to be one of the most excit- noon watching judo in ExCeL where Brazil’s Antonio Tenorio is expected to dom- ing and closely fought of the preliminary round. The afternoon also promises inate the -100kg event or go to shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks where great action in the pool featuring Great Britain’s Sam and Ollie Hynd, Brazil’s Great Britain’s Matt Skelhon and Sweden’s Jonas Jacobsson are top medal con- Sailing Andre Brasil, Australia’s Matthew Cowdrey, Spain’s Sarai Gascon and France’s tenders. Stay late at the Olympic Stadium to watch two great men’s 100m races David Smetanine. featuring Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon (T38) and Ireland’s Jason Smyth (T13).

Shooting NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! 09:00 Football 5-a-side: Brazil v France 16:00 Judo: men’s -100kg fi nals 16:00 Judo: women’s -63kg 16:00 Shooting: mixed R3 10m Air Rifl e Prone SH1 fi nals Sitting Volleyball 16:00 Sitting volleyball: China v USA (women) 20:00 Athletics: men’s 100m T13 17:30 Swimming: men’s 400m freestyle S8, men’s 50m freestyle S10, 21:06 Athletics: men’s 100m T38 men’s 100m backstroke S9, women’s 100m backstroke S9, men’s Swimming 50m freestyle S4

Table Tennis

Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Fencing

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Tennis

Medals contested 16 SPORT PREVIEW SPORT PREVIEW 17

Take a trip to Eton Dorney and watch the men’s arms and shoulder’s single Today marks the halfway point of the sailing event when sailors hope to con- Visit the coast at Weymouth & Portland where for the fi nal sailing race or go to Watch the women’s wheelchair tennis singles fi nals in which the Netherlands’ skulls fi nals in which Great Britain’s Tom Aggar is the favourite to win. An al- solidate leads and stay in the race. The equestrian mixed individual freestyle Brands Hatch for top performances expected from the Czech Republic’s Jiri Esther Vergeer may well be defending her title against teammate Aniek van ternative would be the morning athletics with the likes of Australia’s Kelly test will also be a crowd-puller with riders performing routines to music. Great Jezek and Great Britain’s Sarah Storey in the cycling road races. The even- Koot. The Aquatics Centre also promises some great performances from Cartwright doing the long jump and USA’s April Holmes racing the 100m. The Britain’s Lee Pearson is a favourite for the 1b class. Pop down to to the archery ing’s athletics will be all about the men with Great Britain’s Dan Greaves up Australia’s Matthew Cowdrey, South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit, Ukraine’s Maksym afternoon promises gripping wheelchair basketball matches and Great Brit- in the late afternoon to catch the men’s compound fi nals where Switzerland’s against USA’s Jeremy Campbell in the discus, Switzlerland’s Marcel Hug and Veraksa and Russia’s Oxana Savchenko. Semi-fi nals get underway for football ain’s Will Bayley will likely star in the men’s table tennis singles class 7 fi nals. Philippe Horner will likely be hitting the mark or watch the class 10 women’s Great Britain’s David Weir going head to head in the 800m wheelchair race 7-a-side, as well as fi nals in the men’s and women’s goalball, women’s sitting singles fi nals in ExCeL where Poland’s Natalia Partyka will likely star. and South Africa’s Oscar Pistorius, USA’s Jerome Singleton and Great Brit- volleyball and wheelchair basketball. ain’s Jonnie Peacock meeting in the men’s 100m.

NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! 11:00 Athletics: women’s long jump F42/44 10:45 Wheelchair basketball: Canada v Columbia (men’s) 11:00 Sailing: fi nal race 12:00 Wheelchair tennis: women’s singles gold-medal match 12:28 Athletics: women’s 100m T44 14:15 Equestrian: mixed individual freestyle test 1b 14:32 Cycling: women’s individual C 4-5 road race 15:00 Goalball: women’s gold medal match 11:10 Rowing: men’s arms and shoulder’s single skulls fi nal A 16:00 Archery: men’s individual compound W1 20:31 Athletics: men’s discus throw F44 17:30 Swimming: men’s and women’s 100m freestyle S9, men’s and 17:15 Table tennis: men’s singles class 7 fi nals 19:30 Table tennis: women’s singles class 10 21:46 Athletics: men’s 800m T54 women’s 50m freestyle S12 21:58 Athletics: men’s 100m T44 20:00 Goalball: men’s gold medal match 21:00 Sitting volleyball: women’s gold medal match 21:15 Wheelchair basketball: women’s gold medal match

Check out the Royal Artillery Barracks in the early afternoon to watch the Watch Iran’s Siamand Rahman wow the crowds with his powerlifting abilities Wheelchair rugby semi-fi nals begin today, but all attention will be on three The day begins at 8:00 with the men’s visually impaired and arm amputee mar- women’s compound open fi nals for which Great Britain’s Danielle Brown is and do not miss the swimming sessions featuring Great Britain’s Sam and Ollie gold-medal matches: football 5-a-side, men’s sitting volleyball and men’s athon races. At 11:30 the wheelchair marathon kicks in, the men’s event likely the favourite. At ExCeL Great Britain are also the favourite for the BC1/2 boc- Hynd, Russia’s Olesya Vladykina, Brazil’s Andre Brasil, Ukraine’s Maksym Ve- wheelchair basketball. The morning athletics session will also be exciting with being fi ercely contested by Great Britain’s David Weir, Australia’s Kurt Fearn- cia team event whilst Hong Kong’s Chan Yui Chong and Hungary’s Pal Szek- raksa, South Africa’s Natalie Du Toit and France’s David Smetanine. The even- Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon running the 200m T38 and Brazil’s Shirlene Coelho ley and Switzerland’s Marcel Hug. USA are expected to defend their title in the eres will likely star in the wheelchair fencing foil events. ing session in the Olympic Stadium will be one of top-class 100m-sprints from likely to shine in the javelin. wheelchair rugby gold-medal match, and the football 7-a-side fi nal will round Brazil’s Terezinha Guilhermina (T11), Australia’s Kelly Cartwright (T42) and off competition before Coldplay headline the Closing Ceremony. Canada’s Michelle Stilwell (T52).

NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! NOT TO BE MISSED ! 16:00 Archery: women’s compound open fi nals 18:00 Powerlifting: men’s +100kg 10:40 Athletics: women’s javelin throw F37/38 11:30 Men’s and women’s T54 marathon 16:00 Sitting volleyball: Iran v Bosnia & Herzogovina (men’s) 20:18 Athletics: women’s 100m T11 11:36 Athletics: men’s 200m T38 12:00 Wheelchair rugby: gold medal match 17:50 Boccia: BC1/BC2 team event 20:42 Athletics: women’s 100m T42 15:30 Football 5-a-side: gold medal match 16:00 Football 7-a-side: gold medal match 18:30 Wheelchair fencing: men’s and women’s individual foil Category B 21:36 Athletics: women’s 100m T52 18:00 Sitting volleyball: men’s gold medal match 21:15 Wheelchair basketball: men’s gold medal match 18 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 19

Green (Good availability) We also have a handy ticket availability colour coding: London 2012 Sports Profile (as of 1 August 2012) Amber (Some availability)

wwebeb >> www.paralympictickets.com In this issue of The Paralympian, all 20 London 2012 sports are profi led, including quick facts, ones to watch, which teams have Red (Limited availability) qualifi ed and how the medal standings looked for Beijing 2008.

BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008

China 232 China 38 21 18 Archery Great Britain 211 Athletics Australia 10 9 7 Republic of Korea 21– South Africa 10 2 4 Make way for the closest competition yet Bringing Paralympic sport to new heights

QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS London 2012 will be the fi rst Paralympics “It’s going to be a very exciting and tense As the biggest sport on the Paralympic class. Irish sprinting sensation where athletes play the best of fi ve sets, competition and the spectators will quickly QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Games programme and the one that has Jason Smyth will try to uphold Ticket availability: rather than shooting 12 arrows and seeing feel the atmosphere and excitement,” said Ticket availability: been hyped up the most, the London 2012 his title as the world’s fastest Par- Venue: The Royal Artillery who has the highest score. Dielen. Venue: Olympic Stadium athletics competition at the Olym- alympian in the 100m T13 Barracks Dates: 31 August - pic Stadium is bound to in- spring, whilst Australia’s Dates: 30 August - Each set consists of three arrows with two “They’ll see some fantastic things like peo- 9 September clude some performances Evan O’Hanlon hopes to 5 September points awarded for a win, one for a tie and ple shooting an arrow without using an arm, Medal Events: 170 (96 track, of a lifetime. snatch it from him rac- Medal Events: 9 zero for a loss. The fi rst to six points wins the like drawing back the bow with their mouth. 70 fi eld and four road) ing in the T38 class. Classifi cation: match. This is one of the fantastic things. It shows Classifi cation: Athletes are grouped into classes The IPC’s Ones to ST: standing athletes according to how much their impairment im- that disabled athletes can perform at a very pacts their event-specifi c performance. Watch list for London Wheelchair racers W1 and W2: wheelchair athletes, with W2 “This [set system] will make the matches even high level.” 2012 includes 16 ath- Michelle Stilwell of athletes’ impairments having less of an impact In each class, the fi rst digit indicates the nature on their ability to compete more exciting. It also permits an athlete who of an athlete’s impairment, and the second indi- letes who could win Canada and Tatyana has one big mistake to come back,” said Tom Since Beijing, when the Paralympic archery cates the amount of functional ability the athlete multiple medals and McFadden of USA will Paralympic Games debut: Rome 1960 Dielen, Secretary General of World Archery. events attracted more spectators than the has. The lower the second number, the greater set new world re- try to set new top marks in Athletes expected to compete: 88 men and 52 the impact the impairment has on the athlete’s women Olympic ones, the sport has seen more arch- ability to compete. A T or an F before each cords in the pro- the women’s T52 and T54 Men and women compete separately, both ers with an impairment begin to compete in two-digit number shows whether the athlete is cess. classes, respectively. as individuals and in teams of three, and all the sport at a high level. Now many para-arch- competing in a track event or a fi eld event. matches follow a straight knockout format. ers, like Great Britain’s Danielle Brown, are Classes 11-13: athletes with a “Athletics is the biggest and purest Because there are a wide also top-ranked in the able-bodied compe- visual impairment of the Paralympic sports – run- range of impairment classes Spectators coming to watch archery tition. Class 20: athletes with an intellectual ning, jumping and throwing form at the Paralympics, many of at the Royal Artillery Barracks will impairment the core of nearly all sports and the fi eld events combine a wwebeb >> www.archery.org be able to follow scores easily on Classes 31-38: athletes with co-ordination hark back to ancient Greece and number of classes and are the video board. problems, e.g. due to cerebral the original Olympics,” IPC Athletics decided by a point-scoring palsy, with classes 31 to 34 using a wheelchair Sport Technical Committee Chair- system. to compete Ones to watch person Ed Warner said. Classes 40-46: athletes with a loss of limb or London’s Olympic Stadium limb defi ciency, who compete standing Danielle Brown (Great Britain) The men’s 100m T43/44 has been is bound to be a historic set- Currently world No. 1 in the Classes 51-54: wheelchair racers deemed the race of the Games al- ting for all of the events set to Compound Open category, the Classes 51-58: fi eld athletes who throw from a ready, with South African “Blade take place in front of fans from all 24-year-old is on target for gold seated position Runner” Oscar Pistorius, Great Brit- around the world. in London. Paralympic Games Debut: Rome 1960 ain’s Jonnie Peacock and USA’s Je- Athletes Expected to Compete: 740 men and rome Singleton ready to sprint for Philippe Horner (Switzerland) 360 women the title. Great Britain’s David Weir, wwebeb >> ipc-athletics. The 52-year-old, who styles Switzerland’s Marcel Hug and Aus- himself on Yoda from Star Wars, paralympic.org tralia’s Kurt Fearnley headline a strong T54 will hope to beat arch-rival and new gold medallist from Beijing John look Stubbs of Great Britain. Ones to watch

Gizem Girismen (Turkey) David Weir (Great Britain) Jason Smyth (Ireland) Tatyana McFadden (USA) The 31-year-old, who won her The three-time T54 world The visually impaired sprinter The wheelchair racer will com- country’s fi rst Paralympic gold champion will look to take back will hope to repeat his 100m pete in potentially fi ve events in in the Individual Recurve W1/ his world records in several and 200m T13 Paralympic London in the hope of winning W2 event in Beijing 2008, is a distances from Swiss “Silver golds and retain his title as the her fi rst ever Paralympic gold. podium favourite for London. Bullet” Marcel Hug. fastest Paralympian. 20 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 21

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Great Britain 17 3 – Boccia Cycling USA 554 Germany 364 Athletes with severe impairments showing incredible abilities Pedalling to the podium

QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Cycling was originally developed as a sport “Great Britain will be one of the leading for visually impaired athletes who fi rst used nations, especially on the track, but they will Ticket availability: Ticket availability: Brazil 2–1 tandem bicycles. face fi erce competition from several other Venue: ExCeL Venue: Velodrome (track) and Korea 2–1 nations.” Dates: 2-8 September Brands Hatch (road) Portugal 131 Today, it is off ered to a wider range of athletes Medal Events: 7 Dates: 30 August - 2 September (track), and has quickly expanded to become the third As for the road competition, road races, time 5-8 September (road) largest sport on the Paralympic Games pro- trials and team relays will take place at Brands Classifi cation: Boccia is a game of skill, accuracy and Medal Events: 18 (Track), 32 gramme in terms of medal events. Hatch in Kent on the slightly adapted motor BC1: Players with Cerebral Palsy (CP) who are mental cunning where players with cer- (Road) racing circuit that athletes had the chance to able to use their hands or feet to propel a ball ebral palsy and other physical impair- Classifi cation: Athletes The track competition will take place at the test out on 19 June. into play. ments try to aim coloured balls as close are classed based on their Velodrome, which is banked from 12 degrees functional ability and which BC2: Players with CP with a greater functional to a jack ball as possible. at its shallowest point to 42 degrees at its Watch out for Italy’s former motor racer Alex ability than BC1 players. type of cycle they can compete on – tandem, handcycle, tricycle or bicycle. The lower the steepest. Athletes will compete in the time Zanardi, as he returns to Brands Hatch as a

BC3: Players with CP or other impairment who Athletes play against the clock. There athlete’s class number, the greater the impact of trial, individual pursuit and the individual and handcycler to claim the gold that eluded him use a ramp to propel the ball into play and are their impairment on their ability to compete. supported by a sport assistant or ‘ramper’. are four Ends in each match and during team sprints. on the circuit as a driver. each End, each individual or pair throws TB: Athletes with a visual impairment who BC4: Players who do not have CP but have six ball. Although it is a physical game, above compete on a tandem with a sighted pilot on “We expect to have several world records Strong delegations from Great Britain, USA, another impairment with very limited leg and the front trunk function, but the ability to grasp and all, boccia is a game of strategy. on the track,” the UCI’s Louis Barbeau said. Australia and Germany, along with Spain and H1-H4: Athletes with an impairment that throw the ball aff ects their legs and so compete using a the Czech Republic, are expected to lead the Paralympic Games debut: Stoke Mandeville “When players are sitting there look- handcycle cycling medals table. 1984 ing at the game, you wonder what’s T1-T2: Athletes with an impairment that Athletes expected to compete: 104 going on in their mind? How are aff ects their balance and so compete using a wwebeb >> www.uci.ch they going to play this one out? tricycle C1-C5: Athletes with an impairment that wwebeb >> www.CPISRA.org For them to nail the jack right on is to- aff ects their legs, arms and/or trunk but tally amazing,” Leslie Halicki, Chair of the compete using a bicycle CPISRA Boccia Committee explained. Paralympic Games Debut: Atlanta 1996 (track), Stoke Mandeville/New York 1984 (road) After new qualification rules were Athletes expected to compete: 155 men and introduced, London 2012 will 70 women be the first time individual play- ers can qualify without being part of a team.

“It’s the fi rst time we’re going to be high- Ones to watch lighting the verybest players in each class,” Ones to watch said Halicki.

Greg Polychronidis (Greece) Jiri Jezek (Czech Republic) The Beijing silver medallist will If Jezek wins two more medals be looking to do one better in he will become the most suc- the BC3 category in London. cessful Paralympic cyclist ever.

Sarah Storey (Great Britain) Nigel Murray (Great Britain) Storey holds 16 world titles The world number one BC2 and will look to defend her player will hope to take advan- individual pursuit and time trial tage of being on home soil to golds from the Beijing 2008 play for gold. Games.

Marco Dispaltro (Canada) Colin Lynch (Ireland) The former rugby player has After only taking up competitive come out of nowhere to become cycling in 2008, Lynch is on the a real medal contender in the fast track to reach the podium BC4 class. in as many as three events in London. 22 SPORT PROFILES 23

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Great Britain 55– Equestrian Germany 312 Football 5-a-side South Africa 2–– Coming home One of world’s hottest sports to rock Riverbank Arena There is only one gold for the Team Test, mak- Interest in equestrian has never been as ing it very prestigious. QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS strong as at the London 2012 Paralympics During matches, which consist of two QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 Ticket availability: with organisers doubling the number of “It’s a fantastic event when you have a mix 25-minute halves, each team will be allowed Ticket availability: Venue: Greenwich Park tickets available. of diff erent grades which work together to one guide for each third of the pitch to call Brazil China Argentina Venue: Riverbank Arena Dates: 30 August - obtain the best possible result,” said Asmyr. out instructions. 4 September Trond Asmyr, Fédération Equestre Inter- Each test is divided into between 20 and 40 Dates: 31 August - 8 September Medal Events: 11 nationale (FEI) Director of Para-Equestrian movements. Five judges sit around the arena Brazil is the only country to have ever won wwebeb >> www.IBSA.es Medal Events: 1 Classifi cation: Based on the riders’ impair- Dressage says this is down to the superb to mark the movements from 0 to 10 and the football 5-a-side gold, beating Argentina and ment, which infl uences their ability to ride, they Greenwich Park venue and the British love marks are added to give the fi nal result. Classifi cation: There is only one sport class for China in the past two Paralympics. They also Football 5-a-side and all players are visually compete in one of fi ve grades (1a, 1b, II, III and of the sport. won the 2010 World Cup and the 2011 Para- IV). Riders in 1a have the least functional ability impaired. The players have a very low visual acu- and riders in IV have the most functional ability. Equestrian is unique in that it involves a spe- ity or no light perception and during the game all pan American Games. Athletes with a visual impairment compete in “Great Britain has always been one of the cial co-operation between an animal and players must wear eyeshades. grades III and IV. leading nations in Paralympic equestrian, a human being, something Asmyr says will Teams Qualifi ed: France, Spain, China, Iran, “We’ve seen similar levels of development Paralympic Games debut: Stoke Mandeville which means the interest around Para- transfi x the crowds. Brazil, Argentina, Great Britain, Turkey and growth in all the continents over the 1984 dressage in London is huge,” said Asmyr. Paralympic Games Debut: Athens 2004 past few years,” said IBSA’s football 5-a-side Athletes expected to compete: 78 “That is the most fascinating both for those Athletes expected to compete: 64 Chairman Carlos Campos Lopez. At the Paralympic Games, athletes compete involved in the sport and also for those who wwebeb >> www.fei.org in three dressage tests: a Team Test (with are watching,” he said. Since its Paralympic debut at the Athens “Having said that, it’s diffi cult to ig- three to four riders per team), an Individual 2004 Games, football 5-a-side has expanded nore the sport’s roots and tradi- Championship Test, which is also the Riders are able to adapt their riding style, de- to 44 countries and four continents. tions, so Brazil and Argentina, second round of the team compe- pending on their impairment, such as carry- countries synonymous with blind tition, and a Freestyle Test, for ing the reins in their mouth or carrying extra At London 2012, the competition will use the futsal, will be up there battling for which athletes choose their own equipment, like a second whip. World Cup format, with two groups of four the gold medals.” choreography and music. teams squaring off on the blue-coloured fi eld at Riverbank Arena. Spain could also fi ght their way into the medal round, as could China, The pitch will be surrounded with a rebound who have come on leaps and bounds wall, and each squad – made up of visually as of late. Host Great Britain have impaired athletes – will fi eld four outfi eld also benefi tted from training with for- players and a goalkeeper. They will play using mer England captain David Beckham. a ball with a bell fi tted inside. “It’s a special sport,” Lopez said. “It’s exciting To ensure fairness, all outfi eld players wear and passionate, and the public can easily eyeshades, though the goalkeeper may be relate to it.” Ones to watch fully or partially sighted.

Lee Pearson (Great Britain) The Paralympic legend is bouncing back from an injury to compete for home crowds.

Ones to watch

Hannelore Brenner (Germany) Brazil At her fourth Paralympic As the only team to ever win Argentina Games, the 49-year-old will Paralympic gold, Brazil boasts The 2004 runners-up will look hope to repeat her two indi- a Paralympic Pele in star to seek revenge on rival Brazil vidual gold medals from Beijing. striker Jeff erson da Conceicao in London. Goncalves. Pepo Puch (Austria) The 46-year-old is the highest ranked rider on Spain the FEI Paralympic Athletes The squad fell just short of Individual Ranking List going a world title in 2010, losing into London 2012. to Brazil in the gold-medal contest. 24 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 25

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MEN China Lithuania Sweden Football 7-a-side Goalball WOMEN USA China Denmark Exciting end-to-end action guaranteed Putting your body on the line in front of a 80km/h ball

The fi eld is a little smaller, the goals are a bit BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Goalball is a game for visually impaired soldiers from World War II, and has grown to QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS tighter and there are no off sides, but football athletes. The aim is to throw the ball into become one of the most popular Paralympic Ticket availability: Ticket availability: 7-a-side is still a rendition of football, one of Ukraine Russia Iran the opponents’ net. But there is one catch sports in the world with over 100 countries Venue: Copper Box Venue: Riverbank Arena the world’s most entertaining sports. – all players wear eye masks, so cannot see playing it. Dates: 30 August - Dates: 1-9 September anything. 7 September Medal Events: 1 The Paralympic sport for ambulant athletes In London, there will be a new, longer, much Medal events: 2 Classifi cation: All play- with cerebral palsy will be played at Riverbank Teams consist of six players, with only three tougher match format, with teams thrashing Classifi cation: Athletes have ers have co-ordination problems, e.g. due to Arena at the London 2012 Games, where varying degrees of visual impairment. In order to on the court at any one time. it out for 12 minutes per half as opposed to cerebral palsy. They are grouped in four sport eight teams will play a 20-match tournament ensure fair competition between the teams, all the normal 10. classes: C5, C6, C7 or C8, with C8 having the players must wear eyeshades during the game. most functional ability. Each team must fi eld at culminating in the gold-medal match on When a team throws, the other team has to least one class C5 or C6 player at all times, and 9 September. Paralympic Games debut: 1984 listen to the bell in the ball to identify where “Players have to be more prepared. And I they can have a maximum of two C8 players on Teams qualifi ed: it is and defend their net. Players make tell you after playing 24 minutes, the play- the fi eld at once. “The game is very Men’s: Great Britain, Lithuania, China, Iran, reactions within split seconds. ers’ heads are completely empty because all Teams Qualifi ed: Ukraine, Iran, Brazil, Great exciting because the South Korea, Finland, Brazil, Algeria, Turkey, their eff ort goes on concentrating on where Britain, Russia, the Netherlands, Argentina, USA top teams are very Canada, Belgium, Sweden “When the men play, the ball speed is 70 the ball is,” said Marklund. Paralympic Games Debut: New York and Stoke Women: Great Britain, China, USA, Sweden, Mandeville 1984 Games equal and a lot of goals - 80km per hour. It’s fast and the ball is are scored and that’s Japan, Denmark, Brazil, Australia, Canada, rather heavy, so it’s a big eff ort for your It is a game of mental toughness as much as Athletes Expected to Compete: 96 what the people want to Finland body to stop it, so you have to be tactics and physical strength, says Marklund. see,” said CPISRA football Athletes expected to compete: 132 brave,” Kari Marklund, IBSA Goal- (12 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams) wwebeb >> www.CPISRA.org 7-a-side Chair Tom Langen. ball Manager, said. “Goalball requires much mental strength, but it is about technique.” Since football 7-a-side began in The sport originally started 1978, Brazil has been an obvious in Austria to rehabili- pick as a powerhouse in the sport, tate visually impaired wwebeb >> www.IBSA.es but in recent years, Russia, Ukraine and Iran have risen to the top.

The point system in football 7-a-side, based on the severity of an athlete’s im- pairment, makes the coach’s job that much more interesting in deciding which players to put on the fi eld together.

Many times the matches are extended an Ones to watch extra 20 minutes if the score is tied at the Ones to watch end of full-time, and matches are decided Russia by a penalty shootout if still tied after extra Denmark (women) The squad reached the podium time. The team won the European at the last four Paralympic qualifi cation tournament and Games and won the 2011 are destined to make waves in CPISRA World Championships. London.

Lithuania (men) A strong team at the 2010 Ukraine World Championships, they will The team could win its third hope to bounce back after a Paralympic gold in London. disappointing 2011 European Championship.

Iran China (women) The bronze medallists from With a great technique and ten- Beijing 2008 have made vast dency not to throw balls straight improvements since winning on, but rather bend or bounce their fi rst Paralympic medal. them, China is diffi cult to beat. 26 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 27

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China 421 China 923 Judo Algeria 201 Powerlifting Egypt 433 Russia 104 Nigeria 231 Quick, fi erce and easy to follow The world’s strongest athletes

QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS will end with two fi nalists going head to “ippon” – putting his/her opponent on his/her back QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS At London 2012, all powerlifters will compete focused approach and raw power, bench head in the gold-medal contest. – and it enters a golden period if the score is tied together regardless of which impairment they pressing weights close to three times their Ticket availability: after the end of the fi ve minutes. Ticket availability: have and will be classifi ed by bodyweight own bodyweight in respect to the women and Venue: ExCeL The main diff erence between Para- Venue: ExCeL alone. closer to four times their own bodyweight for Dates: 30 August – lympic competitions and able-bodied London 2012 will mark the third time women have Dates: 30 August – the men.” 1 September 5 September is that visually impaired judokas are al- participated in judo at the Paralympic level, and This allows for the sport to convey athletes’ Medal events: 13 lowed to have contact with their oppo- Prieur insists there will be a few surprises in both Medal Events: 20 pure strength and combat their abilities At the Paralympics, powerlifters only compete Classifi cation: Athletes are classed as B1, B2 or nents to orientate themselves before the men’s and women’s competitions. Classifi cation: All athletes have an impairment against one another. in the bench-press discipline. Competitors lie B3 based on the degrees of their visual impair- aff ecting their legs and hips. Athletes are classi- ment, though all athletes compete together in each round begins. fi ed by body weight. out completely fl at on a specifi cally designed the same events. “All teams will have their chance because if we have Paralympic Games Debut: Tokyo 1964 “Fans can certainly look forward to watch- bench and are not allowed any assistive lift- But that does not mean the level of a look on the ranking list, seven diff erent countries ing some of the world’s strongest athletes ing devices. They have a maximum of three Paralympic Games debut: Seoul 1988 Athletes Expected to Compete: 120 men and Athletes expected to compete: 84 men and competition is any diff erent according lead the way for the seven weight catego- 80 women irrespective of any impairment, because attempts per competition and every event 48 women to IBSA Judo Director Jean-Claude ries for the male and for the female,” pound for pound, some of these athletes are only consists of a fi nal round. Prieur. he said. the very best and strongest in the world,” wwebeb >> www.ipc-powerlifting.orgww IPC Powerlifting Sport Technical Committee “Unlike other sports, there are no heats,” wwebeb >> www.ibsa.es “Most judokas have joined able- “Two Russians, two Chi- new Chairperson Jon Amos said. Amos said. “Every session the spectators look bodied judo centres, so the ju- nese, one from Chi- will watch is part of a fi nal.” Judo will be a very easy and thrilling Paralym- doka’s training has become as nese Taipei and one “In no other sport will spectators be able to pic sport to follow for spectators at the ExCeL professional as the International Azerbaijani watch male and female athletes show such arena in London, as battles will last up to fi ve Judo Federation circuit judokas at are leading minutes between visually impaired judokas. practice level,” he said. the way in All of the 13 events across seven weight cat- six diff erent egories at London 2012 will be played in a In judo, athletes are awarded points for weight knockout format wit h double repechage and throws, holds, arm locks and strangles, catego- and the one with the highest number ries.” of points reigns victorious. The con- test stops immediately if one judoka achieves

Ones to watch

Siamand Rahman (Iran) There is a very good chance that the 24-year-old will achieve the fi rst ever 300kg lift at the Paralympics in the men’s +100kg category.

Amalia Perez (Mexico) The world-record holder in the women’s -52kg event will look to defend her Paralympic gold in London and set a new top Ones to watch mark.

Naomi Soazo (Venezuela) Oleg Kretsul (Russia) Antonio Tenorio (Brazil) Nazmiye Muslu (Turkey) After taking silver and bronze The -90 kg judoka won gold at The legend is out to get his fi fth The 33-year-old aims to smash at the last two world champion- Beijing 2008, but he will have consecutive Paralympic gold in her own world record of 106kg ships Soazo is ready to top the to fend off the host nation’s London and solidify himself as in the -40kg category in podium once again as she did Sam Ingram to repeat that in the world’s best in the sport. London. in Beijing. London. 28 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 29

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Great Britain 2–1 Canada 1–1 Rowing China 1–– Sailing USA 1–1 Italy 1–– Germany 1–– An intimate fan experience A sport in full bloom

Spectators who see rowing at the London “Persons with a disability are participating in The London 2012 Paralympic Games will Boats will compete in 11 races. The boat that QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS 2012 Paralympic Games will get to train their the same sport [as able-bodied rowers],” said showcase sailing like never before. In the four crosses the fi nish line fi rst gets one point, Ticket availability: eyes on both the start and fi nish lines. Smith. “That is why we’ve had our inclusive Ticket availability: FREE years since Beijing 2008, sailors have had second takes two points and so on. The boat Venue: Eton Dorney approach for all of our events with our para- Venue: Weymouth and more opportunities than ever before to race. that gets the least number of points in total Portland Dates: 31 August – With the races spanning 1,000m, rather than rowers. They are absolutely part of the team wins. 2 September 2,000m in Olympic rowing, they will see the and part of the experience.” Dates: 1-6 September “ISAF opened up the World Cup competi- Medal events: 4 excitement of the race from beginning to end. Medal events: 3 tions to Paralympic classes. A lot of the boats Each boat can be adapted, for example with Classifi cation: Paralympic Paralympic rowing events at London 2012 Classifi cation: Sailors with a physical or visual have been taking advantage of those events hand-holders, cushions, transfer chairs and impairment compete in sport classes 1-7, with 1 Rowing has three sport classes “The venue is like an arena because it’s very will all begin with heats, with two boats from to improve their skill level and it’s really made bars to suit the disabilities of the crew. for athletes with diff erent func- point being the least functionally able. compact at Eton Dorney,” said Matt Smith, each heat qualifying directly for the fi nal. All a huge diff erence,” said Linda Merkel, Pres- tional abilities, depending on what they primarily 2.4mR is open to all athletes meeting the mini- use to accelerate the boat: Executive Director at FISA, the governing remaining boats will then compete in two rep- mum eligibility criteria ident of the International Disabled Sailing “Once you get on the water, the wheelchairs AS: arms and shoulders body of rowing. echage races, which off er a second chance SKUD – In the two-person team, one athlete has Federation (IFDS), adding that it is not un- are on the dock, and you cannot tell the dif- to qualify for the fi nal. to be female and one must be a 1 or 2 pointer. common for Paralympic sailors to beat their ference between Paralympic and able-bodied TA: trunk, arms and shoulders “Where we had big vast distances in Beijing, Sonar – the total classifi cation points have to add able- bodied counterparts. sailors. To me it is the real beauty of the sport. LTA: legs, trunk, arms and shoulders we have a more compact situation in Eton, With Great Britain fi elding a strong team, up to 14 or less. We’re all just sailors,” said Merkel Paralympic Games debut: Beijing 2008 which will make an even better atmosphere,” which includes Tom Aggar, who has domi- Paralympic Games debut: Atlanta 1996 The Paralympic sailing competition con- Athletes expected to compete: 48 men and added Smith. nated the men’s Single Sculls since before Teams qualifi ed sists of three boats: single-person keelboat This year’s Paralympic sailing is free of charge 48 women Beijing, Smith is confi dent that the crowd at- Single-Person Keelboat, 2.4mR (2.4mR), two-person keelboat (SKUD) and for spectators and takes place in a large Paralympic rowing is often referred to as mosphere will be something exceptional. Great Britain, France, Netherlands, Germany, three-person keelboat (Sonar). enclosed bay in Weymouth, Dorset. wwebeb >> www.worldrowing.com ‘adaptive’ rowing, because the equipment Canada, Norway, Greece, Denmark, United States of America, New Zealand, Finland, wwebeb >> www.Sailing.org/Disabled rather than the sport is adapted. “The big group of British fans that we expect Argentina, Australia, Italy at the Games regatta will create a really ex- Two-Person Keelboat, SKUD18 citing atmosphere,” he said. Great Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand, United States of America, Singapore, Canada, Aus- tralia, Italy, Israel, Spain, Brazil, France

Three-Person Keelboat, Sonar Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Ger- many, Norway, Greece, France, United States of America, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Austria. Japan Athletes expected to compete: 80

Ones to watch Ones to watch

Tom Aggar (Great Britain) Alla Lysenko (Ukraine) Legs Trunks Arms Mixed Coxed SKUD-18 (Great Britain) Sonar (Israel) The 28-year-old has dominated The world champion will have to Four (Great Britain) Damien Seguin (France) Alexandra Rickham (helm) and The team sailed to gold at the the men’s arms and shoulders out-row Beijing silver-medallist Pamela Relph, Naomi Riches, He stormed ahead to win the Niki Birrell (crew) have won 2011 World Championships in single scull for the last fi ve Liudmila Vauchok (Belarus) and David Smith, James Roe and 2.4mR competition at the 2012 three SKUD-18 world titles in Weymouth where the London years and will be tough to beat 2010 world champion Nathalie Lily van den Broecke make a IFDS World Championships. a row. 2012 event will also be held. in London. Benoit (France). strong home team. 30 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 31

BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008

Republic of Korea 432 Shooting Sweden 3–1 Sitting Volleyball Russia 213 A record-breaking performance in store Veteran squads aim to keep momentum rolling

Four countries have established them- Shooting at London 2012 will have spectators target from a set distance (10m, 25m or 50m) QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS selves as perennial powerhouses in BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS on the edge of their seats as they watch the and, depending on the event, athletes are re- sitting volleyball heading into London Bosnia and Ticket availability: MEN Iran Russia Ticket availability: competition unfold with an immediacy that quired to shoot from standing, kneeling or 2012. Herzegovina Venue: ExCeL Venue: Royal Artillery no other sport can off er. prone positions. The Nether- Barracks Dates: 30 August - WOMEN China USA 8 September Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina are lands Dates: 30 August – At the very moment the bullet hits the elec- In the qualifi cation rounds, each ring on the the dominant teams on the men’s side, Medal Events: 2 6 September tronic scoreboard, the score will be displayed target is worth points: one point for the outer and China and USA are consistent con- Medal Events: 12 Classifi cation: All players have a physical on big screens, allowing fans to live every mo- ring and 10 at the centre. impairment and are either allocated sport class tenders on the women’s end. chairs, they rely entirely on their physical abil- Classifi cation: Athletes with diff erent impair- ment of the competition as it happens. “D” for disability or “MD” for minimal disability. ities and quickness, with six players per team ments compete together in two classes. In the fi nal, the outside ring is worth 10 points MD indicates a higher functional ability than D. The competition in London will take place in- on the court. SH1: for athletes who can support the weight It will make for a tense and exciting competi- and the centre is worth 10.9 points. A team may only fi eld one MD player at a time. side ExCeL, along with fi ve other sports. How- of their fi rearm themselves tion in which shooters will have to hold their Paralympic Games Debut: Arnhem 1980 (men); ever, the sitting volleyball schedule has been Two minimal disability players – those with- Athens 2004 (women) SH2: for athletes who use a shooting stand to nerve and keep their calm to stay on top. Paralympic shooting will take place in three arranged so that matches take place during out any amputations – are allowed on a roster, Teams Qualifi ed: support their arm. temporary shooting ranges that have been the downtime for many other sports. though only one can be on the court at a time. Paralympic Games debut: Toronto 1976 The sport has a broad appeal, with more than erected at the Royal Artillery Barracks. The Men: Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Great Britain, Russia, Brazil, Rwanda, Athletes expected to compete: 100 men and 400 athletes from 56 countries actively par- multi-coloured modern venues contrast with “We’re the only team sport in there, so we’ll Teams win points by landing the ball on the 40 women Germany, Moroccoa and China ticipating. the historical building there. be trying to make as much noise as possible opposition’s half of the court. The game is the Women: China, USA, Ukraine, Great Britain, and getting as many people to come to us as best out of fi ve sets. Teams win the fi rst four Germany, the Netherlands, Sloveni, Brazil and wwebeb >> www.ipc-shooting.orgw “It’s a big sport around the world with a lot of “The facilities are very good and spectators Japan possible,” WOVD Sport Director Dennis Le sets by reaching 25 points, and the fi fth set new nations and athletes taking part,” said Rune will see athletes perform on a very very high Athletes expected to compete: 198 Breuilly said. by reaching 15 points. look Soerlie, IPC Sports Council Representative level,” said Soerlie. “The scores will be very for shooting. high and I think we will have a lot of world re- “People should buy tickets for sitting volley- In London, the 10 men’s and eight women’s cords.” ball because it’s an exciting game to watch. teams will be divided into two groups each, The sport features rifl e and pistol events. In There are potentially some excellent matches, and will play round-robin matches prior to both events, competitors aim at a 10-ringed and it will be a show.” a playoff .

Sitting volleyball, which started in the With the top four squads playing at their best, Netherlands in the 1950’s, requires a and a Rwandan team being the fi rst ever smaller court and a lower net than squad to represent the sub-saharan zone, the standing game, yet is often the competition is bound to be at its best. considerably faster. Because the players are not in wheel- wwebeb >> www.wvod.info

Ones to watch Ones to watch

Matt Skelhon (Great Britain) USA (women) The Beijing gold medallist will After fi nishing second at Beijing aim for a repeat performance in 2008 and the 2010 World Cham- front of home crowds. pionships, the Americans are hoping to upset China for gold.

Jonas Jacobsson (Sweden) The multi-Paralympic gold Iran (men) medallist often competes and The Iranians have won gold at wins against able-bodied shoot- fi ve of the last six Paralympic ers and will likely take a horde Games. Need anything more of medals home. be said?

Veronika Vadovicova (Slovakia) The 29-year-old will be up Bosnia and Herzegovina (men) against 70-year-old Libby The team fell to Iran in the fi nals Kosmala from Australia in the at the last Paralympics and hope of repeating her Beijing World Championships, so the gold-medal performance. rivalry is bound to heat up. 32 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 33

BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 BBEIJINGEIJING 20082008

USA 17 14 13 Brazil 2–1 Swimming China 13 22 17 Ta b l e Te n n i s Korea 2–1 Ukraine 13 10 20 Portugal 131 Athletes with an intellectual impairment return All-inclusive sport promises an array of entertainment

QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Paralympic Sport is already unique in itself, Players will compete in singles, doubles and QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS but table tennis is even more distinct in that team events in London. Ticket availability: it integrates a variety of disabilities. Ticket availability: Venue: ExCeL All-day passes are still available to see table Venue: Aquatics Centre Dates: 30 August - For the fi rst time since 2000 athletes with tennis at ExCeL, and there is bound to be 8 September Dates: 30 August – an intellectual impairment will be allowed to an equal representation of competitors from 8 September Medal Events: 29 compete in the Paralympics. around the globe in London, insists Burchell. Medal Events: 148 Classifi cation: Athletes are grouped into 11 Classifi cation: Swimmers are classifi ed accord- diff erent classes. 1-5 are devoted to wheelchair ing to how their impairment aff ects their ability athletes, 6-10 to athletes with a physical impair- “We’re able to off er the full spectrum,” said “Table tennis is a fairly accessible sport to perform each stroke. ment competing in a standing position. Athletes Alison Burchell, Deputy Director of the ITTF for all people with disabilities,” she said. “I in class 11 have an intellectual impairment. Classes are: Para Table-Tennis division. “In each class, think that particularly in developing areas like Paralympic Games Debut: Rome 1960 1-10: athletes with physical impairments. there is a level of excitement.” Africa, South America and some parts of Asia Class 1 swimmers’ impairment has the great- Athletes Expected to Compete: 174 men, and Oceania, there’s been a huge growth.” est impact on their ability to perform strokes; 102 women Table tennis is similar to the able-bodied class 10 swimmers’ has the least impact. game, though wheelchair players must serve Table tennis was handed over from the IPC

11-13: athletes with a visual impairment. Class wwebeb >> www.ITTF.com over the end line so that their opponents do to the ITTF in 2007, and since then, the 11 swimmers have little or no sight; class 13 not have diffi culty reaching the ball. sport’s number of national associations has swimmers have limited sight. increased to 215. 14: athletes with an intellectual impairment. Breaststroke uses greater leg propulsion than any other stroke, therefore athletes with a physi- cal impairment often have a diff erent class for this event compared to freestyle, backstroke Ones to watch and butterfl y.

This is also taken into account when athletes Natalia Partyka (Poland) compete in the individual medley. Therefore The Polish Olympic and Para- swimmers can have diff erent Sport Classes for For the fi rst time since the Sydney 2000 Para- Swimming will take place at the spectacular lympic star has claimed the last the diff erent strokes, which is indicated by: two Paralympic golds in the lympic Games, swimmers with an intellectual Aquatics Centre on the Olympic Park. S before the class represents freestyle, back- women’s Class 10 competition. stroke and butterfl y events. impairment will be participating in London in addition to athletes with a physical and vis- “It’s an amazing facility and the set-up in SB before the class represents breaststroke ual impairment. terms of where the stands are will lead to a events. Will Bayley (Great Britain) lot of excitement,” said Blaine, referring to The British 24-year-old has

SM before the class represents individual “We’re certainly pleased to be off ering events the elevated wings of the building with opti- jumped to the top of the stand- medley events. ings after winning gold at the for athletes with an intellectual impairment,” mum views of the pool action. Paralympic Games Debut: Rome 1960 2011 European Championships. said Jane Blaine, Chairperson for the IPC Athletes expected to compete: 340 men and 260 women Swimming Sport Technical Committee. Although no gold medals will be dished out in the morning heats, Blaine says those events Mateja Pintar (Slovenia) “All 14 classes will provide very competitive will be some of the most enthralling with The Slovenian Paralympic wwebeb >> www.ipc-swimming.orgw races and very exciting fi nishes,” she added, highly tactical swimming and a wider range champion always promises surprises once she hits the new referring to the classifi cation classes. of athletes. international stage. look “Certainly we’re going to see some records “The heats will be very exciting. There’ll be broken. We’re going to see some of the fast- more swimmers to compete against to get est swimming ever.” into fi nals, and it’s an opportunity to poten- tially see a few surprises.”

Ones to watch

Yevheniy Bohodayko (Ukraine) Sarai Gascon (Spain) Daniel Dias (Brazil) The 18-year-old was the most The S9 swimmer will go head The 24-year-old S5 athlete decorated swimmer at the 2011 to head with South Africa’s is likely to become one of the European Championships, win- Paralympic swimming hero most successful swimmers in ning 10 medals in the S6 races. Natalie Du Toit. the Aquatics Centre. 34 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 35 Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Fencing A Paralympic tradition just got a bit more exciting Fast action and high drama

QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Already one of the most dynamic Paralympic QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS Three types of weapons are used in wheel- BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 sports, wheelchair basketball will be more ex- BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 chair fencing: the foil, epée and sabre. Ticket availability: Ticket availability: citing than ever before at London 2012 thanks China 661 Venue: North Greenwich MEN Australia Canada Great Britain Venue: ExCeL Hong Kong 322 Arena; Basketball Arena to tilting. The target area for foil is limited to the WOMEN USA Germany Australia Dates: 4–8 September France 11– Dates: 30 August - opponent’s torso, while competitors in sabre Medal Events: 12 8 September Allowing players to “tilt” and get up on one and epée events may be hit anywhere above Classifi cation: A and B – ath- Medal Events: 2 wheel to shoot or guard their opponents will the waist. letes in the B category have an impairment with Classifi cation: Each athlete is assigned a classifi make for an even more athletic game. Wheelchair basketball is played with similar a greater impact on their functional ability. cation between 1-4.5 points, and could be rules to able-bodied basketball, and play- Paralympic Games Debut: Rome 1960 “The rules for wheelchair fencing are sim- classifi ed as a 1.5, 2.5, etc. The more functional “We show athleticism,” said IWBF President ers are required to throw or bounce the ball ilar to able-bodied fencing, but we have to “It’s going to facilitate the referee’s work and Athletes expected to compete: 69 men and ability an athlete has, the higher the number of Maureen Orchard. “We show a level of team after every two pushes of the wheels on their sit on a wheelchair with a fi xed distance. So boost the athlete’s confi dence on the fl oor points he or she is awarded. For instance, a 36 women 1-point player could be a high-level paraplegic sport that’s hard to show in some other para- chairs. the action in wheelchair fencing is even more when he’s judged,” said Alberto Martinez Vas- and a 4.5-point player typically has an impair- sports. speedy,” said Alison Yu, a Hong Kong wheel- sallo, President of International Wheelchair & wwebeb >> www.iwasf.com ment of a lower limb. A team may not play with “You don’t walk, you roll,” Orchard said. “I’ve chair fencer. Amputee Sports Federation ( IWAS) Wheel- more than 14 points on the fl oor at one time. “To think that an athlete can shoot a 3-point often said to people, ‘It’s like ballet on the chair Fencing. Paralympic Games Debut: Rome 1960 play sitting in a chair is exciting.” fl oor.’ What they can do in terms of moving Fencers wear protective gear including Teams Qualifi ed: the chair with their hips and getting down the masks, jackets, breeches and gloves. They Spectators heading to ExCeL to watch the Men: fl oor is great to watch.” also wear a wire to enable hits to be recorded sport will also have the opportunity to see Group A: Australia, Italy, Spain, South Africa, electronically. boccia, sitting volleyball, judo, powerlifting Turkey, USA Practiced in nearly 100 countries many play- and table tennis. Group B: Canada, Colombia, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Poland ers and coaches in the sport are now paid pro- “It’s a sport combining the good appearance fessional salaries in Europe. and also the technical skills,” said Yu. “For sure it will attract,” said Vassallo. “Fenc- Women: ing is a very European sport. And the English Group A: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands In London, 12 men’s and 10 women’s teams The one-on-one combat sport requires will be very well represented by their team.” Group B: China, France, Germany, Mexico, will be divided into two groups each. The top strength, endurance, quick refl exes and in- USA four teams in each group will qualify for the tuition. For the fi rst time at the Paralympics, With the competition more advanced than Athletes expected to compete: 264 quarter-fi nals. a video referee system will be used with which ever before, it is set to be very exciting for the referee can review calls. spectators. With some surprise teams qualifying from wwebeb >> www.iwbf.org Europe, and Colombia’s men joining the fi eld for the fi rst time, the traditional pow- erhouses of Australia, Canada and USA will face stiff competition this year.

Ones to watch “The competition in London on the men’s side will absolutely be closer Australia (men) between all of the 12 teams than it’s The defending world and Para- ever been before, and I think you’ll lympic champions will be the see the top six women’s teams be ones to beat with experienced players on its squad. close as well,” Orchard said. “The bottom four women’s teams are still coming up to the level of the Canada (men) top, but the men were like that Arguably the world’s best play- two Games ago.” er, Patrick Anderson, will lead the team to better their bronze from the 2011 Parapans. “I would not want to bet who is going to be in the gold- Ones to watch medal game.” USA (women) Pal Szekeres (Hungary) Chan Yui Chong (Hong Kong) Zsuzsanna Krajnyak (Hungary) After winning gold at the last The three-time gold and three- The 29-year-old has racked up Top-ranked in foil and epée, two Paralympics and 2010 time Paralympic bronze medal- six Paralympic medals since Kranjnyak will hope to secure World Championships, the list is the only person to have she became a member of the her fi rst Paralympic medal in Americans head to London as ever medalled in both the Olym- national team in 2002. London. favourites. pic and Paralympic Games. 36 SPORT PROFILES SPORT PROFILES 37 Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis AKA ‘Murderball’ … need we say more? In its own venue

Wheelchair rugby is a brutal team contact Wheelchair tennis is unique at the London QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 QQUICKUICK FFACTSACTS sport for both men and women who have 2012 Paralympic Games in that it takes place BBEIJINGEIJING 22008008 Ticket availability: Ticket availability: upper and lower-limb impairments. USA Australia Canada in a Paralympic- only venue. The Netherlands 231 Venue: Basketball Arena Venue: Eton Manor France 1–2 Dates: 1-8 September Dates: 5-9 September The aim of the sport sounds simple – to carry “I’m expecting that this is going to be the most “London has a venue built specifi cally for the Great Britain 1–1 Medal Events: 1 a volleyball across the goal line like in rugby competitive closest-fought competition that Medal Events: 6 Paralympic tennis event. The Olympic ten- Classifi cation: All players – however, you have to do so whilst avoiding we’ve had at a Paralympic Games. There’s not nis event is being played in Wimbledon, so have an impairment aff ecting the upper and collisions that are so hard that they can bend a team in this tournament that doesn’t have a Classifi cation: we’ll be in Eton Manor on the Olympic Park,” lower limbs and are classifi ed from 0.5 to 3.5 Open class: is for athletes with an impairment (most physical function). The total point value the metal of wheelchair frames. shot at the podium,” Main said said Mark Bullock, ITF Wheelchair Tennis winners of the semi-fi nals in each event going of one or both legs but does not aff ect their has to be 8 or less with a maximum of four Manager. head to head for the gold medals. arms or hands players on the fi eld of play “It’s not a game for the faint of heart,” said

Paralympic Games debut: Atlanta 1996 Eron Main, Secretary General International Quad class: athletes with an impairment that The sport follows similar rules to tennis, “The medals are by no means decided and aff ects their arms and legs, which limits their Teams qualifi ed: USA, Australia, Japan, Wheelchair Rugby Federation. ability to handle the racket and to move their with one key exception: the ball is allowed it’s going to be some exciting competition,” Sweden, Canada, Great Britain, Belgium, France wheelchair compared with open class athletes to bounce twice, and only the fi rst bounce said Bullock, who is excited by ticket sales Number of teams expected to take part: 8 “It’s a full contact sport with wheelchair on Paralympic Games debut: Barcelona 1992 must be within the boundaries of the court. and the prospect of athletes playing to full (96 athletes) wheelchair. The strength, the skill and the Ones to watch (exhibition sport in Seoul 1988) All matches are played stands. speed of the players is incredible. It will suck Athletes expected to compete: 80 men and over the best of three 32 women wwebeb >> www.iwfr.com you in within the fi rst 30 seconds and you will USA sets and the tourna- “If people enjoy watching tennis, they should want to see every match.” They are the world champions ment is a knockout come and watch the top wheelchair tennis and traditionally the most wwebeb >> www.itftennis.com/ format, with the players in the world.” dominant team, but Australia wheelchair Wheelchair rugby was invented in 1977 in will keep them under pressure. Canada, and is still aff ectionately known by its original name, ‘Murderball’. By 2011, there were 26 countries playing the sport and Main Great Britain is predicting fi erce competition in London. The team has been fourth place more times than can be remem- bered and will hope to gain its fi rst Paralympic podium fi nish.

Japan The team recently broke into the top three at the World Championships. At the Para- lympic Games, it will want to prove that was not a fl uke.

Ones to watch

Esther Vergeer Aniek van Koot Peter Norfolk (Great Britain) (The Netherlands) (The Netherlands) Nicknamed the “Quadfather”, Unbeaten in over 450 singles The up-and-coming Dutch he will be hoping to take advan- matches since 2003, Vergeer is player wants to be the one to tage of playing at home. a sure thing for the podium. dethrone Vergeer. 38 ATHLETE PROFILE JIRI JEZEK 39 Jiri Jezek Riding into history

Should the Czech Republic’s Jiri Jezek “There are still some weeks till the win two medals at London 2012, he would overtake Great Britain’s Darren Kenny and Games, so you can improve a lot Australia’s Christopher Scott as the most suc- or you can make lot of damage. I cessful Paralympic cyclist ever. know that, and I have to be very The “one-legged wonder,” as he has been re- careful.” Jezek is often referred ferred to, already has fi ve Paralympic golds, to as “the one-legged three silvers and a bronze on his resume wonder” spanning the last three Games on the road and track.

At age 37, Jezek, has achieved more than he ever imagined after losing his right leg below the knee in a car accident when he was 11. He now has the chance to crack the history books.

“Honestly, I do not think about that,” Jezek said. “I prefer to perform well in present races, to LATEST TRIUMPHS make a good show for the spectators and to please 2012 Track World Championships my fans. There are lot of Jiri Jezek is riding into the Paralympic Games fresh off a top fi nish at the 2012 The Czech cyclist wasted no time in going over to kiss his wife after winning gold Silver: 4km Pursuit C4 successful riders in cycling UCI Road Cycling World Cup at the Beijing 2008 Games 2011 Track World Championships history and I am happy just Gold: 4km Pursuit C4 Silver: Time Trial C4 to be one of them.” Beijing 2008 Paralympics Gold: Time Trial C4, 4km Pursuit C4 Best in show Always on the go With several elite races in the Czech Repub- so you can improve a lot or you can make lot Silver: 1km C4 lic already completed in 2012 as well as the of damage. I know that, and I have to be very Bronze: Team Sprint In London this summer, Jezek “There is not much space outside of cycling UCI Para-Cycling World Cup, Jezek has al- careful. Anyway, I´m enjoying every single Athens 2004 Paralympics will race the 4km individual for me,” Jezek said. “Four to six hours a day most spent more time on his bike than off in day of the preparations and I´m very excited Gold: Road Race Time Trial Silver: 4km Pursuit C4 pursuit on the track and the in- on my bike, then some other training, active recent months. about the Games.” dividual time trial on the road. recovery, massages. It´s some nine, 10 hours a day for just the sport activities. Then I have “It´s always funny when my coach tries to Just because Jezek is experienced, it does He is the defending Paralym- to take care of my sponsors, media, and fans. keep me off of my bike,” Jezek said. “He not mean he is just going through the mo- pic and world champion in the thinks that I need more rest. Sometimes, tions for a fourth time. former and in the latter, he is the “I am very busy, but I like it. I believe that I promise him not to go for a training ses- reigning Paralympic champion when people show their interest in you, you sion, but of course I do. Bad luck comes when “I take every day as a challenge, and that´s but hopes to better his silver- should be prepared to fulfi ll their expecta- I meet him somewhere on the road.” why I have diff erent rituals every single day, medal fi nish from the 2011 UCI tions and be open to communicate. Profes- based on my actual feelings,” Jezek said. World Champion ships. sional sport is like show business. You are No need to sweat here for the people.” “Sometimes I am very open before the race, Jezek said his schedule is jam- With more than a decade of Paralympic speaking, joking, singing, but other days, I packed from now until the Games, Jezek is in better shape now than ever be- Games experience under his belt, Jezek am very focused, shy and calm. We will have Other ones to watch can be found here: with his wife, a travelling singer, fore. He defended his UCI Para-Cycling Track knows what he needs to do this summer and to see what´s on my programme in London. acting as his manager. world title in March, fi nished atop the stand- does not feel as stressed as many of the new- wwebeb >> www.paralympic.org/ ings in the UCI World Cup and took home the comers on the cycling circuit. “I just hope that whatever ritual it will be, it MediaCentre/OnesToWatch crown at the UCI Para-Cycling Road World brings me good luck.” Champion ships in September. “I just do what I feel I have to do,” Jezek said. “There are still some weeks till the Games, 40 MEDICAL & SCIENCE MEDICAL & SCIENCE 41

International Paralympic Committee VISTA Other signifi cant research in- Athlete focused tion, Conference cludes the IPC Athletics Classifi - VISTA2013 ,otiva 2013 1-4 May 2013 Athletes told researchers they did cation Research Project, which WHAT IS VISTA2013? Classification at Bonn, Germany not think trunk control was prop- began in 2003 and is led by Dr. The International Paralympic Committee iss erly taken into account within the Sean Tweedy, also a member of pleased to announce that the next edition off

Sean Tweedy, Ottobock, Rob Prezioso, Getty Images classifi cation process. the IPC Classifi cation Committee. VISTA, the IPC’s sport science conference, London 2012 will take place in Bonn, Germany, from 1-4 In reviewing related research Stage One was completed in May 2013. The theme of VISTA2013 will be in wheelchair propulsion, evi- 2006 and recommended impor- “Equipment and Technology”, and will provide dence suggested trunk control tant changes to minimum impair- a platform to exchange scientifi c knowledge The re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual impairment is the provided an advantage in the fi rst ment criteria (i.e. who is eligible on all themes of interest to athletes, coaches

IPC_13_VistaFlyer_ few pushes. In wheelchair rugby, to compete). After an extensive and NPCs.100x210_final.indd 1 result of just one of a series of successful classifi cation research this could mean the diff erence period of review, the changes 24.07.12 13:31 wwebeb >> www.paralympic.org/events between getting around a block were approved by the Governing projects driving the Paralympic Movement to the next level. and scoring. Board in 2009 and will come into eff ect after the London Games. Based on athlete priorities, researchers are now collecting tors recognise the importance of abilities,” said Jan Burns, Head sports such, as reaction time, and available evidence and current From 2006 onwards, a full battery data to learn how the outcomes robust scientifi c classifi cation, of Eligibility for INAS and clini- more sport specifi c skills, such as research, researchers and clas- of new, objective, reliable meth- of tests can be used to place ath- we will be able to recruit the num- cal psychology professor at the ability to adjust one’s pace, strat- sifi ers began to examine trunk ods for assessing athletes were letes in classes. bers we need,” said Tweedy, in- Canterbury Christ Church Univer- egise, recognise patterns of play function more accurately in the developed and piloted. Reports dicating that the development of sity, one of the Research Group or anticipate game situations. wheelchair rugby classifi cation in the meantime have been pub- The strength of any classifi cation evidence-based methods of clas- members. system. lished in scientifi c journals, and system depends on the amount sifi cation is a long-term project. These cognitive abilities are and diversity of athlete data that measured through computer- has been collected. Other Paralympic sports, in- Evidence based ised tests, sport-specifi c techni- Research at the London 2012 Paralympic Games: cluding swimming, nordic ski- The eligibility system is based on cal assessments and observation ing, wheelchair curling and new professional reports, which con- in competition. The Paralympic Movement has progressed dramatically over the Call for volunteers sports on the Paralympic pro- fi rm the presence of intellectual last decade and with this, the importance of and interest in sport “To do this, we require athletes gramme, such as triathlon and impairment as defi ned by the Burns is confi dent that the sys- science. Research projects at the London 2012 Paralympics on – wheelchair racers, throwers canoe, also initiated a review of World Health Organization. These tem is robust, and believes other the following subjects have been approved: and runners from the 30s and their actual classifi cation sys- reports are then evaluated by a sports can benefi t from the ex- 50s classes – to complete the tems, as well as the IPC and IBSA panel of psychological experts. periences and expertise gained On-site research: tests,” said Tweedy. bringing experts together to de- from this project. Surveillance of sport injuries and illnesses in athletes velop sport-specifi c systems for “There are three criteria which Autonomic cardiovascular function in athletes with a spinal “We are confi dent that, as ath- athletes with visual impairment. must be met”, explained Burns. With the adoption of the IPC Clas- cord injury letes, coaches and administra- “Signifi cant impairment in intel- sifi cation Code, other sports, like Goalball game performance lectual functioning, usually an swimming, athletics and wheel- Kinematic analysis of swimmers, including drag tests Testing for athletes with an intellectual impairment is much more robust IQ less than 75, signifi cant im- chair rugby have begun a similar Kinematic analysis of long jump athletes pairment in adaptive behaviour, process to review their systems. Experiences of volunteers and volunteer legacy For the fi rst time since Sydney The IPC and the International which are the skills needed to 2000, athletes with an intellec- Federation for Para-Athletes manage daily life, and onset be- “Sport-specifi c evidence-based Questionnaire surveys: tual impairment (II) will compete with an Intellectual Disability fore the age of 18, to discriminate classifi cation will drive classifi ca- Sleep pattern and complaints by athletes at London 2012 in swimming (Inas) engaged a consortium of from people with acquired head tion in all the sports in the future,” Investigation of Paralympians’ experiences of injury (S14), athletics (T/F20) and table research centres and universi- injury later in life”. said Anne Hart, Chairperson of Wheelchair skills and upper body complaints/injuries tennis (T11). ties to lead the II classifi cation the IPC Classifi cation Commit- in ambulant wheelchair athletes research project. Following their If the athlete passes the eligibility tee. “Over the next 10 years, this Sources of stress and coping related to participation in the II athletes were fi rst included in fi ndings, the 2009 IPC General assessment, they then go through is going to be the primary focus London Paralympics the Atlanta 1996 Paralympics. Assembly decided to include II to a sport-specifi c athlete evalua- for all Paralympic sports.” Barriers and facilitators of sports in athletes However, at the following Games, athletes for London 2012. The tion process. The choice of tests Comparison of types of sporting prosthetics used it was found that some individuals project was recently awarded that the athlete undergoes is de- Hart has spent the past years Nutritional supplement habits and perceptions of elite without impairments had cheated the 2012 Podium Award for Ex- fi ned through scientifi c research, reviewing wheelchair rugby, a Paralympic athletes by posing as II athletes. ceptional Research Contribution and assesses the impact of the sport originally invented for and Urine leakage during training and competition in to London 2012. impairment on the performance by athletes with spinal-cord inju- female athletes As a result the IPC decided that II of that specifi c sport. ries. But as athletes with diff erent Coverage of the Paralympic Games in Spanish media athletes should not be included in “On the eligibility side of things, impairments started playing, the the Games until it could be shown we have a very robust system in classifi cation system needed to Details on these project and criteria to participate that the systems of testing eligi- place now where we set very clear Sport specifi c be reconsidered. are available at: bility and classifi cation were rig- criteria about the evidence we Classifi cation involves assess- wwebeb >> www.paralympic.org orous and robust. ask people to submit to show that ment of generic cognitive skills the athletes have intellectual dis- which are important in most Researchers examined trunk function in wheelchair rugby players 42 PARTNERS & PATRONS PARTNERS & PATRONS 43

Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame

For the fi rst time since its introduction six years ago, the IPC allowed members of the public to nominate retired Paralympi- ans and coaches to be inducted into the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

This August there will be fi ve new inductees – two female ath- letes, two male athletes and one coach – to the Visa Paralym- pic Hall of Fame, all of whom have been chosen by the IPC Governing Board from the nominations.

To be eligible for induction in the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame, candidates must have participated in at least two Paralympic Games and won a number of medals or, in the case of a coach, through athlete(s) or team(s) they coached. Candidates must also have retired either before or shortly after the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

With this year’s induction coinciding with the London 2012 Par- alympic Games, only athletes and coaches involved in summer sports have been considered. Joe Delegrave is looking ahead to his future after competitive sport The Passion for Paralympics Exhibition is a hands-on experience “Visa’s sponsorship of the Paralympic Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates the universal values of sportsmanship, excel- Pursuing two paths at once lence and the commitment embodied in these amazing ath- Passion for Paralympics letes and coaches. It recognises the great infl uence they have Joe Delegrave, a member of USA’s wheelchair rugby team and on had on the Paralympic Games and the broader Paralympic The IPC and Ottobock launched the travelling exhibition, “Passion prosthetic limbs and a history of Ottobock’s 24 years of involvement the IPC’s “ones to watch” list for London 2012, has been devoting Movement,” said Kevin Burke, Chief Marketing Offi cer, Core for Paralympics,” which has already travelled to the Glasgow Sci- with the Paralympic Movement. the majority of his time to preparing for the Paralympic Games, Products, Visa Inc. ence Centre in Scotland and Manchester Arndale Centre in England. but that is not everything in his life. Interactive exhibits provide visitors with a hands-on experience of the All candidates are elected based on athletic performance, fair It will open in London at the Westfi eld London shopping centre from most exciting Paralympic sports, including ones designed to enable Delegrave, who suff ered a severe spinal-cord injury from a boat play and service to the community. 27 July - 12 August before heading to the Olympic Park for the Games. visitors to feel the strength required to power a carbon-fi bre running accident that left him a quadriplegic in 2004, has recently part- blade or hand cycle. nered with Adecco, which supports several Olympic and Paralym- wwebeb >> www.paralympic.org/Athletes/Halloff ame The exhibition, designed to raise awareness of Paralympic Sport and pic athletes with career placement programmes. its athletes heading into London 2012, off ers the public a chance In addition, visitors have the chance to share their passion for Para- to learn about the technology, history and spirit behind the Games. lympics in a photo-booth. This allows Delegrave to pursue his dreams in sports while also building the skills and experience necessary for the working world. It includes stories of Paralympic and recreational athletes who use wwebeb >> www.passion.ottobock.com Adecco recently connected Delegrave with a position as a lobby ambassador for a Hilton Hotel in Arizona, and he is now respon- sible for making a positive fi rst impression and setting the right tone for a guest’s entire stay at that hotel.

Heinrich Popow, Susanne Schwarz, wwebeb >> www.adecco.com Sir Philip Craven, German track and Market Manager Pros- IPC President fi eld athlete thetics, Ottobock 44 FUTURE GAMES LONDON | SOCHI | RIO | PYEONGCHANG 45

London 2012 Spectator Interactivity

To enhance the spectator experience, The companion app, the Offi cial Tickets for London 2012 can be purchased LOCOG has launched two free apps: Join London 2012 Results app, pro- through the IPC’s offi cial ticket reseller at: In and the Results app. vides all the latest news, sched- wwebeb >> www.paralympictickets.com ules and results, allowing users Key features of the Join In app include to keep up-to-date with the lat- comprehensive event listings for thou- est action live across all Para- sands of exciting events across London lympic sports. and the UK; and spectator information and interactive maps, news and photos - wwebeb >> www.london2012.com/ mobileapps all integrated with Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare.

Sochi 2014 Snowboarding to Debut at Sochi Rio 2016 Record Number of Female For the fi rst time, two medal events in Athletics Events snowboarding will be included in the alpine skiing programme at the Sochi IPC Athletics, the international governing body 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, bring- of para-athletics, published the fi rst draft of the ing the total number of medal events to medal event programme for 2016, after several 72, with 692 athletes competing across months of consultation with NPCs. fi ve sports. The draft Rio programme features 176 diff erent This will make it the biggest Paralympic medal events, six more than at London 2012, Winter Games ever. and proposes a record 78 medal events for fe- male athletes as well as greater opportunities Originally called adaptive snowboard, the for some impairment groups that have been un- fast-paced sport is practiced worldwide derrepresented at previous Paralympic Games. by hundreds of athletes. Candidate Cities One major change from previous Paralympic “It is important for the growth of the Win- PyeongChang 2018 Announced for 2020 Games in the draft programme is a move to- ter Games that there are more sports and IPC Orientation Seminar Paralympic Games wards single class throwing events, removing more medal events to contest,” said Xa- the need for Raza points scoring, a system used vier Gonzalez, the IPC’s Chief Executive From 2-3 July a delegation from the Three cities – Istanbul (Turkey), Tokyo to rank athletes in combined class events. Offi cer. With preparations in full swing, IPC Pres- IPC delivered an Orientation Seminar (Japan) and Madrid (Spain) – have been ident Sir Philip Craven made his fi rst visit to the PyeongChang 2018 Organiz- shortlisted as Candidate Cities to host After a fi nal draft is published on 15 October, “I am particularly looking forward to see to Sochi to inspect the city’s preparations ing Committee for the Olympic and the 2020 Paralympic Games following NPCs will then have until 1 November to give how athletes perform in this exciting for the Games. During the visit to Rus- Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG). the elimination of Applicant Cities Baku any feedback ahead of an IPC Athletics Sport new discipline and believe it will prove sia, he received the prestigious Order of This is the fi rst action of a compre- (Azerbaijan) and Doha (Qatar). Forum later that month to be held in Germany. extremely popular with spectators and Friendship for his outstanding contribu- hensive Knowledge Management TV viewers alike.” tion to developing the Paralympic Move- programme that is now available for The three Candidate Cities will now pre- The fi nal medals programme will be published ment from acting Russian Deputy Prime the Paralympic Games organisers and pare their Candidature File with an in- on 31 December 2012 after IPC Governing The qualifi cation criteria for the Sochi Minster Dmitry Kozak in Moscow. also includes a series of educational depth description of their Paralympic and Board approval. 2014 Paralympic Winter Games were workshops, observer’s programmes, Olympic Projects which needs to be sub- wwebeb >> www.sochi2014.com wwebeb >> www.rio2016.com published in May. simulations and consulting. Female athletes are looking forward mitted by 7 January 2013. to more events at Rio 2016 46 NPC PROFILE NPC ANTIGUA & BARBUDA 47

“It was almost like I started it,” Pilgrim said. “I needed one to be able to compete in the Par- alympics. I, along with Nigel and my parents, got a committee started and then contacted the IPC to take care of all the documentation we would need.”

As Vice President, Pigott has been a vital part of the committee, especially with Pilgrim’s mother having to leave the island this spring to tend to a family emergency.

DOING WHAT IT TAKES Jamol Pilgrim, fourth from front, races the 100m Pilgrim has been granted a wild card to com- pete in the 100m, 200m and long jump at London 2012. “I’m a big optimist, so I’m hoping that if he

As NPCs are responsible for organising their can medal, then he’ll become sort of the front-man, athletes’ participation in the Paralympic the beacon for something that will grow.” Games, Pilgrim is now relying on the new organisation to take care of all the work that goes into sending him to the world’s second- There are not a lot of resources available on Pilgrim, who has a legitimate shot at placing largest sporting event. the island, and thus the country’s National high in his Games debut, hopes he can single Olympic Committee has been kind enough handedly create the foundation for a Paralym- “Once he gets there, it doesn’t really mat- to extend a hand to send Pilgrim to the US to pic legacy in Antigua & Barbuda. Anne Harewood, Jamol Pilgrim, Louise Tack, Vivian Richards, Kirsy Charles Kullman and Nigel Pigott attended the launch of ter who else doesn’t go or does go,” Pigott train and provided the resources to get him NPC Antigua & Barbuda (top right) to send Pilgrim (bottom right and left) to the Paralympics said. “Whatever we have in the account on to the Paralympic Games. For two tiny islands, this could all be just the the day is his. beginning of something big. “I’m a big optimist, so I’m hoping that if he “We’re sort of a very minimalistic people, and can medal, then he’ll become sort of the “When I offi cially go to the Paralympics and NPC Antigua & Barbuda once he’s there, he’ll run. Even if he doesn’t front-man, the beacon for something that make a name for myself, then people will show have an entourage, and even if he doesn’t will grow,” Pigott said. interest,” Pilgrim said. have some of the things the other guys have, Doing it right. Putting the athlete fi rst. once he’s there, he’ll run and that’s good “I’m also hoping that when FFASTAST FACTSFACTS enough for us at the mo- you have a Caribbean athlete Antigua ment.” who’s fast without a leg, and 280 square kilometres NIGEL PIGOTT Most National Paralympic Commit- OVERWHELMING SUPPORT you have a Caribbean athlete 80,000 people tees (NPCs) around the world form AN INSPIRATION like Usain Bolt who’s fast with Born out of a volcano 30 million years As the Vice Presi- fi rst, then develop their athletes. A wide range of people from the local busi- a leg, and it’s someone that ago dent of the newly ness and sporting communities on the islands In a country where the we can meet, we can come formed National Par- In Antigua & Barbuda – a twin-island nation gathered at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort top sports are ex- up with all kinds of little market- Barbuda

alympic Committee of just over 80,000 people in the Caribbean and Spa to witness March’s offi cial launch treme and the most ing things.” 161 square kilometres

in Antigua & Bar- – it has been just the opposite. of the NPC, with all of them rallying behind popular one is kite 1,300 people

buda, Nigel Pigott Pilgrim to drum up the resources and fi nan- surfi ng, the com- Separated from Antigua when sea levels rose considerably around 10,000 B.C. has taken charge of most of the day- On 15 March of this year, the Antigua & cial support needed to send him to London mittee is still in the to-day work and is collaborating with Barbuda Paralympic Committee offi cially this summer. red at the moment, as it Source: www.ab.gov.ag the organisation’s only athlete, Jamol launched with one initial purpose – to send started out with nothing. Pilgrim, to send him to London 2012. 100m T42 sprinter Jamol Pilgrim to London Pilgrim, who lost his right leg above the knee 2012. It will be one of 19 NPCs to make their in a car accident on 22 November 2009, has Although he has no sports background, summer Games debut this year. always had a passion for running. In 2011 he as a personal friend of Pilgrim’s with achieved a time in the 100m that would have a high-profi le business background, qualifi ed him for London, and approached his he has worked closely with both the parents, Ann-Marie and Nigel, with the idea IPC and Antigua & Barbuda’s Olympic of starting an NPC. Committee in recent months to ensure a solid foundation is being laid for the Saint John’s His parents were immediately behind him, Jamol Pilgrim has moved to the US to train for London 2012, Paralympic Movement. and Pilgrim then recruited a friend of his, taking advantage of its resources and numerous competitions Nigel Pigott to be a crucial part of the Move- ment. 48 SPORT REVIEW SPORT REVIEW 49

IPC Athletics European Championships BT Paralympic World Cup World Records Smashed May’s BT Paralympic World Cup in Manches- Football 7-a-side ter, Great Britain featured competitions in Brazil’s team went undefeated and triumphed Even with wet weather conditions, there were 27 European record record in the 800m T36 semi-fi nal and then broke it again in the fi nals three sports: athletics, football 7-a-side and with a 4-2 victory over host nation Great Brit- broken, including 14 world records, at the IPC Athletics European with a top time of 2:05.05. wheelchair basketball. Boccia was also an ex- ain in the gold-medal game. Championships in Stadskanaal, the Netherlands, from 24-28 June. hibition event there. Richard Whitehead of Great Britain set a new world-record time of USA defeated Ireland 2-1 in the bronze-medal Russia fi nished atop the Championships medals table with 29 gold 24.93 in the 200m T42 sprint, and Germany’s Birgit Kober won gold Athletics match, picking up their fi rst win when and 76 overall medals. Ukraine was second with 17 gold and 41 over- in both the javelin F52/53/33/34 and shot put F34, setting a shot put The event kicked off with intense sprints on it mattered most. all medals, and Germany came third with 14 gold and 29 medals in world record in the process with a throw of 10.06m. the track, as Great Britain’s Graeme Ballard, total. Poland placed fourth, followed by Spain, Greece and host nation became a crowd favourite when he set a new Wheelchair basketball the Netherlands, respectively. Marlou van Rhijn starred for host nation the Netherlands, as the world record in the 100m T36 sprint – the In a highly anticipated gold-medal matchup in double-amputee sprinted to gold in both the 100m and 200m T43/44 fi rst race of the competition – with a time the men’s fi nal USA reigned supreme, beat- Russia’s Evgenii Shvetcov was the top individual medallist, winning events, recording a season best of 13.62 in the former. of 11.98. He then later won the 200m with a ing host nation Great Britain 61-57. gold in the 100m, 400m and 800m T36 events. He broke the world mark of 25.12. wwebeb >> www.ipcathleticseurochamps.org Meanwhile, Germany beat Japan 59-54 to The men’s Discus F42/44 competition also grab the bronze medal. stole some of the spotlight, as USA’s Jeremy Campbell threw a new world-record distance Germany’s women’s team won a thrilling of 62.18m en route to defeating British fa- 47-40 victory over Australia to claim gold. vourite and world champion Dan Greaves, who is still aiming to crack the 60m mark in Cobi Crispin led the Australian attack with a competition. 14 points and six rebounds in a game that Germany’s Marina Mohnen was a top scorer at the included 13 lead changes and was a brutal The Netherlands’ Marlou van Rhijn set a new BT Paralympic World Cup back-and-forth battle. world record of 13.58 in the women’s 100m T43, and Italy’s Martina Caironi ran a new top wwebeb >> www.btparalympicworld In the women’s bronze-medal contest, USA time of 16.25 in the T42 class of the same cup.com defeated Great Britain, 51-40. event.

2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships

USA defended their world title at the 2012 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships in Great Britain’s Hollie Arnold won silver Hamar, Norway, by defeating Korea, 5-1, in in the women’s javelin F46 the gold-medal game.

The Americans have now fi nished fi rst at the last three major international tournaments – the 2009 and 2012 World Championships, as well as the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Alexi Salamone, Taylor Chace and Steve Cash were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Americans, joining Korea’s Seung Hwan Jung and Canada’s Adam Dixon and Billy Bridges. Salamone and Taylor Lipsett worked together to anchor a powerful front line for USA in the Championships, notching USA’s ice sledge hockey team proved themselves to be unbeatable yet again two goals and four assists and six goals and two assists, respectively. Canada, who outshot the Czech Repub- wwebeb >> www.icesledgehockey lic, 23-8, have now medalled at fi ve of worlds.com In the bronze-medal contest, Canada beat six World Championship appearances, Czech Republic 2-0. garnering bronze in the last two.

50 SPORT REVIEW SPORT REVIEW 51

Getting the Vote wwebeb >> www.paralympic.org World Sport Round-up

Fans around the globe fl ocked to paralympic.org in droves this spring to vote for the best performances from the world’s leading para-ath- March Great Britain topped letes in the IPC’s Athlete of the Month contest. The winners for the last four months are as follows: Germany topped the rankings the medals standings in the IPC Alpine Skiing Europa at the Visa London Nikolay Polukhin Itzhak Mamistvalov Cup, with Austria and France in Disability Athletics second and third place. Russia Challenge. Ireland’s was the overall winner of the IPC Michael McKillop Nordic Skiing World Cup, topping set a new world re- the rankings in three Cross Coun- cord in the men’s try and four Biathlon events. 1,500m T37 and Great Britain’s ath- wwebeb >> www.ipc- letes smashed an- alpineskiing.org other three: Hannah Cockroft in the wom- wwebeb >> www.ipc- en’s 100m T34, Paul nordicskiing.org Blake in the men’s 1,500m T36 and April Richard Whitehead Australia won the London Inter- in the men’s 200m national Invitational Wheelchair T42, which he later Rugby Tournament from 18–19 bettered at the 2012 April, beating Great Britain in the IPC Athletics Eu- fi nal 71-48. ropean Champion- Britain’s Danielle Brown came second at the London Test Event, something she’ll hope to ships. better come the Paralympics Russian nordic skier Nikolay Polukhin had a top fi nish in the men’s bi- Israeli swimmer Itzhak Mamistvalov set two new world records at the May athlon visually impaired class at the 2011-12 IPC Nordic Skiing World British Open Swimming Championships in Sheffi eld. In the S1 clas- At the fi nal London 2012 Test Korea, China and Russia took the Greece’s Greg Polychronidis won June Cup, in which he won all three events in the discipline at the fi nal com- sifi cation, for athletes with the most severe impairment, he swam a Events Great Britain won all the top three spots on the medals ta- the BC3 individual competition, Stephane Houdet of France won petition in Vuokatti, Finland. new world-best time of 2:20.61 in the 100m freestyle and recorded doubles events and the quad sin- bles at the London Para Archery but Great Britain fought back to his fi rst Grand Slam title, while a mark of 4:57.79 in the 200m freestyle. gles at the Eton Manor Wheel- International Tournament. take gold in the BC3 pairs event. Dutchwoman Esther Vergeer chair Tennis International. In the Korea won the BC1/BC2 team won her sixth title in Paris at the singles, the Netherlands’ Esther Great Britain won gold in the BC1 event. Roland Garros wheelchair ten- Vergeer and Robin Ammerlaan and BC2 individual events at the nis event. Gustavo Fernandez Richard Whitehead wwebeb were victorious. London Boccia Invitational. >> www.london preparesseries.com wwebeb >> www. rolandgarros.com

At the 2012 Canada Cup, USA’s wheelchair rugby team took gold, Canada silver and Australia bronze.

wwebeb >> www.canadacup wcrugby.com

After seven regattas, Great Brit- ain’s Helena Lucas topped the ISAF World Cup standings in the 2.4mR class, whilst her team- mates Alexandra Rickham and Niki Birrell won the SKUD18 com- petition. The Netherlands’ won Argentinian rising wheelchair tennis star Gustavo Fernandez, 18, won Great Britain’s Richard Whitehead clocked a new world record of the Sonar with skipper Udo Hes- the singles events at both the Japan Open and Korea Open to vault 24.93 to win gold in the 200m T42 event at the 2012 IPC Athletics sels and Marcel Van de Veen / himself into the world’s top 10 rankings. He beat then-No. 1 Maikel European Championships in Stadskanaal, the Netherlands, where Mischa Rossen. Scheff ers along the way. he also claimed bronze in the 100m T42 race. wwebeb >> www.sailing.org/ worldcup/ In his fi rst season in para-Alpine Skiing, Matthias Lanzinger was part of the Europa Cup winning Austrian team 52 EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT 53

London 2012 Get Set – World Sport Day Paralympics Ireland’s Follow Your Star

Thousands of schools across the UK took part in London 2012 World showcases everything they’ve learned about the London 2012 Para- Paralympics Ireland has launched a new initiative aimed at develop- The goal is to help establish positive perceptions of individuals with Sport Day, presented by Lloyds TSB, on Monday 25 June celebrat- lympic Games. ing a greater understanding of Paralympic Sport among Irish school an impairment and to encourage support for the Irish Team at London ing the athletes and cultures of the world coming to the UK to com- children. 2012 and beyond. pete in the London 2012 Games. After fl ag-making, Langtoft Primary School students in Peterborough spent the rest of their day playing sitting volleyball, goalball and boccia. Targeted at primary school students and teachers, the “Follow Your It off ers multimedia classes, lesson plans and activities, and 3,400 Students of all ages welcomed the world into their schools by having Star” programme provides a free online resource that allows users primary schools will receive promotional literature on the campaign. fun with the fl ags, showcasing global cultures and hosting their own At Patcham High School in Brighton and Hove, students raised aware- to learn more about the Paralympic Movement and Paralympic Sport Participating schools will be in with the chance of receiving visits opening ceremonies. Many schools highlighted Paralympic sports ness by incorporating disability-based activities into their athletics in Ireland. from some of Ireland’s top Paralympic athletes after the London in exciting ways, too. day, for example competing in a trust-building race of blindfold run- 2012 Games. ning. wwebeb >> www.followyourstar.ie Students and teachers at Kirk Hallam School in Derbyshire found a creative way to support their chosen Paralympic team – by decorat- World Sport Day demonstrated that young people across the UK are ing the whole canteen in the colours and symbols of the Indian fl ag. engaging with the Paralympic values of courage, determination, equal- ity and inspiration to welcome the world. Agitos Foundation Winter Youth Camp At Ayesha Community School students from Year two posed for a ‘fl ag moment’ photo in front of their handmade display board which wwebeb >> www.getset.london2012.com The fi rst ever Agitos Foundation Winter Youth Camp was held in March in La Cerdanya, Spain, which trained participants to develop and im- plement Paralympic youth winter sports programmes in their own countries. Partnering with FC Barcelona Football legend Lionel Messi is Co-fi nanced by the European Union’s Youth in Action programme, supporting the EU and Charity & Sport, the youth co-ordinators were given the para-sport in Spain The IPC joined forces with the FC Barcelona Foundation this leadership tools and knowledge about equipment so they could know spring to launch a campaign entitled, “We are what we do, we what to off er in their hometowns and help boost para-sport at the are what we achieve.” grassroots level.

The purpose is to raise awareness of people with an impairment and “Our aim was to show the youth co-ordinators that it’s not so diffi - train teachers how to implement inclusive sport. It is supported by cult to work with children with an impairment,” said Sylvana Mestre, Barcelona players from four diff erent sports, including the club’s all- Chairperson of the IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Technical Committee and time top goal-scorer, Lionel Messi. founder of Play and Train.

The campaign will provide teachers with the tools required to adapt Camp participants hailed from Azerbaijan, Serbia, the Former Yu- physical education classes so children with impairments can partic- goslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey, and the programme was ipate in sport on the same level as their classmates. co-ordinated by Play and Train in collaboration with Freewhite – two European-based organisations that promote sport for people with wwebeb >> www.foundation.fcbarcelona.com an impairment. wwebeb >> www.agitosfoundation.org 54 PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT 55

President Awarded Extended IOC / IPC Agreement [London] [Switzerland] 2013 Ice Sledge Hockey Worlds IPC President The 2018 and [Korea] Sir Philip Craven received 2020 Paralympic Games will The IPC announced that Goyang City, Korea, will play the prestigious Lifetime be held in the same city as the host to the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey A Pool World Champi- Achievement Award at Olympic Games after the In- onships, the fi rst time an Asian country will stage the event. The the 2012 Sport Indus- ternational Olympic Commit- world’s top eight teams will compete from 12-20 April, 2013. try Awards and the 2012 tee (IOC) and International wwebeb >> www.ipc-icesledgehockey.org Global Sports Develop- Paralympic Committee (IPC) ment (GSD) Humanitar- signed an extension to their current agreement which sees the ian Award at separate IOC support the IPC and the Paralympic Games. IWAS Turns 60 ceremonies in London. [Great Britain] IWAS will celebrate its 60th birthday in style at a gala banquet to be held in the Nave of Coventry Cathedral on Saturday 25 August. Par- ticipants will also be able to experience the Par- alympic Torch Relay as the Coventry Paralympic Flame Celebrations take place the same afternoon. wwebeb >> www.iwasf.com

100-Day Milestone [Iran] Iran celebrated 100 days to go to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Paralympic Games by paying Spirit of Sport Award tribute to the Iranian Paralym- [Canada] pic medallists from the Seoul Chairperson of the IPC Al- 1988 to the Beijing 2008 Par- pine Skiing Sport Technical Committee, alympic Games in a ceremony in the Iranian capital of Teheran. Sylvana Mestre, has won the prestigious Spirit of Sport Award at a Ceremony held in Quebec, Canada, during the 10th SportAccord Convention. The annual awards commend the commitment and Going Global humanitarian spirit of SportAccord mem- As part of the its digital bers who have made an exceptional and lasting contribution to strategy, the IPC has worked using sport as a tool for positive social change. with several National Paralym- Getting a Boost pic Committees to launch new websites. [Papua New Guinea] The Paupa New Guinea Para- [Cameroon] lympic Committee was given a fi nancial boost of K300,000 wwebeb >> www.camerounparalympique.org (116,500 Euros) by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to assist [Panama] the national team heading into London 2012. It will also be used to fund classifi cation courses wwebeb >> www.comiteparalimpicopanama.org and develop athlete pathways for future Games.

[Zimbabwe]

wwebeb >> www.zimparalympic.org 56 LONDON 2012 ONLINE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT 57

THE PARALYMPIAN 6 Editor Craig Spence 13 photographers 60 Assistant Editor Natalia Dannenberg sports covered live with Writer Stuart Lieberman highlights packages of people delivering 7,700 Art Editor Carolin Baird all sports man hours of work Graphic Design DESIGNFEE Bianca Werninghaus Printing welzel + hardt GmbH All rights reserved © 2012 International Paralympic Committee www.paralympic.org ISSN 1609-1329 A hub of information for the For subscriptions please visit www.paralympic.org up to 35 CONTACT online articles 24/7 International Paralympic Committee London 2012 Paralympics media office Adenauerallee 212-214 per day D-53113 Bonn, Germany At the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the International Paralym- Tel. +49 228 2097-200 Fax +49 228 2097-209 pic Committee will provide and facilitate the most comprehensive [email protected] coverage of the Games ever. www.paralympic.org

WORLDWIDE PARALYMPIC PARTNERS The IPC will showcase Paralympic Sport on fi ve online channels with 780 2 English and Spanish commentary showing live feeds of diff erent sports hours of live daily news web and videos on demand of many medal events. Two live channels will sport TV shows integrate statistics and Twitter feeds, to make it a more engaging and interactive viewer experience.

A team of six photographers will provide part of the visual fl avour, cap- INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS turing the emotion from venues and behind-the-scenes moments, and 27 writers and editors will cover every single sport in the most 5 in-depth articles ever written about the Paralympics. 100 FOLLOW US ON tweets per day live streams The IPC will use the latest mobile technology to bring you more pho- tos and videos from the moment via Twitter and Facebook. Expect to see athlete video blogs, pictures from behind the scenes and guz- IMAGES zle up top facts and news from the day. © Photo Credits: LOCOG (p. 1/4/5/10/15/44/52/56/58), Marcus Hartmann (p. 2/5/44/45/48/50), IPC (p. 3/13/16/40/53), Getty Images (p. 3/4/15/16/17/19/20/ 21/22/24/26/27/28/29/30/31/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/50/51/52/57), Paralympics London 2012 will see sport like never before, covered by the media Ireland (p.4/53), Ottobock (p. 5/42/43), istockphoto (p. 7/8/12), Lieven Coudenys 100s (p. 8/22/23/24/25/32), The Telegraph (p. 9), Australian Paralympic Committee/ like never before. Sport the Library (p. 9), Ideal Images (Scotland) (p. 11), Rio 2016 (p. 11), Caz Walton 1,000 of photos shared on (p. 13), Jan Wilson (p. 13), Helen Hynd (p. 13), Paul Noble (p. 13), Esther Weber (p. Facebook 13), Jon McCollough (p. 13), FEI (p. 15/22), British Shooting (p. 15), World Rowing hours of videos on (p. 16/28), ITTF (p. 16), IWRF (p. 17), NPC Brazil (p. 17), World Archery (p. 18), GB demand Boccia (p. 20), Canadian Paralympic Committee / Matthew Murnaghan (p. 20), Jiri Jezek (p. 21/38/39), NPC Ireland (p. 21), Pepo Puch (p. 22), Lauretto Cheppi (p. 23), CPISRA (p. 24), Scott Odense (p. 25),Lithuanian Blind Sports Federation (p. 25), BPC (p. 26), NPC Iran (p. 27/55), NPC Turkey (p. 27), PhotoBoat.com (p. 29), IFDS (p. 29), British Shooting (p. 30), Martin Naucler (p. 30), Camera 4 (p. 32/50/57), Brazilian Paralympic Committee (p. 32), ITTF (p. 33), Richard Kalocsai (p. 35), NPC Hungary (p. 35), BPA (p. 36), Prezioso (p. 36), Paul Zimmer (p. 37), Viola Altmann Paralympic Symbol Appears Around Great Britain (p. 41), Loren Worthington (p. 43), raggieleonora (p. 44), NPC Antigua & Barbuda (p. 46/47), EMPICS Sport (p. 49), Anita Hector (p. 49), ITF (p. 50), Nicholase Nereau (p. 51), Sport Industry Award (p. 54), SportAccord (p. 54), IOC (p. 55), NPC Papua New To mark 100 days to go until the start of the London 2012 Paralympic projected onto the iconic White Cliff s of Dover. For 50 days to go, the Guinea (p. 55), La Molina (p. 57) Games, the Agitos – the symbol of the Paralympic Movement – were Agitos were sculpted into a Rhossili Beach in Wales. The views expressed in The Paralympian are not ne- cessarily those of the IPC. In case of republication of any part of The Paralympian, please send a copy to the IPC. The publisher reserves the right to edit submit- ted articles. The International Paralympic Committee endeavours to be as current and accurate as pos- sible with this publication, aiming to treat all readers with courtesy and respect. We can not guarantee how- ever that the information contained in this publication is complete and accurate in all respects and readers are taken to understand and agree to this disclaimer upon reading any part of The Paralympian. No infringe- ments upon any law, including sport regulations, from people within the photographs and/or featured in the magazine’s content were known at the time of publication. Articles, pictures and other written or graphic devices pub- lished in The Paralympian may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of the International Paralympic Committee.

PRINT OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 2 | 2012

“ To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and Inspire and Excite the World.”

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