THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 1 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 1 | 2013

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More than the Paralympics Recap: Winter World Championships Preview: IPC Athletics Grand Prix, VISTA2013

RZ_Paralympian_01_2013_title_final.indd 1 24.04.13 17:49 2 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 3

“Sustaining momentum is key in 2013, and although this may our personal bests not be a Paralympic year, it is still set to be one of the busiest yet.” everyone’s progress

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The fi rst edition of The Paralympian in 2013 comes The main feature this edition is on the growing range with a number of exciting new features and is of competitions athletes from around the world can Your business technologists. Powering progress part of the IPC’s aim to give you more in-depth choose to compete in. As the number of athletes information about the Paralympic Movement, whilst taking part in para-sport globally increases, it is complementing the comprehensive daily news vital that they have greater opportunities to com- updates on www.paralympic.org. pete at all levels and a number of athletes give us their views on progress in this area. Since its relaunch in February 2012, the IPC website, www.paralympic.org, has recorded To close I’d like to pay tribute to two amazing over 3.5 million visitors, which is more than the athletes and superb ambassadors for the Paralym- last six years put together. With so much sport pic Movement – and . and good news to report on from around the Movement it is easy to see why visitor numbers Brazilian swimmer Dias picked up his second continue to increase. Laureus Sport Award in March in recognition of the six gold medals he won at London 2012. At just 24 Sustaining momentum is key in 2013, and although years old, it is unbelievable to think an athlete who this may not be a Paralympic year, it is still set to has already won 10 Paralympic and 10 world titles, be one of the busiest yet, and it is important for all may still have his best days ahead of him, especially of us that we continue to build on the success of with Rio 2016 on the horizon. London 2012. As for Vergeer, what else is there to say? Unbeaten Evidence of this can be found with the two broad- in 470 consecutive singles matches stretching over cast agreements we recently announced with 10 years, eight Paralympic and 42 titles, EBU and Channel 4. Both deals mean the next two I am not sure we will ever witness an athlete in any Paralympics will receive record coverage during sport enjoy such dominance again. On behalf of the the event and in the build-up through coverage of entire Paralympic Movement, I would like to upcoming championships. congratulate Esther on her historic career and wish her well with the new aspects of her life. The fi rst three months of 2013 have already seen numerous World Championships take place, mainly Enjoy your read. in winter sports, and these are covered in this edition together with the Test Events and one year to go activities Sochi 2014 implemented ahead of next year’s Paralympic Winter Games.

Sir Philip Craven, MBE IPC President

Cover photo: () at 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships La Molina 4 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 CONTENTS CONTENTS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 5

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06 PARALYMPIC NEWS 10 #ASKANATHLETE 11 DIGITAL BONUS

Latest news in the Movement includes broad- Read what ’s Greg Westlake and USA’s Find out which winter athletes make up the cast deals, Esther Vergeer’s retirement from Taylor Chace had to say prior to the 2013 social royalty and take a look at the IPC’s new wheelchair and signed contracts for IPC Ice World Championships Instagram account. future events in alpine skiing, powerlifting A-Pool. and shooting.

12 FUTURE GAMES 16 WORLD SPORT 20 FEATURE ROUNDUP

In addition to a one year to go celebration in Results from this season’s IPC Alpine Ski- Paralympic sport is about more than just Moscow’s Red Square, the Sochi 2014 Para- ing, IPC Nordic Skiing and World Wheelchair the Games, and with growing participation lympic torch was revealed and Rio 2016 is Curling Championships. numbers athletes now have a wide range of beginning its mascot creation process. competitions to choose from.

26 UPCOMING EVENTS 28 SUMMER OF RIVALRIES 30 GUEST COLUMN: ALEX BROOKER

The IPC Athletics Grand Prix and VISTA2013 Find out the top team sport rivalries taking The Channel 4 presenter shares what is next Conference will highlight a jam-packed spring. place later this year. in Paralympic broadcasting. The ’ Bibian Mental won March’s IPCAS Snowboard Cross Test Event in Sochi,

THE PARALYMPIAN CONTACT IMAGES

Editor Craig Spence International Paralympic Committee © Photo Credits: Assistant Editors Natalia Dannenberg and Adenauerallee 212-214 Marcus Hartmann (p. 1/5/7/15/17/20/22/24/27/32), Stuart Lieberman D-53113 Bonn, IPC (p. 3/8/11/25/27), Sochi 2014 (p. 4), Lieven Coudenys (p. 5/6/26/29), Eric Winton (p. 5/10), Art Editor Carolin Baird Tel. +49 228 2097-200 Fax +49 228 2097-209 Channel 4 (p. 6/30), Getty Images (p. 7/9/16/17/23/24/25/26/28/29), Graphic Design designfee Bianca Werninghaus istockphoto (p. 7/28/29), NPC Rio (p. 8), Andy Devlin (p. 10), [email protected] Sochi 2014 (p. 12/19), Rio 2016 (p. 14), Richard Gray (p. 16), PRINT The views expressed in The Paralympian are not necessarily those of the IPC. In case of republication of any part of The Paralympian, please Printing welzel + hardt GmbH www.paralympic.org send a copy to the IPC. The publisher reserves the right to edit submitted articles. The International Paralympic Committee endeavours to Martin Nauclér (p. 18), Moto Yoshimura (p. 19), JAC Sport (p. 23), be as current and accurate as possible with this publication, aiming to treat all readers with courtesy and respect. We can not guarantee All rights reserved Belgian Paralympic Committee (p. 28) however that the information contained in this publication is complete and accurate in all respects and readers are taken to understand © 2013 International Paralympic Committee and agree to this disclaimer upon reading any part of The Paralympian. No infringe-ments upon any law, including sport regulations, from ISSN 1609-1329 Print compensated people within the photographs and/or featured in the magazine’s content were known at the time of publication. Articles, pictures and other Id-No. 1328300 www.bvdm-online.de written or graphic devices published in The Paralympian may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of the International Paralympic Committee. 6 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 PARALYMPIC NEWS PARALYMPIC NEWS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 7

Channel 4 and EBU win TV rights

The IPC secured historic broadcast deals in the lead-up to the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Games. Canadian Channel 4 was swimmer Benoit Huot will awarded Great be one to watch at Britain’s tele- Toronto 2015 vision rights for the Sochi 2014 In addition to this landmark deal, ’s Wojciech Kosowski competed in pistol France’s Patrick Ardon came sixth in the -48kg Canada’s Alexandra Starker will hope to build on her and Rio 2016 the European Broadcasting events at London 2012, which will also be on the category at London 2012 three World Championship bronze medals on home European Championships programme snow in 2015 Games following Union (EBU) formed a multi- Toronto 2015 Parapan a highly competitive tender service partnership with the American Games process. IPC to cover the media rights on Future World and regional Championships announced all platforms for the Sochi 2014 shaping up nicely The deal includes multi-platform and Rio 2016 Games, as well as broadcast rights and will build on various other events. The IPC announced that the 2013 IPC shooting event will run from 18-26 October, athletes and will build on a successful 2011-12 the network’s acclaimed cover- The IPC visited the Toronto 2015 Parapan Ameri- Powerlifting Open European Champion- welcoming 170 athletes. fi nal event at the Panorama Resort, age of London 2012, which broke Under the new terms, the EBU can Games Organising Committee for the fi rst time ships will be held in Alexin, Russia, the 2013 as well as the 2010 Games, which national viewing records for Para- will exploit the media rights for all this spring, touring the city’s venue construction IPC Shooting European Championships will The seventh edition Alpine Skiing World IPC President Sir Philip Craven described as lympic sport and reached 69 per EBU territories, excluding Russia sites and receiving updates on the budget, sports take place in Alicante, , and the 2015 Championships will take place at the the best Winter Games ever. cent of the population. for Sochi 2014 and Great Britain programme and accessibility of the event. IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships have Panorama Resort in British Columbia from for both Games. Twenty-seven been awarded to Invermere, Canada. 24 February - 4 March in 2015. wwebeb >> www.ipc-shooting.org Channel 4 will now screen more EBU members have already com- “Like the London 2012 Games did for the Para- wwebeb >> www.ipc-powerlifting.org than 45 hours of coverage from mitted to showing the Rio 2016 lympic Movement globally, it’s our hope Toronto The powerlifting event will run from 22-28 The 2015 Championships, to be organised Sochi 2014, the most ever by a Paralympics – an unprecedented will inspire and reach new audiences for the devel- May this year, drawing 150 athletes, and the by Alpine Canada, are expected to draw 120 wwebeb >> www.ipc-alpineskiing.org British broadcaster from a Winter number so far in advance of any opment of in the Americas and Games. Games. the Caribbean,” IPC Chief Executive Offi cer Xavier Gonzalez said. In the lead-up to Rio 2016, the The EBU will also provide the IPC broadcaster will show cover- with production and distribution More than 1,600 athletes will compete in Toronto star Vergeer retires age of July’s IPC Athletics World services and on-site activities across 15 sports, all of which will serve as qualifi ers Championships and August’s IPC to enhance the coverage of IPC for Rio 2016. World Championships. Championships and test events. The Netherlands’ Esther Vergeer, Vergeer’s career numbers For Rio 2016, it will screen a min- wwebeb >> www.toronto2015.org arguably the greatest female imum of 200 broadcast hours of wheelchair tennis player of all- live coverage, highlights and The time, announced her retirement Last Leg. from the sport on 12 February. TOURNAMENT PARALYMPIC Vergeer went the last 10 years 248 TITLES MEDALS without a defeat in 470 singles 8 matches and has been ranked No. 1 in the world since 1999. In 44 the last decade, Vergeer, won a total of 120 successive tourna- ments, beating 73 diff erent oppo- nents, winning 95 matches 6-0, 6-0 and dropping just 18 sets of 470 MATCHES GRAND SLAM tennis. In that time, she faced TITLES only one match point – against fellow countrywoman Korie Homan in the gold-medal match at the 2008 Games. 668 WEEKS AT NO. 1 WINS CAREER 25 CAREER Channel 4 recorded more than 500 hours of coverage during London 2012 LOSSES Wheelchair basketballWheelchair 8 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 PARALYMPIC NEWS PARALYMPIC NEWS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 9 Athletics Table tennis Judo Para Snow Sport Youth Cody and Parsons join co-ordina- “Winning the Laureus Circuit kicks off tion and evaluation committees award motivates Football 5-a-side me to keep working IPC Governing Board mem- and stay focused

The first two competitions ber Ann Cody (pictured above) Wheelchair on the IPC European Para has been appointed as a mem- Wheelchair rugby and committed.” Snow Sport Youth Circuit ber of the IOC Co-ordination took place from 27-31 Commission for the PyeongChang Football 7-a-side January in La Molina, Spain and 2018 Winter Games. Sitting volleyball Sitting PowerliftingWheelchair tennis from 28 March - 1 April in Rogla, . Cody will oversee the progress of Paralympic-specifi c milestones The IPC European Para Snow Sport Youth Circuit, funded by the for the Games, particularly those European Union, consists of fi ve competition camps in alpine ski- relating to athletes, accessibility ing, nordic skiing and snowboarding for youngsters with an impair- and awareness issues. ment. The primary object of the initiative is to introduce youngsters to winter sports and to provide professional training to already IPC Governing Board member and President of the Brazilian Para- skilled youngsters on their way to a lympic Committee Andrew Parsons (pictured below) was selected Future circuit events fi rst competition. to participate in the evaluation committee of the bid cities for the Goalball 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Istanbul, Tokyo and Madrid. 17-21 November 2013 Youngsters with an impairment from Brazil’s Daniel Dias was awarded his second Laureus Award in his home country in Rio de Janeiro Landgraaf, the Netherlands fi ve EU Member States – Germany, After compiling a report for IOC members entitled to vote, the choice New training facility 5-9 January 2014 , the Netherlands, Slovenia and of the host city for the 2020 Games will be announced on 7 Septem- Bischofwiesen, Germany Spain – ages 10 to 17 are involved. ber in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Brazil and Latin American athletes received a major boost in January when construction plans Dias picks up second Laureus Award 23-27 March 2014 were unveiled for the new Brazilian Paralym- Sestriere, Italy pic Centre, which will serve as the main train- After winning the Laureus World Sport- “I will simply keep doing my best and hope ing venue for Paralympic athletes throughout sperson of the Year with a Disability Award to represent my country well.” the region. for the second time in March, Brazilian swimmer Daniel Dias joked he did not fall “It will be a great opportunity to show the “In recent years, the conditions for Brazilian asleep cradling the statuette, because his world that Brazilian Paralympic sport is athletes have been greatly improved,” Daniel wife, Rachel Davis, was at his side in the growing and that we are on the right track.” Dias said. sophisticated Copacabana Palace Hotel. Dias won six gold medals in the pool at “Investment in Brazilian Paralympic sport has “This was an amazing experience, like the London 2012 Paralympic Games, all been growing steadily and the Brazilian Paralym- a dream,” he said. “I really enjoyed this in world-record times. pic Committee is handling this very well. Each award that crowned my work in 2012. I year, its infrastructure improves, giving athletes had a fabulous time at this glamorous party In August, Dias hopes to lead Brazil to more confi dence.” at home.” a top-five finish at the 2013 IPC Young skiers and snowboarders may develop into future Paralympians Swimming World Championships in The Brazilian “Winning the Laureus award motivates Montreal, Canada. wwebeb >> www.youth-snow-circuit.eu Paralympic me to keep working and stay focused and Centre will committed.” house 14 disciplines. Athens to stage 2013 IPC General Assembly

Athens, the Greek More than 300 attendees are capital and the host expected at the event and all city of the 2004 National Paralympic Committees, Paralympic Games, will stage Paralympic Sports, Regional Daniele Bernandes the IPC General Assembly and Organisations and International Milan of Brazil defeated Naomi Soazo of Conference this November. Organisations of Sport for the to win the Disabled will be invited to attend. -63kg bronze-medal Athens Daniel Dias was the Elections for the IPC Governing match at London 2012 most-decorated Brazilian Board will take place, as the The Paralympic Sport and Media Paralympian at London positions of IPC President, Awards, in conjunction with 2012 with six golds Vice President and 10 member Allianz, will coincide with the The last IPC General Assembly took place in December roles will be up for election. event. 2011 in Beijing, 10THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 ASK AN ATHLETE DIGITAL BONUS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 11

#AskAnAthlete Top winter athletes on social media The IPC caught up with USA and Canada’s ice sledge hockey team captains Taylor Chace and Greg Westlake prior to April’s Find out which winter athletes have the biggest fan bases heading into the Sochi 2014 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool in Goyang, Korea. Paralympic Winter Games.

(Social media fan fi gures are as of 21 March) followers

1. 2,584 Amy Purdy @AmyPurdyGurl (USA, snowboard) 2. 2,472 Josh Dueck @justdueck (Canada, alpine skiing) Taylor Chace 3. 1,641 Brian McKeever @brianmckeever (Canada, nordic skiing) 4. Alana Nichols @alananichols21 (USA, alpine skiing) vs. fans 1,578 5. 1,514 Anna Turney @SkiRaceAnna (Great Britain, alpine skiing) 6. Greg Westlake @gwestlake 1 (Canada, ice sledge hockey) Greg Westlake 5,973 914 7. 884 Jessica Gallagher @JessGallagher86 (, alpine skiing) 5,355 8. 806 Niklas Ingvarsson @NIngvarsson3 (, ice sledge hockey) 4,400 9. 642 Kelly Gallagher @Kellygallagher (Great Britain, alpine skiing) 10. 582 Kevin Rempel @KevinRempel (Canada, ice sledge hockey)

2,533 To play in the gold-medal game, allowing ourselves What are your expectations When it comes to single- elimination tournaments, the opportunity to win the tournament and defend our anyone can win any given tournament. I believe we 2012 world title. for the World Championships? have the talent and heart to win a gold medal this year. 1,207 1,189 1,061 986 Both teams play the same style of hockey, which 836 701 Why are the matches against We are two of the best teams in the world and also is high-tempo, with lots of hard hitting. I personally two of the most physical. There is lots of hitting, trash believe that the games between Canada and the your North American rivals 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. talking and close games. United States are great for showcasing sledge hockey. hyped up so much? Allison Jessica Amy Josh Matthias Billy Jon Santacana Vincent Brad Jakub Jones Gallagher Purdy Dueck Lanzinger Bridges Maiztegui Gauthier- Bowden Krako Canada’s Brad Bowden because of his speed Which ice sledge hockey player I don’t fear anyone. USA Australia USA Canada Canada (guide Miguel Manuel Canada Slovakia and quick shot release. do you fear the most and why? Alpine skiing Alpine skiing Snowboard Alpine skiing Alpine skiing Ice sledge Galindo Garces) France Ice sledge Alpine skiing hockey Spain Alpine skiing hockey Last summer I took two months off of any I got into hand biking as a cross training for sledge Alpine skiing sport-specifi c training. I have never done that before. What’s the oddest thing you’ve ever hockey, and ended up setting the record for fastest Sometimes, you just need to keep your mind done in your training? arm-propelled vehicle, I did not expect to end up and body fresh. racing it through the desert in Nevada. In February, the IPC activated its Instagram account @paralympics to bring immediate I think if I got a street hand bike made up, I would Wheelchair racing because I have long arms and If you participated in a Paralympic love to compete against Alex Zanardi in the hand bike behind-the-scenes photos to its social media followers. once I build momentum I can reach a high top speed, summer sport, too, which sport would road race. I would also like to try kayaking, as I have relative to my bigger size. you be most suited for and why? trained in that before.

2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool Dates: 12-20 April Location: Goyang, Korea Faces to watch in Goyang: Pavel Kubes, Florian Planker, Italy Seung-Hwan Jung, Korea Rolf Pedersen, Engeny Petrov, Russia Per Kasperi, Sweden

Next up! The next #AskAnAthlete will feature swimmers of and @ Summer Mortimer of Canada. Submit your questions for them prior to the 2013 IPC Swimming World Paralympic ParalympicSport.TV Paralympic Games Championships by tweeting @Paralympic using the hashtags #AskSophie and #AskSummer. Paralympics +paralympics 12 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 FUTURE GAMES FUTURE GAMES THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 13

Width: Paralympic Torch Relay 0.145m The Paralympic Torch Relay route will last for 10 days from 26 February - 7 March 2014, going through 43 cities in all eight regions of Russia.

More than 1,500 torchbearers will carry the fl ame, which will be lit simultaneously every day in several Russia cities so that at the end of the relay it will reach the Opening Ceremony Weight: 1.8kg via a Paralympic fl ame unifi cation ceremony. Height: 0.95m

Sochi 2014 torch revealed

In January, the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee revealed the torch that will carry the Paralympic fl ame leading into the next Winter Games.

More than 1,000 editions of the sky-blue torch will be produced, and it was offi cially presented to the public in Sochi 2014 Volunteers start to gain Moscow by Sochi 2014 Ambassadors Natalia Vodianova 1 Year to Go experience for Paralympics (pictured left) and Olesya Vladykina.

The one year to go mark until the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games was The Sochi 2014 Organising Committee The torch design was developed by a Russian creative celebrated in both Moscow and Sochi on 7 March. had nearly 200,000 people apply to team led by Vladimir Pirozhkov and Andrei Vodyanik. be volunteers for the next Olympic and The designers paid particular attention to the torch’s Festivities were held in Moscow’s Red Square, where the Sochi Paralympic Para lympic Winter Games, with 21,000 construction and its fl ame-lighting system. The con- Torch Relay route and offi cial Paralympic Games pictograms were presented by of those applicants coming from 101 coun- struction of the torch ensures that the fl ame burns the President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, Dmitry Chernyshenko. tries. The Committee’s 26 volunteer centres reliably in diffi cult conditions, such as strong winds, chose the volunteers and began training them heavy frosts or any surprises that a Russian winter General Partners of next year’s Paralympics were also announced, including throughout Russia on 11 March. can throw up. Coca-Cola, Dow, General Electric, Samsung and Visa. Nearly 5,000 of these volunteers gained The concept behind the torch for the 2014 Games In Sochi, Para lympic Test Events took place valuable experience working at the Sochi combines motifs from Russian folklore with ideas of in alpine skiing and snowboard during the 2014 Test Events. innovation and technological breakthroughs. same week and nordic skiing the week after. Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, commented: “The torch is a key symbol of the Relay. The Sochi 2014 torch combines traditional Russian motifs with the very latest technical know-how in the fi eld of design. The elegant, extraordinary and radiant Sochi 2014 torch represents Russia’s beauty and its multi- faceted nature.”

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of the Sochi 2014 wwebeb >> www.sochi2014.com Organising Committee, meets with volunteers 14 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 FUTURE GAMES THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 15

Rio 2016 Mascot design process launched

In January, the Rio 2016 Organising Com- The Paralympic Movement’s values were mittee decided on 15 potential companies presented by IPC Governing Board mem- Allianz supporting IPC winter sportss who could create the mascots for the 2016 ber and Brazilian Paralympic Committee Olympic and Paralympic Games. President Andrew Parsons. After activating their partnership with the By telling stories of Paralympic Movement through 2016, IPC personal experience, The Committee presented an overview of “Anybody capable of transmitting the sense of International Partner Allianz has transferred the videos will aim the Olympic and Paralympic Movements, overcoming one’s limits through the mascot, its communication strategy from summer to deliver an inspi- as well as the essence of the Rio 2016 will have achieved the goal,” Parsons said. sport over to winter sport. rational message to Games emblems, the Games mascots’ believe in one’s own roles and the creative briefi ng’s technical Following the briefi ng, the selected compa- Through sport videos and information graph- strengths and abilitieses details. nies will develop their proposals together with ics, Allianz will continue to distribute updated and embrace personal cchallengeshaalllenges and crises.crises. the Organising Committee for adjustments educational and emotional branded content “The mascots mark the Games’ his- and sharpening. Then, the best companies The winner will eventually be selected in winter sport. This successful production of branded con- tory,” Rio 2016 President Carlos Arthur will be selected for the next phase, in which unanimously and will receive a prize of tent will be continued with more fi lming of Nuzman said. “They are responsible for the mascot proposals will be evaluated by R $50,000 for the creation of the mascots. During February’s 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing other Paralympic sports in the lead-up to the the emotional connection between the research. World Championships in La Molina, Spain, Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, in- Games and the population.” wwebeb >> www.rio2016.com Allianz was on site with a camera crew to in- cluding snowboard, ice sledge hockey and terview top Paralympic athletes and offi cials, nordic skiing. including Spain’s Jon Santacana, Germany’s Take a look back at mascots from the last four Anna Schaff elhuber, Austria’s Claudia Losch Paralympic Summer Games: and Slovakia’s Henrieta Farkasova.

Sydney 2000Athens 2004 Beijing 2008London 2012 Rio 2016

At the Rio 2016 mascot briefi ng, the whole brand PyeongChang 2018 concept, including the The IPC held its fi rst Project Review with the PyeongChang Paralympic logo, was taken into account 2018 Organising Committee (POCOG) from 27-28 February.

The review covered observations from the London 2012 Para lympic Games, the organising committee structure, the Games Foundation Plan, sport, accessibility, venues and infrastructure, marketing, broadcasting and communications. The development of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic emblem was also discussed. wwebeb >> www.sponsoring.allianz.com/en/paralympics/paralympics 16 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 17

World Championships

After taking gold at the World Wheel- chair Curling Championships, Canada also remain atop the world rankings

Austria's Claudia Loesch was one of TTOPOP PERFORMERSPERFORMERS the top performers at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, winning three golds Canada defeated Sweden, 4-3, in the fi nal of the World Wheechair Curling Championships on 23 February at the Ice Cube Curling FFINALINAL SSTANDINGSTANDINGS Centre in Sochi, Russia. 1Canada

The Canadians were skipped by Jim Armstrong, who was helped 2Sweden by Dennis Thiessen, Ina Forrest and Sonja Gaudet, and they beat 3China Sweden in the fi nal for the second time in the event’s history, having IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships done the same in 2009. 4USA 5 Russia France topped the medals table, followed by Austria and Russia, at the 2013 IPC Alpine China, skipped by Haitao Wang, beat USA for bronze by a score of 6-5. Skiing World Championships in La Molina, Spain, which ran from 19-27 February. 6 Scotland Jon Santacana Maiztegui (Spain)

All 10 nations who competed at the Championships qualifi ed to 7Slovakia Across eight days, 120 athletes from 28 countries competed in 30 medal events. compete at the Sochi 2014 Games. Marie Bochet 8 Finland French standing skier Marie Bochet was victorious in all fi ve of her events, while Spanish Alexandra Frantseva wwebeb >> www.wwhcc2013.curlingevents.com 9Korea visually impaired skier Jon Santacana Maiztegui quickly became a host nation favourite after winning three golds with his guide Miguel Galindo Garces. Russia’s Alexandra Taiki Morii 10 Norway Frantseva (guide Pavel Zabotin), Austria’s Claudia Loesch and ’s Taiki Morii also Claudia Loesch fi nished the event with three golds apiece. Jon Santacana Maiztegui China won bronze at the World wwebeb >> www.ipcalpineskiingworlds.org Wheelchair Curling Championships

Australian Open Fazza International Powerlifting Championships Japan’s Shingo Kunieda, the Netherlands’ and the USA’s David Egypt came away with nine top fi nishes and Namibia had four fi rst- Wagner won the men’s, women’s and quad singles titles, re- place fi nishes, as 12 world records were broken at the Fazza Inter- spectively, on 26 January at the fi rst Grand Slam of the year on the NEC Wheel- national Power lifting Championships in Dubai, UAE. chair Tennis Tour. The event, which took place between 23-27 February, saw nearly 150 It was Kunieda’s sixth Australian Open crown, while van Koot’s victory propelled participants from 22 countries taking part. her to No. 1 in the world’s women’s singles rankings.

Japan’s Shingo Kunieda followed up his London Egypt’s Sherief Othman will be one to watch 2012 gold with an Australian Open title from now until Rio 2016 18 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 19

IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships TTOPOP PERFORMERSPERFORMERS

Russia reigned supreme at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Solleftea, Sweden, winning a total of 56 medals, including 22 golds.

Top medallists included Russian vis- ually impaired skier Mikhalina Lysova wwebeb >> www.ipc-alpineskiing.org with fi ve golds and one bronze, and sit- IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup skier Roman Petushkov with four gold, one silver, one bronze. The 2012-13 IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup concludedin Sochi, Russia, with events also being held in Sestriere (Italy), St. Moritz (Switzer- land) and Rogla (Solvenia). Canada’s Brian McKeever (guided by Erik Carleton) Petushkov was voted the IPC’s Athlete Roman Petushkov (Russia) won two golds at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing Worlds of the Month for February after domi- TTEAMEAM TROPHYTROPHY nating the cross-country sprint, middle Mikhalina Lysova Russia and long-distance races, as well as the open relay and biathlon middle-distance events. WWOMEN’SOMEN’S TROPHIESTROPHIES Roman Petushkov Women’s visually impaired Women’s standing Women’s sitting placed second in the medals tally in Solleftea with seven gold, 11 silver and nine Nikolay Polukhin Alexandra Frantseva (guide Pavel Zabotin) Russia Andrea Rothfuss Germany Anna Schaff elhuber Germany bronze medals, followed by Germany with three gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Andrea Eskau Alexandra Alexandra Alexandra Andrea Andrea Marie Bochet Anna Claudia Anna wwebeb >> www.ipcnordicskiingworlds.org Olena Lurkovska Frantseva Frantseva Frantseva Rothfuss Rothfuss (France) and Schaff elhuber Loesch Schaff elhuber (Russia) (Russia) (Russia) (Germany) (Germany) Andrea Rothfuss (Germany) (Austria) (Germany) (Germany) Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova won MMEN’SEN’S TTROPHIESROPHIES gold in the cross-country middle Men’s visually impaired Men’s standing Men’s sitting distance, after already picking up a Jon Santacana Maiztegui Alexey Bugaev Takeshi Suzuki silver and three bronze. Her team- (guide Miguel Galindo Garces) Spain Russia Japan mate Iuliia Batenkova won silver and Sweden’s Helene Ripa bronze Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Slalom Giant slalom Speed events Ivan Frantsev Santacana Santacana Alexey Alexey Vincent Takeshi Christoph Tyler (guide German Maiztegui Maiztegui Bugaev Bugaev Gauthier-Manuel Suzuki Kunz Walker Arganovskii) (Russia) (Spain) (Spain) (Russia) (Russia) (France) (Japan) () (USA)

IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup wwebeb >> www.ipc-nordicskiing.org

The IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup began in Vuokatti, Finland, in December 2012, before moving on to Cable, Wisconsin, USA, in January. It culminated in the fi nals in Sochi, Russia, which also served as a Paralympic Test Event.

WWOMEN‘SOMEN‘S BBIATHLONIATHLON TTROPHIESROPHIES WWOMEN’SOMEN’S CCROSS-COUNTRYROSS-COUNTRY TTROPHIESROPHIES Women’s visually Women’s Women’s Women’s visually Women’s Women’s impaired standing sitting impaired standing sitting Mikhalina Lysova Anna Milenina Olena Iurkovsk Elena Remizova Anna Milenina Andrea Eskau (Russia) (Russia) (Ukraine) (Russia) (Russia) (Germany) MMEN‘SEN‘S BBIATHLONIATHLON TTROPHIESROPHIES MMEN’SEN’S CCROSS-COUNTRYROSS-COUNTRY TTROPHIESROPHIES Men’s visually impaired Men’s standing Men’s sitting Men’s visually impaired Men’s standing Men’s sitting Nikolay Polukhin Mark Arendz Kozo Kubo Brian McKeever Rushan Minnegulov Ramil Ilalutdinov (Russia) (Canada) (Japan) (Canada) (Russia) (Russia)

Paralympic Winter World Cup 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool Italy defeated Sweden, 2-1, in the fi nals of the ice sledge hockey Para- Germany defeated Japan 3-2 for gold at the 2013 IPC Ice Sledge lympic Winter World Cup tournament in Solleftea, Sweden on 3 March, Hockey World Championships B-Pool in Nagano, Japan, from 10-16 an event held in conjunction with the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cham- March. pionships. Norway beat , 6-1, for third place. Both teams, along with Great Britain, who beat Estonia 3-2 in the bronze-medal game, will now advance to the Paralympic Qualifi cation Tournament later this year, keeping their hopes for Sochi 2014 alive.

wwebeb >> www.icesledgehockeyworldspoolb.org

Host nation Sweden came away with silver at the Paralympic Frank Rennhack was voted the IPC’s Athlete of the Month for March after Winter World Cup in Solleftea leading Germany to gold in Nagano, Japan 20 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 21

Australia’s Mitch Gourley has seen IPC Alpine Skiing grow tremendously as a sport since he fi rst joined the circuit in 2005 22 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 23

itch Gourley has been on the road since November and will not re- turn home to Australia until mid- MApril. The 22-year-old alpine skier is an elite athlete – a lifestyle he never expected to relish when he fi rst joined the IPC Alpine Skiing circuit in 2005.

Within the past decade, the majority of para- sports – including alpine skiing – have seen a major increase in the number of competitions off ered and the level of the athletes taking part, giving the sports’ event cycles multiple Great Britain’s Jody Cundy has been vocal about the benefi ts of a more Since the Netherlands’ Aniek van Koot began playing wheelchair tennis at the focal points rather than just the Paralympic standardised schedule of events Paralympic level fi ve years ago, the sport has grown signifi cantly Games. Henrieta Farkasova (guided by Natalia Subrtova) topped the podium in the women’s downhill visually The UCI is hoping to employ the Asian Para Great Britain’s Jody Cundy, a specialist on When Gourley fi rst joined the IPC Alpine impaired at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships More sports follow suit Games and Parapan American Games as the track, has been vocal about the need for Skiing circuit, for example, 100 races were stepping stones to enhancing competitions, a more standardised schedule of events, but off ered a season with over 300 athletes. Paralympic athletes compete in more than just Following the success of London 2012, sum- as well as development projects in Africa. he understands how much eff ort and fund- Now, there are well over 200 races on the the Paralympic Games, taking part in regional, national mer sports are also now on the cusp of ex- ing is required to organise an event and sup- competition schedule with more than 600 ponential growth outside of the Paralympic Once the UCI further develops the sport ports spreading the sport to other continents. athletes taking part. and international events on a regular basis. Games, with the most noteworthy announce- worldwide, they will work to include more ment thus far being that of the IPC Athletics competitions for athletes between World With no track events scheduled between now “I’ve grown a lot with the sport,” Gourley said. Sylvana Mestre, IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Tech- Grand Prix. Championships and Paralympic Games. and Rio 2016, though, Cundy will do anything “I never thought eight years ago that I’d be Enhanced competition calendar nical Committee Chairperson, has been one he can to compete, and has even suggested racing in Slovenia, and here I am.” of the key infl uencers in the sport’s growth, Seven Grand Prix events are scheduled for “We’ve already enabled athletes to focus playing off the back-end of able-bodied events In the last decade, winter sports have quickly saying she prefers to keep the sport very sep- 2013, providing athletes with high-level in- solely on one discipline,” Barbeau said. to keep costs at a minimum. “It’s good to see people getting behind the grown into their own unique properties, with arate from its able-bodied counterpart, FIS. ternational competition and enhancing the sport in all kinds of areas. In eight years, IPC Alpine Skiing leading the way. sport’s classifi cation, education, research “We’re now looking at incorporating some “We don’t want to just train for four years with it’s grown a lot. I think we’re in a really good “We keep it completely diff erent because and anti-doping methods. of our track events with able-bodied events. no races,” Cundy said. “We’d love to do races place. The level of competition just goes up The sport has clear competition levels now, the situation that surrounds our athletes is This is a work in progress.” almost week in and week out and be spoiled and up every year.” all of which have grown tremendously, and completely diff erent,” Mestre said. “They The response of the Grand Prix announce- for choice.” during the 2012-13 season, nearly 600 ath- are being considered as elite athletes in their ment from athletes could not have been letes from almost 40 countries took part in countries more and more.” more positive, as now they do not have IPC Nordic Skiing has nearly mirrored the suc- over 200 competitions. to try to seek out able-bodied events cess of alpine, as this season 271 athletes The sport’s current setup includes a con- that will allow them to compete. from 22 countries competed on the sport’s densed schedule with blocks of races in a circuit – nearly double the amount of total specifi c region to ease travel and the trans- “I’d like to see us grow as our own sport participants from just two seasons ago. IPC Alpine Skiing by the numbers fer of equipment. and for people to be interested in our side of things,” Great Britain’s double Paralympic Canadian visually impaired skier Brian Athletes Gourley is very appreciative of what IPC gold medallist Hannah Cockroft said. McKeever said the number of stops on the Competitions Alpine Skiing has done for winter sport, and circuit has increased so much that he now said his sport is now ready to make a con- “I’d just love to see IPC Athletics to grow as hand picks his events rather than having to National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) sistent competition circuit, returning to the our own property and to keep it that way.” settle for the three or four that used to be on same hills year after year. the schedule each season. Wheelchair tennis has seenen tre-tre- “We’re getting there,” Gourley said. “We have mendous growth as well, withwith In addition, McKeever and his teammates enough races each year, but in an ideal world the number of ranked play-y- For more are now able to specialise in a discipline. we may spread them out a little bit more. ers in the world increas- information please McKeever focuses solely on cross-country ing from 658 to 977 in skiing, while his compatriot Mark Arendz con- “The next step is diversifying where we go in the last fi ve years and IPC Athletics centrates all of his attention on biathlon, and terms of race stops. I think a really good thing the number of participat- Grand Prix they hardly need to cross over due to the high that’s probably achievable as a next step is to ing nations rising from 46 number of events off ered. have a consistent circuit where we go back to to 52. see page the same hills each season.” 26 China will The sport is certainly now far removed from In para-cycling, UCI Technicalcal host one of the the days when McKeever recalls Germany’s seven IPC Delegate Louis Barbeau saidaid the Frank Hofl e having to organise his own nordic 39610433 467 112 34 407 105 30 433 130 39 592 204 40 Athletics Grand top goal at the moment is to increase skiing event and compete in it, too. IPC Alpine Skiing participation numbers have in- Prix events this creased due to development and funding initiatives the number of participating nations in the season 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 across multiple regions, as well as awareness sport from outside of Europe. 24 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS FEATURE: MORE THAN JUST THE PARALYMPICS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 25

Australia’s and Germany’s Heinrich Popow are both ones to look out for at Lyon 2013

FFROMROM GGRASSROOTSRASSROOTS TTOO GGOLDOLD These eight athletes who competed at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships were graduates of an IPC Alpine Skiing development camp seven years ago. They combined to Spain’s Josefa Benitez Guzman, with pilot Maria win 15 medals – 10 golds – at the Sylvana Mestre has been instrumental in Noriega will look to carry their London 2012 success developing IPC Alpine Skiing Champion ships. over to the 2013 Para-Cycling Road World Cup Marie Bochet

Grassroots growth Claudia Loesch A unique future Markus Salcher

One of the keys to further enhancing the Jasper Balcaen With the vast growth in sports’ competition competition schedule is not actually at the cycles, one rhetorical question still hangs over elite level, but rather at the grassroots level by Petra Smarzova everyone’s heads: Is it better to conform to creating development pathways for athletes Aleandra Starker the able-bodied side or keep para-sport its on a sport-by-sport basis. own entity? Miroslav Haraus

“If I want to sell my sport and I want the ath- Gabriel Juan Gorce Ypes “The ultimate for us would be to follow the letes to be recognised as elite athletes, we World Cup circuit,” Gourley said. need to have a clear path of competition and a clear path of development,” Mestre said. “That’s a brutal place to take a young, “That would obviously be unreal to follow Russia’s Inga Medvedeva takes to the developing and inexperienced skier,” them and maybe to ski a week behind at the slopes at the 2013 IPC Alpine Skiing “It’s important to bring youth into the sport. McKeever said. same venue. That would be unreal with all the World Championships, the sport’s biggest This is why I’m concentrating a lot in devel- infrastructure already in place. That would event of this year opment. In a lot of the sports we have old “You take a new skier over and they’re racing be the dream.” people, so we need to start moving to the against a Paralympic champion like Irek bottom.” Zaripov in their fi rst big race, and those guys McKeever agreed. are going literally twice as fast and that leaves That is exactly why the IPC European Para developing skiers scratching their heads.” “It’s not so hard to follow an existing Snow Sport Youth Circuit was launched ear- model as compared to creating your own,” lier this year. Cundy echoed McKeever’s sentiments, McKeever said. stressing how poor it would be for a sport Mestre said several regions in the south- not to have any sort of development pathway. “People understand the able-bodied side be- ern hemisphere have skiers now, but cause that’s what’s shown on TV and acces- no competitions. Starting next sea- “It’d be awful for the young talent that’s sible to the general public. If the para-side son, she will bring IPC Alpine Ski- coming through,” Cundy said. mirrors that a little bit, then people will un- ing events to them, rather than derstand what to expect out of para-sport forcing them to start at the in- “Potentially, the fi rst race that some young- as well.” ternational level. ster may get would be the Paralympic Games or a World Championships. They’ve got no But at the same time, most Paralympic ath- McKeever ar- small events to go to and test the waters. It’s letes realise it’s also time for them to step gued the same literally trying to jump into the deep end feet outside of their able-bodied counterparts’ “The ultimate for us rationale carries fi rst.” shadows and become household names over to all para- around the world for their own achievements. sports, as he in- Once a sport has concrete and separate elite would be to follow the sisted the worst thing and grassroots competitions, then the levels “It’s always nice that some people want us you can do is take a devel- in between will slowly fall into place, making to go parallel to the and oping athlete to a World Cup or World Cham- way for national and regional championships compete with them, but at the same time, World Cup circuit” pionship event. as the sport becomes part of a national I’m really, really proud to be a Paralympic federation. athlete,” Cockroft said. 26 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 27

2013 2013 April 2013 May June JulyJ 2013

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUNS MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 6 1234 3 4 5 123456 11234562 13 8 12 5 6 7 11 12 13 789101112135678910112345678 778910 20 17 18 19 15 16 17 18 14 1515 16 1716 18 19 20 12 13 1414 910111213141514 15 16 17 18 19 20 25 22 23 24 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 IPC Athletics Grand Prix 29 28 31 28 29 30 26 2727 28 2928 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 The fi rst-ever IPC Athletics Grand Prix is now “I was really excited 30 underway, following the 5th FAZZA Interna- tional Athletics Competition, which took place when I found out in Dubai, UAE, from 25-27 March. about it, because it 12-20 April 14-17 May 5-8 June 1-4 July It is the fi rst of seven Grand Prix events this 2013 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey 2013 IPC Shooting World Cup Roland Garros Wheelchair 2013 IPC Shooting World Cup season that will provide athletes with high- means I can line up World Championships A-Pool (Antalya) Tennis Grand Slam, Paris, (Stoke Mandeville) level international competition, and provide against my best Goyang, Korea France a framework for the sport to further develop areas such as classifi cation, education, competitors again.” 17-20 April 22-28 May 28 June - 7 July 4-7 July research and anti-doping. 2013 IPC Shooting World Cup 2013 IPC Powerlifting Open IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Cup In addition, the IPC Athletics Marathon World (Szczecin) European Championships European Championships (Warsaw) “Athletes now have a clear pathway of major Cup will take place on 21 April as part of the Alexin, Russia Frankfurt, Germany international and regional events between 2013 Virgin London Marathon, and London’s now and Rio 2016 and beyond,” said IPC Olympic Stadium will host some of the world’s Athletics Sport Technical Committee Chair - top athletes for the London Anniversary VISTA2013 Conference person Ed Warner. Games on 28 July. Hilvoorde’s speech will aim to The Grand Prix is a direct legacy resulting All of the events, which will centre around answer the following questions KKEYNOTEEYNOTE SSPEAKERSPEAKERS from the London 2012 Paralympic Games July’s IPC Athletics World Champion- in detail: “What is sport? What and gives athletes a more regular competi- ships in Lyon, France, give para- sort of obstacles do we over- Ivo Van Hilvoorde tion schedule. athletics fans something to follow come? What are the defi nitions Assistant professor of Human Move- between Paralympic Games years. of disability in sport?” ment Sciences, Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, the Netherlands “I was really excited when I found out about it, because it means I can line up against “I think the thing that’s going to WWith the maturing of sport for “Using technology and equipment fairly: my best competitors again, and I don’t have have to grow over time is getting people with an impairment, the balance between access, competi- to wait another four years to fi nd out about the public interested,” Cockroft and para-sport becoming tive edge and the philosophy of sport.” what they’ve been doing,” said Great Britain’s said. “In Great Britain, we have more and more elite in the Hannah Cockcroft, Paralympic champion in a lot of people and media ex- eyes of the public, Hil- Brendan Burkett the 100m and 200m T34 sprints. cited about what we’re doing, voorde wishes to explore IPC Sports Science Committee mem- but I think the rest of the world the use of new technolo- ber and Professor in Biomechanics at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Brisbane, “It gives us a parallel competition to the still has to catch up with that. The VISTA2013 Conference willll gies and innovations, which Australia Olympic side, and it gives us more of an take place from 1-4 May in Bonn,n, have become hot topics. opportunity to travel around the world and “Hopefully we’re going to Germany, and will focus on equip-i “Paralympic sporting equipment: compete against the best in the world that bring that interest in with ment and technology issues related to “There are new ethical issues when performance enhancement or neces- are out there.” this.” Paralympic sport. it comes to ethics and fairness,” Hilvoorde sary for performance?” said. “Certain countries are behind in devel- wwebeb >> paralympic.org/athletics It will be the sixth edition of the conference, opment, and I think that’s an important issue Chris Rushman with some of the world’s leading experts on for how the IPC should deal with that.” Senior technical specialist for Motiva- tion UK UUPCOMINGPCOMING EVENTSEVENTS ININ THETHE GGRANDRAND PPRIXRIX ANDAND DDEFENDINGEFENDING PPARALYMPICARALYMPIC CCHAMPIONSHAMPIONS TOTO LOOKLOOK OUTOUT FOR:FOR: technology and equipment in Paralympic sport discussing in-depth issues that made In addition, he will convey the semantic “Products for grassroots sports develop- 19-21 April 23-24 April 8-9 May 16-17 May 12-13 June 29 June global headlines during the London 2012 diff erences between the language used in ment: a case study of the Motivation 2013 2013 Loterias Caixa Italian Open Desert Challenge 35th International Birmingham Para- Para lympic Games. para-sport compared to able-bodied sport, court sport wheelchair for low-income Athletics Championships Brazilian Athletics Championships Games German Championships Athletics Grand Prix Final and how that is constantly changing. countries.” Beijing, China Open Championships Grosseto, Italy Mesa (Arizona), USA Athletics for Disabled Birmingham, Sao Paolo, Brazil Berlin, Germany Great Britain Ivo Van Hilvoorde, assistant professor of Human Movement Sciences at the Vrije Uni- At the VISTA2013 Conference, the IPC will Simone Oehler versiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands, will also present Dr. Rory Cooper with the Para- Head of the testing department be one of the keynote speakers, discussing lympic Scientifi c Award in recognition of at Ottobock the fair use of technology and equipment in his work to create and evaluate new sports “Equipment and Technology: from para-sports. He will talk about the balance technologies, advancing equipment used in products for grassroots development to between access, competitive edge and the various sports. high-tech applications.” Na Mi (China) Yohansson Nascimento Martina Caironi (Italy) Jeremy Campbell (USA) Heinrich Popow Jonnie Peacock Shot put and discus F37 (Brazil) 200m T46 100m T42 Discus F54 (Germany) 100m T42 (Great Britain) 100m T44 philosophy of sport. wwebeb >> www.vista2013.com 28 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 SUMMER OF RIVALRIES SUMMER OF RIVALRIES THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 29

Football 5-a-side: Argentina-Brazil Summer of Rivalries Background: Brazil remain the only team to have ever won a Paralympic gold in the sport, but Argentina have been their toughest test on the Rivalries among Paralympic summer team sports have grown massively over the last couple pitch without question. With one of the world’s of years, and 2013 will put some of these in the spotlight. best players in Jefi nho and the Games coming to Rio in 2016, expect the best to get even better. Take a look at the top rivalries to follow during the next few months: Last match: Brazil defeated Argentina on penalty kicks in the semi-fi nal round of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Next meeting: IBSA Copa America 2013 in Salta, Argentina Wheelchair basketball: (19-29 September) Argentina’s Froilan Padilla pushes past Brazil’s Severino Germany-Netherlands (women) Gabriel da Silva, who scored the winning goal during the penalty shoot-out at the London 2012 semi-fi nals Background: Both nations have become powerhouses in the women’s wheelchair basketball world, with Germany winning gold and the Netherlands taking bronze at the last Paralympics. In fact, all 13 editions of the IWBF European Championships on the women’s side have been won by one of these two teams, with the Germans taking every European title since 1999.

Last match: Germany defeated the Netherlands 49-46 in the semi-fi nal round of the London 2012 Paralympic Games. MORE NOTABLE RIVALRIES:

Next meeting: IWBF European Championships in Frankfurt, Football 7-a-side Germany (26 June - 7 July) Ukraine-Russia

Sitting volleyball USA-China (women) Bosnia & Herzogovina- Who will be Iran (men) Wheelchair basketball celebrating Australia-Canada (men) this summer?

Wheelchair rugby: Belgium-France Goalball: China-Japan (women)

Background: After only having a wheelchair rugby team for fi ve years, the French squad Background: China have always been one of the world’s best is already making headway and the rivalry with their veteran neighbour team is heat- teams, but Japan recently shocked the fi eld at the last Paralympics, ing up. Both squads have the potential to push themselves toward the top of the world becoming the newly crowned champions and providing rankings in the lead-up to Rio 2016 and turn a lot of eyes from fans with thrilling games that went into sudden death. Australia, Canada and USA’s programmes their way. A rivalry between these two teams was defi nitely born in London. Last match: Belgium defeated France 54-50 for seventh place at the London 2012 Games. Last match: Japan beat China 1-0 to win Para- lympic gold in London at the Copper Box last year. Next meeting: IWRF 2013 European Championships in Antwerp, Belgium (10-18 August) Next meeting: Malmo Lady Inter Cup 2013 in Malmo, Sweden (2-5 May) Belgium came out on top the last time they played France Masae Komiya (right) was one of Japan’s top players at London 2012 scoring fi ve goals across the tournament 30 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 GUEST COLUMN: ALEX BROOKER THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 31 Alex Brooker he Paralympic Games are one of Nationality: British and another guy whose name the biggest sporting events in the Job: Channel 4 journalist escapes me – which cele- and broadcaster world behind the Olympics, yet brated the day’s highlights Most-well known for: until last summer it’s fair to say the Co-host of TV series, and spoke about disability in average man on the street might The Last Leg a way never seen before. Tnot have known that. I’d like to think our show com- The public may also have been used to diff er- plemented the phenomenal entiating between the two by referring to the feats of the athletes and helped to change Olympic Games as the “normal” or “proper” perceptions of disability in the UK. Olympics. The good news is that shows no signs of stop- Using such terms gives the impression the ping. Channel 4 will provide another 500 Paralympics are a second-rate competition; hours of coverage from the 2016 Games in more a novelty rather than an elite sporting Rio, and before that, 45 hours from the Para- event. lympic Winter Games in Sochi next year.

Until last summer, I have to say that percep- As the athletes continue to push the limits tion was probably right. Alex Brooker’s view further year on year, it is only right that the media do the same. “Has Alex Brooker gone mad? Is he having a laugh or something?” Now, it’s time for other broadcasters around What other the world to do the same. Please, don’t throw that prosthetic at this broadcasters page or send your strongly worded email The 2012 Games brought the Paralympic just yet. can learn Movement to its largest audience ever, and there’s no reason to stop now. I’m talking purely in terms of TV coverage, from Channel 4’s and in those terms, the Paralympics had a And in some cases it must start. long way to go before they got the same treat- success ment as the Olympic Games. In the USA, NBC showed a paltry fi ve-and-a- When Jonnie Peacock won gold in the 100m half hours of retrospective coverage. If they We all knew already the Games were simply T44, there were 6.3 million people watching. have sense, they will have watched their out- incredible. An amazing sporting event un- In total, Channel 4’s coverage reached more put and realised the Games deserve to reach like any other. than two thirds of the British population. a far greater audience.

The problem was many other people didn’t. More people in Britain than ever before Since the fi rst Paralympic Games in 1960 watched and enjoyed the Games. I was there have been super humans. In 2012, it Channel 4’s coverage of the 2012 Games in lucky enough to feature on The Last Leg – just so happens that so many more people London changed that in Great Britain. a show presented by some Australian bloke got to meet them. WORLDWIDE PARALYMPIC PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL PARTNER

The Last Leg show, which gives an alternative and often humorous take on para-sport, has been a major hit across Great Britain 32 THE PARALYMPIAN 01| 2013 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 1 | 2013

“ To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.”

RZ_Paralympian_01_2013_title_final.indd 1 24.04.13 17:49