Official Magazine of the Paralympic MOVEMENT ISSUE No. 2 | 2 011

www.paralympic.org President’s Message President’s Message

“Vergeer is an amazing sports woman. She is a two-time Laureus Award winner and unbeaten in over 410 games. As the world number A total of 59 European records were one tennis player, she will be aiming for her fourth consecutive gold broken in Berlin, 31 of which were world in ­the ­Women’s Singles at London 2012.” records

The London 2012 are just one We also take a closer look at , year away, and I, like you, am growing more ­excited a sport which is growing in size and stature all the by the day. time, partly due to the success of , the Dutch tennis player. To celebrate the landmark countdown, this is a ­ ­London ‘One­ Year to Go’ special of The Paralym- Vergeer is an amazing sports woman. She is a two- pian and features a guest interview by the Daily time Laureus Award winner and unbeaten in over Telegraph’s award-winning writer Gareth Davies 410 games. As the world number one tennis player, with Chris ­Holmes, London 2012’s Director of ­Para-­ she will be aiming for her fourth consecutive gold in ­ lympic ­Integration. the Women’s­ Singles at London 2012.

In addition, we have a guide to the London 2012 As usual we review a number of major events venues. Channel 4 and the BBC, the host broad- which have recently taken place in the Paralympic­ caster and radio partner of the Games also choose sporting calendar including the 2011 IPC Swimming their ‘12 for 2012’ – the athletes they believe will European Championships, the 2011 IPC Cross- be the star performers next year. Country Skiing and Biathlon World Champion­ships and the BT Paralympic . We also catch up with the latest progress from the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Organizing Committees We also look ahead to August’s Boccia World Cup in and get reaction from PyeongChang after they Ireland, September’s All-African Games in Mozam- won the right to stage the 2018 Paralympic ­Winter bique and November’s Games. in Mexico.

After staging a successful international forum on Last but not least, we’re delighted that The Paralym- Sports for People with a Disability in Abu Dhabi pian has won a prestigious international ­accolade in May, NPC are the NPC in at the 2011 Communicator Awards, organized by Profile this edition whilst Classification is the focus ­the International Academy of the Visual Arts. The of the Medical and Science section. In the Part- magazine beat off 6,000 competitors to scoop the ners and Patrons pages we look at how Allianz, ­­ Award of Excellence in the Best Print category for DB Schenker and Visa are benefitting the Paralym- ­non-profit organizations. pic Movement. Happy reading. Last time round we previewed an exciting Youth Workshop that was scheduled for April in El Salvador.­ Well, in this edition we catch up with a child and a trainer who took part in the weeklong initiative to find out what they thought of the workshop and how Sir Philip Craven, MBE it will help them in the future. IPC President

The 2011 IPC Swimming European Championships in Berlin, Germany were the largest ever with over 400 swimmers from 36 countries competing content ISSUE No. 2 | 2011

Enjoy this edition of “The Paralympian” – the official award winning magazine of the Paralympic Movement!

LONDON 2012: ONE YEAR TO GO 06 EDUCATION & DEVELOPMENT 22

An interview with LOCOG’s Chris Holmes, a guide to the venues and Get Set goes global, Rwanda NPC wins a prestigious award and the Channel 4 and BBC Radio 5 pick out their athletes to look out for inspirational success of the El Salvador Youth Workshop next year 26 MEDICAL & SCIENCE 24 FUTURE GAMES 12 Classification for visual impairment moves towards a system based Updates on London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 06 more on athlete abilities to play a specific sport SPORT PROFILE 14 SPORT REVIEW 26

A look at Wheelchair Tennis – one of the fastest growing Para-sports IPC Swimming European Championships, BT Paralympic World in the world Cup, IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships and much, much more! ATHLETE PROFILE 16 SPORT PREVIEW 28 Staying with tennis, we meet world number one Esther Vergeer, undefeated in over 410 matches, to find out what keeps her going Parapan American Games, All African Games and CPISRA Boccia World Cup amongst others! NPC PROFILE 18 PARALYMPIC MOVEMent 32 The United Arab Emirates NPC talks about its ambitions to host a major international event All the latest world news from across the Paralympic Movement

PARTNERS & PATRONS 20 2018 Winter Games 34

From pre-paid cards to Paralympic Games logistics, as well as a Reaction to PyeongChang winning the right the stage the 2018 new sponsorship deal for the IPC and some NPCs ­Paralympic Winter Games

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www.twitter.com/paralympic www.facebook.com/ParalympicSport.TV www.youtube.com/ParalympicSportTV www.paralympic.org 06 London 1 Year to go London 1 Year to go 07

A Vision for the Future

Chris Holmes, Director of Paralympic Integration, ­ at the London 2012 Paralympic Games

hris Holmes must have his fair been problematic for Games, such as having share of sleepless nights in spite to build on time, the budget, have been scru- of his assertion that preparations tinised all the way through. There’s thousands for the 2012 Paralympic Games and thousands of elements and thousands By Gareth A Davies, C Paralympics Correspondent, are in “tremendously good shape” with just and thousands of bits of detail that have been over one year to go before the flame is lit in done, and thousands still to do, but we’re in The Daily Telegraph the cauldron in Stratford, London. great shape.”

After all, the Paralympic Movement is return- Holmes is particularly pleased with the trans- all the UK broadcasters would be vying to ing to its spiritual birthplace in England, and port programme. “We now have the prototype get the broadcast rights to show the Games. Holmes, MBE, a decorated former Paralympic for the accessible bus for the athletes and on Phenomenal.” swimming star, has been at the coalface, over- that, we’re able to get six wheelchair users at seeing all aspects of planning and ­integration any time and that’s a fantastic step forward. In addition to the media attention, the Para- for London 2012. It ticks all the boxes in terms of ­accessibility, lympic Games has also secured a multi-million it’s inclusive because those guys can travel pound sponsorship deal from the UK super- Holmes is a remarkable man. He lost his sight with their teammates and, in terms of the op- market chain, Sainsbury’s, which is visited by overnight aged 14, yet undaunted, went on eration that we’re running, it means we can 21.5 million Britons each week. to read Politics at Cambridge University and run an effective, efficient operation.” as an undergraduate, won a record six gold The deal, which Homes describes as “the big- ­medals at the 1992 Paralympics. Great thought has also gone into how ­tickets gest commercial deal ever done for a Para- have been structured. Holmes explained that lympic Games”, will bring more exposure for Holmes was a Commissioner on the board of the ‘day passes’ will create an open access­ Paralympic Sport and mainstream aware- the Disability Rights Commission from 2002- ­atmosphere away from the most popu- ness, Holmes hopes. 2007 and left a leading City international law lar sports – Swimming, Athletics, Cycling firm for this role within the London ­Organizing and . “Sports such as “In one word, what I really hope is that Lon- “The Paralympic Movement is on a fantastic march and is ­ Committee. Wheelchair Fencing, Goalball, Boccia will be don can be ‘transformational’. opened up to spectators.” just going to new places, experiencing new things and really Holmes has his feelers across many areas at “Personally, one thing that I think will really London’s Organizing Committee. “We’re in The watchwords have been “affordability and make London special is if we enable people, just developing at a fantastic rate.” tremendously good shape but the real focus accessibility”. Holmes explained: “Ninety five spectators, the general public, even tourists now is the testing and readiness programme, per cent of tickets are £50 or below, and the just passing through London, to have a re- ensuring all the Paralympic elements that vast majority of tickets are within peoples ally connective experience, to get closer to we want to go perfectly at Games time are price range – £20 and under. That’s a great the athletes, closer to the sport, closer to the ­embedded into the testing programmes.” deal. action and gain a real sense of what Paralym- pic sport is, with its unique sense of human- Holmes has seen the advantages of an in- “In Beijing, what a lot of people talked about ity and humility.” tegrated bidding process, which has meant when the Paralympics were on, was that vibe, that all but a few venues – such as Wheel- that energy, that buzz in the park. That’s If they do that, with Holmes at the helm, chair ­Tennis in Eton Manor – have been ­certainly what we’re going to be looking at ­London 2012 will have sent a message to ­purpose-built for both Games. both at the venues, in the park and crucially the world. throughout the whole of the city. Surely there have been some teething ­ This Interview is also available on: issues… “With any complex project of this “The Paralympic Movement is on a fantastic size, you have to have a coherent, integrated march and is just going to new places, expe- >> www.youtube.com/ ParalympicSport.TV programme on budget. The focus has been riencing new things and really just developing on the core programme, ensuring that some at a fantastic rate. When I started compet- of the issues that have perhaps traditionally ing, you’d never have believed that one day 08 London 1 Year to go London 1 Year to go 09 Paralympic Sites

With one year to go until the London 2012 Para- lympic Games, many of the venues are either com- Aquatics Centre London Locations Outside the pleted or close to completion. Below is your guide Olympic Park Locations Capacity: 17,500 to where the action will take place in the British Cost: £269 million Olympic Park ­capital and further afield. Athletes’ Village Role: Swimming Cost: £711 million Greenwich Park web >> www.london2012.com Hosting: The Village will provide accommo- Hosting: Paralympic Equestrian dation for 4,200 athletes and thousands of Fact: Greenwich Park is London’s officials and will include shops, restaurants, oldest Royal Park, dating back to medical and leisure facilities 1433. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1997. Within the Park Basketball Arena is The Royal Observatory and the Capacity: 12,000 home of Greenwich Mean Time Cost: £43 million Hosting: Wheel- ExCel chair Basketball, Hosting: Boccia, Judo, Powerlift- Wheelchair Rugby ing, Table Tennis, , Wheelchair Fencing Eton Manor Fact: ExCel is one of Europe’s Capacity: ­largest and most versatile 10,500 ­exhibition spaces Hosting: Wheel- chair Tennis, The Royal Artillery Barracks aquatics training Hosting: Archery, Shooting Fact: Four temporary indoor shoot- Velodrome ing ranges will be built on the his- Capacity: 6,000 torical site of the Royal Artillery Cost: £93 million Barracks, which were built in 1776 Hosting: Cycling Paralympic Venues – Track North Greenwich Arena Hosting: Wheelchair Basketball Outside of London Fact: Originally built for the Millen- nium celebrations, North Green- wich Arena has been transformed Eton Dorney into a sports and entertainment Hosting: Paralympic arena with shops and restaurants Rowing Fact: Eton Dorney is a world-class training and Hockey Centre competition facility Capacity: 16,000 Hosting: Football 5-a-side and Olympic Stadium 7-a-side Capacity: 80,000 Weymouth and Portland, Cost: £486 million Dorset Hosting: Opening and Hosting: Sailing Closing Ceremonies, Fact: The site of ­ Athletics Weymouth and Portland IBC/MPC Cost: £301 million National Sailing Academy Handball Arena Hosting: During the Paralympic Games, Capacity: Up to 7,000 the International Broadcast Centre/ Main Brands Hatch Cost: £43 million Press Centre will host thousands of the Hosting: Cycling – Road Hosting: Goalball world’s media in state of the art facilities Fact: Brands Hatch is one of Europe’s­ leading motor ­ racing venues 10 London 1 Year to go London 1 Year to go 11

The Olympic Stadium, which is surrounded by waterways on three Making the Most sides, can be reached via five bridges

Tim Reddish, Chairperson­ of Paralympics GB, is a of­ the Opportunity man of action By Tim Reddish, Chairperson of Paralympics GB

s a nation, Great Britain has dem- There is no doubt that a home Games will ­expecting to field our biggest and best real opportunity of the home Games lies of play to encourage the next generation of onstrated considerable success, heighten interest in Paralympic Sport. The team ever in London. So Games-time will in changing people’s attitudes. Once peo- Paralympians to take up sport. That would finishing second on the medal British public has a good appetite for more be about winning medals and inspiring the ple realise that Paralympic Sport is just as be a great legacy for the London 2012 Para­ A table at the last three Paralympic information on Paralympic sports and ath- nation to take up sport. brilliant as Olympic sport, then that also lympics. Games. Despite this, ParalympicsGB has letes, and we are working closely with all brings about a shift in the way that people a much lower profile than we would like. our partners and the media to maximise We want the Paralympic Games to bring perceive disability in general. To maximize the impact of the Games, this interest. about a major shift in the public perception we’re working closely with the Govern­ A home Paralympic Games offers us a huge of Paralympic Sport, and disability sport After the Games, we want to maximise the ment, the Organising Committee, opportunity in this area and, despite being Of course during the Games we will be in general, to show that our athletes are public engagement and awareness to en- ­National Governing Bodies and partners a small organisation of just 22 people,­ ­focussing on chasing down as many medals­ equally talented and skilled as Olympic courage more people to take up sport. Our to ensure there is a sustainable legacy we are working flat-out to engage more as possible. We are very proud of our record ­ athletes. We want our athletes to go out long-term goal is to use the inspirational in the key areas of education, aware- people with our sports and athletes. at the Paralympic Games and we are and win medals, of course we do, but the performances of our athletes on the field ness, provision and participation levels.

Twelve Brits to Look Out For in 2012 Picked by Channel­ 4 Presenters Ade Adepitan and Rick Edwards web >> channel4.com/paralympics

Ade’s Pick Rick’s Pick More Recommendations

David Weir Eleanor Simmonds Danielle Brown Deanna Coates Nigel Murray Tom Aggar Helen Freeman Andrew Lapthorne Sarah Storey Hannah Cockroft Stephen Miller Matt Skelhon (Athletics) (Swimming) (Archery) (Shooting) (Boccia) (Rowing) (Wheelchair (Wheelchair Tennis) (Track/Road (Athletics) (Athletics) (Shooting) Basketball) Cycling) On home territory, After winning two The 23-year-old Be- A winner of eight A winner of team The former rugby Helen was in a class Andy’s young and Sarah’s a banker for Hannah pushed to Stephen’s Paralym- Matt will be looking the 32-year-old multi golds in Beijing aged ijing gold medallist Paralympic shooting gold and individ- player took up row- of her own at the BT hugely talented. He the podium. Not only gold in the 100m pic record is out- to defend the SH1 World and Paralym- just 13, Simmonds in individual com- medals, including ual silver in Beijing, ing in 2006 to keep fit Paralympic World has an expert slice, does she win med- and 200m T34 at the standing – gold in 10 m prone air rifle pic champion and has amplified her pound open archery three golds, London Murray, who is now and has since dom- Cup in ­ cute drop shots and als in the velodrome IPC World Champs Altlanta, , gold he won (by half five-time London success: four-time repeated her success 2012 could be the ranked world num- inated the scene, in May, securing gold a good forehand. (she won time trial in New Zealand. Athens, and silver a point!) back at the marathon winner World Champion, with team gold on the 58-year-old’s eighth ber one in the BC2 winning gold at the for the GB women’s Ranked world num- and ­individual pur- Barring a serious in Beijing. Stephen 2008 Paralympic is the man to beat. five World Records able-bodied team at Paralympic Games class for Boccia, Beijing Paralympics side with an aver- ber one doubles suit golds in Beijing), setback in her prep- hates to lose, so I will Games in ­Beijing. Expect thrilling races and Member of the the 2010 Common- since 1984. Her ex- will be going for gold and several World age of 20 points per player, he and his she’s also a force on arations, Hannah confidently back him London 2012 may with the likes of British Empire. She wealth Games. Ex- perience could prove in the individual Championships in game. I’d bet on the partner Peter ‘The the road. And she should be unstop- to launch his club to also see the return of Switzerland’s Marcel is one of the most pect her to be on invaluable for the event. the ASM single scull team getting Quadfather’ Norfolk could potentially ride pable in 2012. gold in London. his famous red spikey Hug and Australia’s recognizable faces target for gold in Lon- British team. boat class. a medal ­in have Paralympic at the Olympics too. Mohican. . in British sport. don. London. gold potential.

BBC Radio 5 Live presenter and former Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson gave ­The Paralympian her pick of world athletes to look out for in 2012 on the following pages… 12 Future Games London | Sochi | RiO 13

A total of 14 Russian cities also hosted Sochi 2014 1,000-day-to-go festivities, and in Sochi Introducing Ray of Light and ­volunteers of the Russian State Social Final Countdown Snowflake ­University ­organized a Flash Mob of Equal Opportunities. Lining up in a formation of the Ray of Light and Snowflake, the two mascots Paralympic Symbol, they re- of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, leased hundreds of ­balloons were on hand in June to help celebrate the as a sign of their commitment 1,000-day-to-go landmark. to the Paralympic Movement in Russia. To mark the celebrations, the Sochi 2014 ­Organizing Committee launched an ­­ Dmitry Chernyshenko, President innovative “Accessibility Map” with the main of the Organizing Committee said: ­ objective being to help people with an impair- “On 11 June we started the 1,000 day ment in Russia find easily accessible locations countdown to this historic event for where they can engage in Paralympic sports. Russia. This event is destined to bring The map will also provide information about about radical change in the attitude of Rus- the elements that help to create barrier-free sian society towards people with an im- ­environments in local areas such as ramps, pairment.” hand rails and non-slip surfaces. web >> www.sochi2014.com

London 2012 With one year to go until London 2012, Paralympic preparations are hot- ting up. At an Executive Project Review in June, the Another important part of the Project Review­ On 8 September London’s iconic Trafalgar Paralympic Games will go on sale. Rio 2016 the Organizing Committee presented to the were the progress reports from all levels Square will stage International Paralympic Extracting the Essence IPC their plans on different areas includ- of government which demonstrated the Day, an IPC event which plans to give the Over one million people have already regis- ing Rio 2016 organizational structure and ­intention to leave a long and lasting legacy public a taste of what they can expect in 12 tered their interest in buying tickets at www. The design for the Rio 2016 Paralympic its focus on the planning of the Paralympic for people with an impairment in Rio after the months time. tickets.london2012.com, and 50 per cent of emblem has been chosen, but not yet an- Games. Sport and venue updates were also Games. ­Updates were given on ­accessibility tickets are priced £10 or less – with £10 being nounced. The Brazilian design agency Tatil given after the inclusion of two new sports ­initiatives, social inclusion as well as sport Featuring exhibitions in 10 Paralympic sports the lowest adult price. Design de Ideias was commissioned to ­create (Para-Triathlon and Para-Canoe) in the Para-­ programmes. and public participation opportunities, Inter- the emblem, having successfully designed the lympic Sport programme. web >> www.rio2016.com national Paralympic Day aims to build on pre- The Beijing 2008 Paralympics sold 1.8 mil- Olympic emblem for Rio 2016. vious successful events which have attracted lion tickets and London 2012 is hoping to top a combined audience of over 120,000 people. that with two million tickets available to buy. Once extensive worldwide copyright checks have succesfully been carried out, the new “It’s a fantastic way for the public to learn “The UK is the spiritual home of the Paralym- emblem will be launched in November. more about Paralympic sports and get a taster pic movement and with superb medal pros- of the excitement that they will witness during pects for ParalympicsGB, we believe that the The Paralympic emblem will gain national and the Paralympic Games,” said Seb Coe, Chair- British public will come out in their thousands international exposure in the run up to the person of LOCOG. to watch,” said Paul Deighton, CEO of LOCOG. Games and will be the symbol of the event on products, campaigns and TV images.­ One of the highlights of the day will be an at- In the build-up to the Games, the IPC has ap- tempt to break the world record for the long- pointed the Press Association as host national In designing the new emblem, Tatil Found- est ever Sitting Volleyball rally. news agency to provide the most compre- ing Partner and Creative Director Fred Gelli 2 01 hensive coverage yet for events in the run up ­immersed itself in the “values and essence” of 2 in Chef de Missions attending a seminar in the to London 2012 and the Paralympic Games the Paralympic world and built on the agency’s­ or F ut British capital will also be at the event to ac- themselves. A dedicated team of journalists experience of creating the Rio 2016 Olym- O k cept invitations from London 2012 to attend will work across all 20 London 2012 Para- pic emblem. oo L the Games. lympic Games sporting disciplines to provide to s unrivalled coverage to national and regional “We want to create a brand that can in- te le Mandeville, the Paralympic Games mascot media including distribution to over 400 local spire the audiences as much as Paralympic ­ th Mallory Weggemann (USA) A who recently celebrated its first birthday, will news websites, as well as to its extensive athletes do by their determination and The judging panel is confident rld At last year’s IPC Swimming World Championships­ o the 22-year-old claimed eight gold medals and that the Rio 2016 Paralympic W also be attending. corporate client base. strength to overcome adversity,” he said. smashed nine world records. ­Expect her or emblem captures the essence of (RSA), who will be targeting seven golds in her last ­Paralympic the Games Games, to grab the headlines in the Aquatics Centre. Also look out The day after International Paralympic Day, for Ben Huot (CAN), (BRA) and Matthew Cowdrey (AUS). on 9 September, tickets for the London 2012 web >> www.london2012.com 14 sport Profile Wheelchair tennis 15 35 4 years of Grand Wheelchair Slams 2 bounces 170 Tennis Wheelchair Tennis tournaments worldwide One of the Fastest Growing Wheelchair Sports in the World

One Man’s Vision Event. On 1 January 1998 the IWTF was Fastest Growing Sport full integrated into the ITF, and by 2007 it 10,000 Wheelchair Tennis was the brainchild of was sanctioned and integrated into the four Today, Wheelchair Tennis is one of the fast- American Brad Parks. Paralyzed in a free- tennis tournaments. est growing sports in the world with more registered style skiing competition, his idea was to than 10,000 players worldwide. players allow the tennis ball to bounce twice, but to Developing the Grassroots keep the court, racket and balls the same, The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour, which so that Wheelchair Tennis could be inte- The ITF is currently focussing its efforts on originated in 1992 with 11 international grated easily with the able-bodied game. increasing participation at the grassroots tournaments, now features 173 tourna- level, especially in developing countries. ments that take place in 46 countries. Last The sport progressed quickly. During the One way it is doing this is through work- year, the tour boasted more than $1 mil- 1980s Wheelchair Tennis had hundreds of ing with the IPC and International Wheel- lion in prize money. at the Grand Slams because the crews are players in the USA and spread to Europe chair Basketball Federation to develop a already there, and year-on-year, slam-by- and Australia. In 1988 the International low cost wheelchair. In addition, the World Team Cup has also slam, media and TV coverage increases. Wheelchair Tennis Federation (IWTF) was enjoyed astronomical growth as Mark Bull- FACTS formed and the International Tennis Feder- “It’s made a huge difference because ock explained: “It originally started out in “In London we’re really looking at putting London 2012 Paralympic medal events ation (ITF) adopted the two bounce rule in through our events projects, instead of the 1980s as a friendly competition be- on a great event and using it as an oppor- Men’s Singles – 64 Competitors Women’s Singles – 32 Competitors the official Rules of Tennis, formally sanc- not being able to donate anything in the tween some nations before the US Open tunity to promote the sport globally. We’re Quad Singles – 16 Competitors tioning the new sport. past, we’re now in a position where we can but now has become our equivalent of the making sure we’re in the best position to Men’s Doubles - Maximum 32 Pairs give 10 to 15 chairs when we do a project,” Davis or Federation Cup with 32 nations take advantage of the media interest and Women’s Doubles - Maximum 16 Pairs At the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games said Mark Bullock, ITF Wheelchair Tennis taking part. TV interest around the world.” Quad Doubles – Maximum 8 Pairs Wheelchair Tennis became a full medal Manager “We’re pretty pleased with the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour way it’s gone.” “From 2012 we’re expanding it further with The London 2012 Wheelchair Tennis events Features 173 tournaments in 46 countries regional qualifications so that any nation will be held at Eton Manor, a purpose built Grand Slam The ITF is also aiming to provide peo- that wants to play can enter.” facility in Olympic Park featuring nine com- Wheelchair Tennis is fully integrated into ple with more opportunities to play at petition and four warm up courts and a all four Grand Slam events: the , the , Wimbledon, and the all levels, and this includes targeting Looking Ahead to London seating capacity for 10,500 fans. US Open able-bodied clubs and schools. The ITF is also looking at more integrated Tickets to London 2012 Wheelchair Classes Wheelchair: To be eligible to compete, a “We’re trying to work through our events with able-bodied competitions, es- Tennis events start from £15 and are player must have a medically diagnosed Tennis Federations to offer oppor- pecially at outdoor events where there are ­included in the Day Pass package which al- permanent and substantial impairment in tunities at the micro level so people a greater number of courts available. Grow- lows spectators­ to see all sports in the Park one or both legs can play the sport, even if people just ing the sport’s profile is also a priority es- with the exception of Athletics, ­Cycling and Quad: A quad player has an impairment in want to play a couple of times a week pecially with London 2012 approaching. Swimming. three or more limbs and have no intention of getting into Mark Bullock, ITF Wheelchair Tennis Manager is focusing the world ranking,” said Bullock. “TV is an area that we’re focusing on,” web >> www.itftennis.com/ on grassroots growth of the sport said Bullock. “We certainly get television wheelchair

2 01 2 in or F ut O k oo L to s Brad Parks The first An interna- The IWTF Wheel- The first The world Brad Parks The World e 1976 1981 1985 1988 Wheelchair 1998 1992 2007 2009 2010 2011 et hits his first tennis “Grand Prix Circuit” tional team competi- became part of the chair Tennis was year that Wheelchair ranking structure was was inducted into the Team Cup has grown to l Tennis featured as th balls from a wheel- was established con- tion, the World Team International Tennis introduced as a full Tennis was a fully changed to make the International Tennis become the equivalent A an exhibition sport at ld chair and sees the sisting of a series of Cup, was established, Federation medal event at the sanctioned event at Grand Slams the top tier Hall of Fame alongside of the with 32 or Esther Vergeer (NED) the Seoul Paralympic W potential of the sport four major events in with six men’s teams Barcelona Paralym- all four Grand Slams: wheelchair tennis events able-bodied players, nations taking part. From The 30-year-old will be aiming for her fourth consecu- Games and The Inter- tive Wheelchair Tennis gold medal in London and will start different cities across competing in the pic Games, and has the Australian Open, in terms of ranking points and continues to be an 2012, it’ll be expanded national Wheelchair as an overwhelming favourite in the Women’s singles as she the USA inaugural event featured at every the French Open, and prize money, to align ambassador for the ITF with regional qualifica- Tennis Federation is ­undefeated in over 410 matches dating back to January 2003. Games since then Wimbledon and the themselves with able- tions so that any nation (IWTF) was founded US Open bodied tennis that wants to play can enter 16 athlete Profile Esther Vergeer 17

Esther Vergeer The World’s Greatest Living Sportswoman

“I think it would be good if I Esther Vergeer is a phenomenon. Unbeaten in over 410 Wheelchair Tennis singles matches, dating back lost, but I’m not going to lose more than eight years, she is arguably the greatest on purpose. The other girls living sportswoman on the planet. will have to work harder and It has not always been plain sailing though for the 30 year old from the Netherlands, as she told The Vergeer has been nomi- find a way to beat me.” Paralympian. nated five times for the annual Laureus Award for Sportsperson with Life Changing a Disability, winning it Inspired by Monique Kalkman, Vergeer is unbeaten in over 410 matches Above with compatriot Maikel Scheffers after winning this twice in 2002 and 2008 Most Recent Vergeer lost the use of her legs aged year’s French Open Achievements eight, after doctors operated on her spi- nal cord to treat a condition. The surgeons Mind over Matter = “I think it would be good if I lost,” she quipped, She also established Team ParaStars­ Beijing 2008 removed some crucial nerve endings, and World Dominance “But I’m not going to lose on purpose. The (www.teamparastars.nl), a team of Dutch – Gold medal (singles), when she woke up after the operation, she other girls will have to work harder and find Para­lympians, who she hopes can enjoy a Silver medal (doubles) was unable to walk. It clearly worked as since October 2000 she a way to beat me.” greater profile and fan base in the Nether- has been the world’s number one and hasn’t lands. Grand slam titles won At first, the abrupt change meant she lost a singles match since January 2003 when­ Making a Difference in 2011 struggled with fitting back into everyday Australia’s beat her at the­ – Australian Open life. She started playing sports at a reha- Sydney­ International, a defeat Vergeer puts Vergeer’s achievements and experience have “I want to ask everybody to (singles and doubles) bilitation clinic, where she met Monique down to a lack of preparation. empowered her. “Having a disability isn’t become a fan of Team Par- – French Open Kalkman, the world number one Wheel- the end of the world. The fact I can’t walk (singles and doubles) chair Tennis player at the time. Whereas di Toro had been training in the Aus- up stairs doesn’t influence my life so much. astars, by singing up at the – Wimbeldon (doubles) tralian sun on the tournament surface, Ver- website,” she said. “She was my role model and became geer came from a European winter, with little “I’m really, really happy. I have a boyfriend, my idol. She inspired me to play Tennis,­ time to acclimatize. She has learned her les- my own house, I travel around the world – all ”Vergeer said. “Sports made me realize son. those things make me feel good.” In the run up to London 2012, as well as what I could still do and made me overcome and ­training to win, Vergeer will hope to make accept my disability.” “Daniela was just better than me that day. Vergeer’s experience with Kalkman in the her ParaStars household names. I wasn’t prepared enough,” Vergeer admit- clinic 17 years ago had a huge impact on At the time Vergeer was also playing Wheelchair ted. “I don’t want to blame myself for not pre- her and she too decided she wanted to give Basketball and was part of the Netherlands team paring well.” something back. Six years ago, she set up that won the 1997 European Championship. She the Esther Vergeer Foundation which aims 2 01 found being dependent on the rest of the team Vergeer admits her could to inspire Dutch kids with impairments 2 in for good results challenging and decided the in- ­potentially be damaging to Wheelchair to play sports. or F ut dividual sport of tennis suited her drive more. ­Tennis because people may not take the O k From then on, she channelled her energies into sport ­seriously. oo L becoming world number one. to s te le th A ld or Siamand Rahman (IRA) …Manchester United …Martin Scorsese …Women were …Eminem’s …The Christian …George W. W The last time were top of the Premier won the Golden wearing peasant “Lose Yourself” Democrats Bush was US He surprised everyone last year setting a new world Esther Vergeer lost a ­ ­record of 285kg in the Men’s 100kg+ category at the IPC League and after the Globes for Best tops, cargo trousers was a number narrowly beat President World Championships. He improved his record Singles Wheelchair ­ season, David Beckham ­Director for “The and Ugg boots one hit off Labour in the ­further at the lifting 290 kg, almost three times Tennis match… signed for Real Madrid Gangs of New York” Dutch elections his body weight.