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The Paralympian 01|2015 1 Official Magazine of the Paralympic Movement Issue No

The Paralympian 01|2015 1 Official Magazine of the Paralympic Movement Issue No

THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 1 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 1 | 2015

www.paralympic.org

Snowboard taking off RECAP: Five winter World Championships REVIEW: Deciding the 2020 Programme

RZ_Paralympian_01_2015_title_final.indd 1 08.04.15 23:34 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 3

“The fi nal decision on which sports were included in 2020 was not taken lightly and followed an extensive process that started in October 2013.”

Welcome to the fi rst edition of The Paralympian in will be launched later this year. The new plan builds 2015, a year that has already seen so much happen on the previous four-year planning cycle and is a within the Paralympic Movement. public outline of the IPC’s strategic direction.

This issue features on the climax of a major long- Much of what was discussed at last October’s term project which will have an impact on the future Membership Gathering is included in the plan in growth of the . some form or other and I hope the document when published proves benefi cial to the IPC and the wider In January the IPC Governing Board decided that Paralympic Movement. the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will feature 22 sports. Whilst I would like to pass on my warm As with all editions of The Paralympian, this issue congratulations to all the successful sports, I reviews the main sporting events that have taken want to give a special mention to and place in the fi rst part of 2015 and looks ahead to who were included for the fi rst time. an extremely busy summer of sport, the highlight of which will be the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Both sports submitted strong bids for inclusion, Games. displaying a real desire to be part of the Paralympic programme and I look forward to watching both as August’s event marks the start of a vitally impor- a spectator in the Japanese capital in 2020. tant period for the Paralympic Movement in the Americas and I am delighted that Americas I must stress the fi nal decision on which sports were Paralympic Committee President Jose Luis Campo included in 2020 was not taken lightly and followed and IPC Vice President Andrew Parsons share their an extensive process that started in October 2013. views on what can be achieved in the Issue of the Season feature. As with any decision of this magnitude there was always going to be some disappointment – Happy reading. 24 sports do not fi t into a maximum of 23 places – but what I would like to say is that I have 100 per cent confi dence in the procedures that were followed and how the Board reached our fi nal democratic decision.

By the time of Tokyo 2020, the IPC will have already Sir Philip Craven, MBE implemented its Strategic Plan 2015-2019 which IPC President 4 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 CONTENTS CONTENTS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 5

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06 PARALYMPIC NEWS 10 #ASKANATHLETE 11 DIGITAL BONUS

12 Awards, conferences, sponsorships, improve- ’s Andre Brasil and Canada’s Benoît How did the Paralympic Movement as a whole ments and retirements all feature in the latest Huot talk about their rivalry ahead of the IPC perform online in 2014? news from around the Paralympic Movement. World Championships.

12 TOKYO 2020 SPORTS 18 WORLD SPORT 24 FUTURE GAMES DECISION ROUNDUP

Find out how the IPC decided on the fi nal A review of all the major sporting events, Rio start interviewing volunteers, Pyeong- 22 sports for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic including World Championships in fi ve Chang stage National Paralympic Day and Games. win ter sports. Tokyo 2020 announce multiple sponsors.

26 UPCOMING EVENTS 30 ISSUE OF THE SEASON 32 GUEST COLUMN

Look ahead to this summer’s major sporting How can the Paralympic Movement in the Ioannis Daras, President of the European events including August’s Toronto Parapan Americas capitalise fully on the Toronto 2015 Union of Sports Press gives his view on how American Games in Canada. and Rio 2016 the Paralympic Movement can secure greater Paralympics? global media coverage.

THE PARALYMPIAN CONTACT IMAGES

Editor Craig Spence International Paralympic Committee © Photo Credits: Luc Percival (p. 1/6/34), Para Sports Photo (p. 4/13), Assistant Editor Eva Werthmann Adenauerallee 212-214 D-53113 Bonn, Getty Images (p. 5/8/9/10/11/19/26/27/28/29), Tokyo 2020 (p. 5/25), Graphic Design designfee Bianca Werninghaus James Jordan (p. 6), Lieven Coudenys (p. 7/8/28/32), NPC Turkey (p. 7), Tel. +49 228 2097-200 CPC (p. 8), Joern Wolter (p. 9), fotolia (p. 9/12/13/24/25), Printing welzel + hardt GmbH Fax +49 228 2097-209 Staff ordshire Sentinel News & Media (p. 13), Sven Heise (p. 14), All rights reserved World Taekwondo Federation (p. 14/15/16), Alan Spink (p. 17), [email protected] James Netz photography (p. 18), Marcus Hartmann (p. 19), © 2015 International Paralympic Committee www.paralympic.org WCF/Alina Paulyuchik (p. 20), Oriol Molas (p. 21), ISSN 1609-1329 Alpine Peak Photography (p. 22), Nathan W Lediard/Lediard Foto AS (p. 22), 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 Karl Nilsson (p. 23), Jean Baptiste Benavent (p. 23/29), send a copy to the IPC. The publisher reserves the right to edit submitted articles. The International Paralympic Committee endeavours to Rio 2016/Alexandre Loureiro (p. 24), POCOG (p. 25), Vincent Ethier (p. 29), be as current and accurate as possible with this publication, aiming to treat all readers with courtesy and respect. We can not guarantee istockphoto (p. 30/31), George Santamouris (p. 30/31) however that the information contained in this publication is complete and accurate in all respects and readers are taken to understand Print compensated and agree to this disclaimer upon reading any part of The Paralympian. No infringements upon any law, including sport regulations, from Id-No. 1546545 people within the photographs and/or featured in the magazine’s content were known at the time of publication. Articles, pictures and other 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|2015 PARALYMPIC NEWS PARALYMPIC NEWS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 7

Allianz and NEC announce sponsorship extensions + + NEWS IN-BRIEF + +

Allianz has announced an extension of its IPC Qatar, next year’s European Championships in Masters, the year-end wheelchair Athletics sponsorship through to the end of Grosseto, Italy, and will support at least three championship which until 2016 will be held IRAN: NPC Iran showcased its recent 2016, whilst NEC has confi rmed it will remain Grand Prix in 2015 and 2016 in Brisbane, at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in achievements to Iranian politicians as title sponsor of the NEC ; Nottwil, Switzerland; and Berlin, London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, during a week-long exhibition at the Masters and as offi cial partner of the UNIQLO Germany. Great Britain. Parliament Head quarters in Tehran. Wheelchair Tennis Tour through to 2017. NEC has been a sponsor of the ITF Wheel- The ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour now has over IRELAND: Paralympics Ireland has As part of its continued support of para- chair Tennis Tour since its inception in 160 tournaments in more than 40 countries appointed the President of athletics, Allianz will be an offi cial partner 1992, and recently celebrated 22 years off ering USD 2 million in prize money. Ireland Denis Toomey as its Chef de of October’s World Championships in Doha, as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Mission for the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

FEI: Belgian Ingmar De Vos has suc- ceeded HRH Princess Haya as Pres- ident of the FEI. De Vos had been FEI The revised Classifi cation Code will be published in 2017 Secretary General since May 2011 and was elected in the fi rst round of voting, Classifi cation improvements earning 98 votes out of a possible 131. WCF: The World Curling Federation has The IPC has adopted a “zero classifi cation Code marking the launch of the third and announced that Lucerne, Switzerland, policy” in an eff ort to minimise the number fi nal round of consultation. and Stirling, Great Britain, will stage of who need to be classifi ed in the the 2016 and 2019 World Wheelchair fi nal days leading up to or during a Paralym- The revised Code, due for publication in Curling Championships. pic Games. 2017, was developed from two periods of consultation during 2013 and 2014 which BRAZIL: NPC Brazil celebrated its 20th By working with each International Federation gathered responses from around the Para- anniversary in January by launching a to invest in and implement a comprehensive lympic Movement on the existing version of commemorative logo and extending pre-Games classifi cation programme spread the Code. a special thanks to all those who have over the entire qualifi cation period, the IPC helped build the organisation over the hopes to meet its objective by the Rio 2016 The deadline for feedback was 10 April and last 20 years. Paralympic Games. the IPC Classifi cation Committee will now further refi ne the draft 2017 Code before GERMANY: NPC Germany has On 4 February, the IPC also released the the fi nal version is presented to the IPC named 46 athletes who will be part second draft of the revised Classifi cation Governing Board in June 2015. of their Top Team to Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018. The medal hopefuls will receive support thanks to funding from Allianz and Deutsche Turkish NPC/NOC Telekom which will enable them to better focus on their training. Dr. Ugur Erdener and NPC President Yavuz Kocaomer, is to open new means of GREAT BRITAIN: National Paralympic communication and co-operation between Day will take place in London’s Queen the two organisations. Elizabeth Olympic Park on Sunday 26 July and will feature swimming and President Professor Dr. Ugur Erdener said athletics. “I consider it very important for Turkish sports that with this collaboration we shall walk SOCHI 2014: In its annual Top 50 with TNPC hand-in-hand towards assimila- Moments poll, the IPC announced the tion and promotion of Olympic values. Both Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games committees have agreed in mutual goodwill, as its number one moment of 2014. The Turkish Olympic and Paralympic commit- confi dence and serving sports. tees have signed a historic agreement aimed ITTF: Spain’s Alvaro Valera and at sharing knowledge and best practice with “Henceforward, we shall jointly be involved Croatia’s Sandra Paovic were named a view to providing new impetus to Turkish in and contribute to the organisation of the respective male and female sport on the international stage. major international sporting events in award winners for para- T urkey and together toil for sporting at January’s ITTF Star Awards in The objective of the agreement, which achievements sharing our knowledge and Dubai, UAE. was signed by NOC President Professor experiences.” 8 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 PARALYMPIC NEWS PARALYMPIC NEWS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 9

+ + NEWS IN-BRIEF + + Laureus Sport Awards Speakers announced for VISTA 2015

The fi rst speakers have been Institute in Netanya, ; WORLD PARA VOLLEY: World Para- announced for VISTA 2015 which and Argentine para- Volley have launched a new website will take place in Girona, Spain Daniela Luchina, will deliver a – www.worldparavolley.org – which from 7-10 October. symposium on “Athletes’ and features news, features, calendar of up- Coaches’ Education - Strategies coming events and world , plus Yuk Wing Leung Tatyana McFadden Shelly Gauthier The theme for this year’s and Tools to Improve Athletic all important documents regarding get- conference is “securing the Performance”. ting started in the sport, classifi cation future of young para-athletes” and anti-doping. and hundreds of experts and The subject of conceptual sports specialists from around applications of evidence-based EPC: NPC have been awarded the world are expected to attend. classifi cation will be presented the hosting of the 2015 EPC General by Viola Altmann of the Sint Roman Petushkov Anna Schaff elhuber Assembly and Conference to be held in Ciro Winckler of Sao Paulo Maartenskliniek rehabilitation Lisbon, Portugal, 2-3 October 2015. The winner of the Laureus Sportsperson Joining them for the award, which recog- Federal University and Raymond centre in Nijmegen, the Nether- of the Year with a Disability Award will be nises sporting achievements during 2014, So of the Hong Kong Sports Institute will cover the topic of athlete lands, and Debbie Van Biesen of Leuven University, . AUSTRALIA: The Seven Network, announced on 15 April 2015 at a glittering are the USA’s track and fi eld and cross- health and performance during their invited symposium. Australia’s most-watched broadcast awards ceremony in Shanghai, , from country skiing star Tatyana McFadden, Until 15 June, attendees can take advantage of a special early-bird television platform, will create and a shortlist of six athletes. Great Britain’s multi-medal winning para- Daniel Theisen, of the Sports Medicine Research Laboratory, off er with registration fees discounted to EUR 300. deliver the most comprehensive, tech- cyclist Sarah Storey, Hong Kong’s boccia Luxembourg Institute of Health; Osnat Fliess-Douer of the Zinman nologically advanced, multi-platform Russia’s Roman Petushkov and Germany’s world champion Yuk Wing Leung and College of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at the Wingate www.vista2015.com coverage of the Paralympic Games in Anna Schaff elhuber, two athletes who Canada’s para-cycling world champion Rio to all Australians on any commu- won 11 gold medals between them at the Shelly Gauthier. nications device. Seven will deliver 14 Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, are hours a day of live coverage on broad- amongst the nominees. www.laureus.com cast television across the network’s Cowdrey retires digital broadcast platform. Australia’s most successful IWRF: In March, the IWRF launched Women’s Day Award winner Para lympian, swimmer Matthew 3 BRBRONZEONZE its third strategic plan which will Cowdrey announced his retire- SSILVERILVER 7 direct the future growth of wheelchair Canada’s has been She was Chef de Mission of Team Canada ment from the sport in February. rugby though to 2018. The plan was awarded the IPC’s International Women’s at the Glasgow drafted following IWRF Educational Day Recognition Award for 2015. and will assume the same position for the Having made his Paralympic 13 GOLGOLDD and Planning meetings held in London, Rio 2016 Paralympics. debut at the 2004 Games, PARALYMPICPARALYMPIC Great Britain, in February. The 45-year-old, who won 21 Paralympic Cowdrey went on to win 23 medals medals, including 14 gold, during a glitter- A highly sought public speaker, Petitclerc including 13 golds, more than anyy other MEDAMEDALSLS AGITOS AWARD: The Agitos Foun- ing career spanning fi ve Paralympic Games, was also named to the “Most Infl uential swimmer in the history of the Games. dation won the Best Disability Sports has continued to raise the visibility of para- Women” list by the Canadian Association Contributor at January’s Ghana Sports sport since retiring from the track. for the Advancement of Women in Sport and “I have been fortunate to have achievedeved mmoreore Excellence Awards. Physical Activity. than I could ever have dreamed of, andnd more than I set out to achieve, and more importantlyrtantly I have GEORGIA: Powerlifter Iago Gorgodze PREVIOUS WINNERS enjoyed every minute of my time on the Australian has been suspended for four years and ■ swim team,” said Cowdrey who also wonon 16 world titles fi ned EUR 1,500 for an Anti-Doping 2013 Sylvana Mestre (ESP) ■ during a glittering career. Rule Violation. 2014 Rima Batalova (RUS) Out of the pool, he won an array IBSA: Finland’s Kari Räsänen has been of major awards including an named Chair of IBSA Goalball succeed- Order of Australia Medal ing ’s Kari Marklund who retired (2005), Australian Para- last year. lympian of the Year (2008), 16 GOLDGOLD Young South Australian of WORLDWORLD TENNIS: Former wheelchair tennis the Year (2009) and Swim- player was inducted into ming Australia’s Swimmer CCHAMPIONSHIPSHAMPIONSHIPS the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame of the Year with a disability MEDALMEDALSS during January’s in on multiple occasions. . SILVER 3

2 BBRONZERONZE 10 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 ASK AN ATHLETE DIGITAL BONUS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 11

Ahead of July’s IPC Swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Great Britain, Canada’s Benoît Huot and Brazil’s Andre Brasil, talk about their rivalry in the S10 class. Online growth in 2014

During 2014, the whole Paralympic Movement enjoyed phenomenal online growth, here are a few facts for you to digest.

2,655 8,66

Facebook* likes Website page views on 2 92 www.paralympic.org ,5 00 53 ,2 03 200, ,6 000 6

0 Andre Brasil Benoît Huot 2 5 ,2 5 7 , @andrebrasils10 @benhuot 0 0 0 Twitter* followers Website visitors to 8 , 0 2 www.paralympic.org 9 Glasgow will be the fi rst step en-route to my I would like to compete in three events and try 3 8 , 8 biggest goal, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. to get as close as I can or go under my personal 3 0

8 2013 0 It is going to be the fi rst time I will be What are your ambitions best times. My main objective is really to enjoy , 1 2014 focusing just on short-distance races. I intend for Glasgow 2015? every moment and have fun doing it. If I manage 6 *Across all IPC channels 0

to be in all these races and I will fi ght to do that, I will swim fast. A happy swimmer ,

to win four gold medals. is a fast swimmer. 2

Aside from my parents, Ayrton Senna, Philippe Gagnon is the reason why I am Top 5 athletes on Facebook Alexander Popov and . doing this today. He inspired me and I wanted Senna is a hero for Brazilians, Popov was a Who are your to become a para-athlete like him one day. genius of swimming and Silva was the one 1. Fernando Fernandes (BRA) Canoe 171,944 FAST FACTS Roger Federer, I never had the privilege to meet who promoted the sport for people with three heroes? him but he seems like a gentleman. Finally, disabilities and showed Brazilians 2. Amy Purdy (USA) Snowboard 85,115 Nelson Mandela, a true inspiration. the adapted sport. 3. (ITA) Cycling 82,425 There are a lot of things that make me happy about the last 15 years but I believe what makes 4. Ellie Simmonds (GBR) Swimming 75,135 First of all, the birth of my son, Leonardo, me the most proud is how I was capable of IPC’s online activities who is two-years-old, and my family. What’s your greatest coming back at London 2012 after a disappoint- 5. Natalia Partyka (POL) Table tennis 30,988 reached Watching him growing up is perhaps achievement to date? ing Paralympics in 2008. The way I my biggest accomplishment. managed and approached the four years be- 270 million tween Beijing and London is by far what makes Top 5 athletes on Twitter me the proudest. I overcame the adversity and people this made me a better individual and athlete. in 2014

#AskAnAthlete 1. @lxznr / Alex Zanardi (ITA) Cycling 140,552 I don’t hide that I feel butterfl ies in my stomach 2. @AmyPurdyGirl / Amy Purdy before every single race. It happens to everybody I really try to come back to the basics of why I (USA) Snowboard 62,538 and I’m not an exception. Getting prepared day in How do you cope love my sport. We are very lucky to be able to practice our passion every day and this should 3. @JonniePeacock / Jonnie Peacock and day out is the secret, though. with nerves before 50,017 WWhen you are training, you can be fun. It’s not always easy but my objective is to (GBR) Athletics always try and put this back in to perspective and ssimulate the situations that can a major event? 4. @MarathonChamp / Richard Whitehead enjoy every day of the process. 2015 IPC Swimming happen during competitions. (GBR) Athletics 38,515 Visitors spent World Championships 5. @KurtFearnley / 23,242 7.7 million Dates: 13-19 July (AUS) Athletics Location: Glasgow, minutes online at www.paralympic.org Great Britain Top 5 athletes on Instagram during the year www.glasgow2015.com 1. amypurdygirl / Amy Purdy 171,809 (USA) Snowboard 8.8 million 2. danieldias88 / (BRA) Swimming 4,699 views on the IPC’s 3. kellycartwright / Kelly Cartwright (AUS) Athletics 4,588 YouTube Channel 4. Alanathejane / Alana Nichols (USA) 2,292 5. TatyanaMcFaddenUSA / Tatyana McFadden (USA) Athletics and Nordic skiing 1,884 12 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 13

“Following the phenomenal success of hey may still be more than fi ve years eligible sports had to apply and fully justify London 2012 a variety of away, but in January the fi nal sports their place on the Paralympic programme. stakeholders from Tprogramme for the Tokyo 2020 Para- lympic Games was decided. According to IPC Chief Executive Offi cer inside and outside the Xavier Gonzalez, the catalyst for such a move The announcement that they will feature was the Paralympic Games Strategic Review. Paralympic Movement 22 sports brought to an end the IPC’s most “Following the phenomenal success of contributed to the extensive review of the Paralympic pro- London 2012 a variety of stakeholders from gramme, a process that started in October inside and outside the Paralympic Movement Paralympic Games 2013. contributed to the Paralympic Games Stra- Strategic Review.” tegic Review,” he explained. The fi nal decision brought joy for the sup- porters of badminton and taekwondo which “One of its main fi ndings was that for the were included in the Games for the fi rst time, Paralympic Games to continue to grow in whilst there was disappointment from football size and scale, it was vital that the sport pro- 7-a-side and , the two sports that were gramme remained fresh and featured the not included in the fi nal programme. best possible sports.

“We therefore decided to initiate a process Starting with a blank canvas whereby each sport had to apply for inclu- For the fi rst time ever in the history of the sion in the Games knowing that they would Games, the IPC decided to start with a blank be judged on facts and fi gures and not purely canvas for Tokyo 2020, which meant that all reputation alone.”

AmyAm TrueT sdaldale picturctu e courtesy of StS aff ordshs irei Sententininelel News & MediMedMe a, Stokee-On--OnOn Trent, Englangl nd. 14 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 15

How sports were judged “We’re well aware that To determine which sports would be the non-inclusion of both included, the IPC updated the minimum criteria for how sports would be assessed. sports has caused some disappointment, The core requirements (along with a broader review of each sport’s situation) were: especially among athletes, but the fact is neither met ■ Compliance with and implementa- the worldwide participation tion of the World Anti-Doping Code criteria for inclusion.” ■ Compliance with and implementa- tion of the IPC Classifi cation Code

■ A regular quadrennial competition programme, including a minimum were provided to the IPC Governing Board of two world championships hosted to make the decision. within the last eight years Xavier Gonzalez said: “The review pro- ■ Worldwide reach of at least 24 cess was extremely extensive and the data countries practising a team sport supplied by each IF scrutinised in great widely and regularly; OR: detail. It needed to be too, as we found that some IFs could not provide us with the ■ Worldwide reach of at least 32 necessary credible data to back-up and countries practising an individual justify their claims. This was disappointing. sport widely and regularly. “Other IFs used the process as an oppor- ■ A country shall be considered as tunity to spend time collating in-depth widely and regularly practising a information, putting new systems in place sport or discipline if: and making necessary improvements. This – It has been holding recognised / will benefi t them greatly in the future.” sanctioned national Champion- ships within the last four years; The IPC Governing Board reached its deci- OR: sion in two stages. – It has been competing with a national delegation in inter- In October 2014 they approved 16 nationally recognised/sanctioned sports, whilst the remaining eight sports competitions on a regular basis were informed that they were in danger of within the last four years. missing out if they did not improve their bids.

The application had to include proof in the All eight were given written feedback and form of offi cial results lists that the “widely further time to improve their application. and regularly practised criteria” was fulfi lled. In January 2015 at its meeting in Abu Dhabi, Following submissions from the 24 eligible the IPC Governing Board reviewed each of International Federations (IFs), the IPC the eight sports one fi nal time before de- management team spent two months ciding that six of them should be included reviewing all applications before reports in the Games.

THE October 2013 March 2014 June 2014 July – August 2014September 2014 October 2014 January 2015 The IPC invites recognised non- After six sports and three disciplines The IPC hosts representatives from The IPC management team conducts The IPC meets eight sports whose The IPC Governing Board approves Six of the remaining eight sports are 16 MONTH Paralympic International Federations reply to October’s invitation, the IPC most of the 24 sports at its headquar- an extensive review of all received applications reveal shortcomings for the fi rst 16 sports for inclusion and approved for inclusion in the Games (IFs) and existing Paralympic IFs to Governing Board decides badmin- ters in Bonn to further guide them in applications, judging them against the face-to-face meetings during the IPC meets with the remaining eight sports by the IPC Governing Board. suggest sports and disciplines for ton and taekwondo can apply for the application process. criteria outlined in the IPC Handbook – Sports Council. The eight sports are in jeopardy of not being included in PROCESS inclusion in Tokyo 2020. inclusion in Tokyo 2020, together with Chapter 3. informed of where they need to impro- the Games. the existing 22 sports. ve their bids and are asked to rework All current Paralympics IFs informed their submissions. The IPC provides each sport with of the minimum criteria and condi- The IPC distributes application pack- detailed feedback and instructions on tions for inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 ages to all 24 eligible IFs. They are also invited to personally pre- how to improve their submission. Paralympic Games as outlined in the sent their case to the IPC Governing IPC Handbook – Chapter 3. Board. 16 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION TOKYO 2020 SPORTS DECISION THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 17

New sports and the future “The review process was extremely The IPC Governing Board’s decision means extensive and the data supplied by each that both badminton and taekwondo, who presented impressive bids, will make their IF scrutinised in great detail.” Paralympic debuts in 2020.

“I’m delighted for all sports that have been provide us with data that supported the “I would urge both football 7 and sailing included in Tokyo 2020, in particular the two required global participation levels. to take encouragement from badminton new sports,” said Gonzalez. and taekwondo. Both have shown that “Football 7 could only support 15 countries with a strong global development plan it is “Both showed great enthusiasm for inclusion widely and regularly participating in the last possible to increase global participation to in the Games and both delivered strong bids four years, and sailing could only justify 27 the minimum level with no involvement in that met the criteria. countries, signifi cantly below the 24 and the Games.” 32 required for team sports and individual “I think the inclusion of both underlines that sports respectively. Since January’s decision the IPC has the IPC Governing Board is willing to reward provided detailed reports to each IF off ering good governance with a place in the Games.” “We’re well aware that their non-inclusion feedback on areas they can improve on for has caused disappointment, especially next time, as according to the IPC CEO the Gonzalez also off ered consolation for both among the athletes, but the fact is neither process will certainly be repeated for the football 7 and sailing that were not included met the worldwide participation criteria for next Games. in the Games. inclusion. TAEKWONDO BADMINTON “This process keeps sports on their toes “For these sports, amongst other issues “To include either one or both in Tokyo 2020 and ensures they are constantly striving for we identifi ed, the main reason for their after a 15 month process would have totally improvement. We will repeat this initiative in non-inclusion was that both could not defeated the objective of the exercise. 2018 ready for the 2024 Games.”

COUNTRIES COUNTRIES 36 39

REGIONS REGIONS 5 4

THE SPORT THE SPORT Athletes compete in the Players compete in Kyorugi discipline singles (men / women), (sparring) doubles (men/women) and mixed doubles.

CLASSIFICATION CLASSIFICATION FOUR SPORT CLASSES FOR UPPER LIMB IMPAIRMENT: SIX SPORT CLASSES: K41, K42, K43, K44 Wheelchair sport classes: WH1 and WH2 Standing sport classes: SL3, SL4 and SU5 Short stature sport class: SS6 18 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 19

Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova left Cable 2015 as the most decorated athlete Canada’sC Mac Marcoux and guide brother BJ won the overall men’s visually impaired Globe after making into the World Cup podium eight times

IPC Nordic Skiing World Championshipsmpionships IPCI Alpine Skiing World Cup 23 January - 1 February 8 January - 5 February

Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova was the star of the show at the 2015 AnnaA Schaff elhuber secured her fi fth successive overall World Cup OVERALL FINAL RANKINGS IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships in Cable, USA, picking up six titlet in women’s sit ski following an impressive 2014/2015 season. Women’s Men’s individual gold medals in the women’s standing class. AtA 22 years old the German was one of the oldest overall winners, ■ Visually impaired: ■ Visually impaired: withw ’s (21), Canada’s Mac Marcoux (17) and Danelle Umstead (USA) Mac Marcoux (CAN) The 24-year-old, who won just one Paralympic title at Sochi 2014, RRussia’s Alexey Bugaev (17) also securing titles, underlining the ■ Standing: ■ Standing: also picked up a silver in the team relay event to leave Cable as the sport’ss emerging pool of young talent. The USA’s Danelle Umstead and Marie Bochet (FRA) Alexey Bugaev (RUS) most decorated athlete. ’sJ Takeshi Suzuki were the other winners. ■ Sitting: ■ Sitting: Anna Schaff elhuber (GER) Takeshi Suzuki (JPN) On home snow, Andrew Soule made history by winning the most www.ipc-alpineskiing.org ever medals for a US para-Nordic skier at a World Championships. His three silver and two bronze medals won him the Allianz Athlete of the Month award for January. AustralianA Open 28-312 January Germany’s Andrea Eskau completed a sweep of the women’s cross-country sitting events as did Russia’s Nikolay Polukhin and After more than a decade trying, the ’ Jiske Griffi oen guide Andrey Tokarev in men’s biathlon visually impaired. won her fi rst singles title with victory over Japan’s world No.1 Yui Kamiji in the fi nal of January’s Australian Open in The event proved a huge success; not only did it attract 120 athletes Melbourne. from 15 countries, but online www.cable2015.com drew nearly four times as many visitors as the website for the 2013 World Champion- Japan’s Shingo Kunieda won his 18th Grand Slam singles ships. title by beating France’s Stephane Houdet in the men’s fi nal, whilst home favourite won the quads title with a win over www.cable2015.com the USA’s David Wagner.

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total In the doubles, Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley and Kamiji claimed the win, their fi fth successive Grand Slam title, whilst there were also wins for Kunieda and Houdet in the men’s and Great Britain’s Andy Russia 24 16 14 54 Lapthorne and Wagner in the quads division. Ukraine 9111030 Germany 3036 www.ausopen.com 20 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP WORLDWORLD SPORTSPORT ROUNDUPROUNDUP THETHE PARALYMPIANPARALYMPIAN 0101||20152015 2121

Paralympic silver medallists Russia claimed their second world title in three years in Finland The Netherlands’ 17-year-old Chris Vos cemented his position as a face for the future at La Molina 2015, winning both gold medals on off er

World Wheelchair Curling Championships IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships 7-13 February 23-28 February

Russia claimed their second world title in “I think it will be a good chance to further Dutch athletes dominated the IPC Para-Snowboard World three years after defeating China 7-4 in the develop wheelchair curling in Russia. We have Championships in La Molina, Spain, with Bibian Mentel-Spee and gold medal game at the World Wheelchair a lot of new facilities opening and new people Chris Vos both winning double gold. Curling Championships 2015 in Lohja, who are starting to play so we believe this Finland. will be good for the sport in our homeland,” For Paralympic champion Mentel-Spee, two world titles ensured she he said soon after winning gold. went the 2014/2015 season unbeaten, whilst Vos, who turned 17 The Sochi 2014 silver medallists during the Championships, showed he is defi nitely a star for the future. were superb throughout the A silver for the tournament’s youngest team tournament, only losing one China was their highest ever fi nish at a World La Molina featured two new events following the sport’s Paralympic game, and skip Andrey Championships, a remarkable achievement debut in 2014. Snowboard-cross saw athletes go head-to-head down Smirnov believes it as the country only started playing the sport the slope whilst banked slalom saw boarders tackle a spectacular could be the start in 2007. course. of something special. Hosts Finland secured bronze with a 8-5 win In addition to the Dutch delight, there was also gold medal success in over Slovakia. La Molina for Finland’s Matti Suur-Hamari, Italy’s Manuel Pozzerle and USA’s Brenna Huckaby in snowboard cross head-to-head, whilst the Paralympic champions Canada who had world titles in banked slalom went to the USA’s Mike Shea, Austria’s hoped to defend their world title fi nished sixth Patrick Mayrhofer and France’s Cecile Hernandez-Cervellon. overall whilst Scotland, Sweden and were all relegated to the World Wheelchair Twelve of the 18 participating countries won at least one medal, Curling Qualifi cation event. showing the geographical spread of talent now pracising the sport at the highest level. http://wwhcc2015.curlingevents.com Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

The Netherlands 4015 USA 2439 Italy 1113 22 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 WORLD SPORT ROUNDUP WORLDWORLD SPORTSPORT ROUNDUPROUNDUP THETHE PARALYMPIANPARALYMPIAN 0101||20152015 2323

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Ostersund 2015 15-21 March + + NEWS IN-BRIEF + + Russia 10 4 5 19 FINAL RANKINGS France 5117 1. South Korea Germany 46313 SAILING: Norway’s Bjørnar Erikstad 2. Sweden claimed his second ISAF Sailing World Cup gold in the 2.4mR class in Miami, 3. Slovakia USA in late January. The SKUD-18 class was won by Australia’s Paralym- 4. Poland pic champion Dan Fitzgibbon and whilst the Norwegian team of 5. Great Britain Aleksander Wang-Hansen, Per Eugen 6. Austria Kristiansen and Marie Solberg won the three-person Class

South Korea and hosts Sweden both won the tournament’s Best Forward after : Uzbekistan dominated the promotion back to ice sledge hockey’s netting 13 of his side’s 47 goals, whilst biggest para-sport event ever to take A-Pool for 2017 by winning the gold and silver Sweden Niklas Ingvarsson was named Best place in Hungary, winning four out of medals at March’s IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Defenceman. 13 events to top the medals table at World Championships B-Pool. the IBSA Judo World Cup in Eger. Slovakia won bronze – their fi rst-ever medal Heading into the fi nal game of the six team on the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey stage – after TABLE TENNIS: Ukraine’s players won tournament in Ostersund, Sweden and South fi nishing the Championships with a 3-2 six gold medals to top the medals table Korea were unbeaten and in the gold medal record and a goal diff erential of zero. at March’s Lignano Masters Open 2015 decider the PyeongChang 2018 host nation in Italy. France’s Marie Bochet became the fi rst athlete to win fi ve world titles at back-to-back World Championships came out on top 4-2. Despite his side being relegated back to the C-Pool, Austria’s Michael Ossim- FOOTBALL 7: European champions In addition to winning gold, South Korea also itz was named the Best Goaltender of the Ukraine warmed-up for June’s World IPC Alpine Skiing Nordic Skiing World Cup 2015 set a new record during the tournament for tournament. He made an astounding 158 Championships by going undefeated World Championships 10 December - 22 March the biggest win at a World Championships, saves in fi ve games and fi nished the week at the fi ve-team 2015 Footie 7 Interna- courtesy of their 15-0 thrashing of Poland. with an 86.34 save percentage. tional Tournament in Portugal. 28 February - 10 March The IPC Nordic Skiing season came to a close on 22 March with the World Cup Finals in Surnadal, Norway. South Korea’s Seung-Hwan Jung was named www.ostersund2015.org : The indoor season saw France’s Marie Bochet and Russia’s Alexy Bugaev both com- Canada’s Curtis Halladay break the pleted a clean sweep of titles at March’s IPC Alpine Skiing Worldrld After three World Cup events held between December 2014 world record in the para LTA men’s Championships in Panorama, Canada. and March 2015,2015, Russian skiers took six ofof the 1212 overall titles. 1,000m race while Cameron Sinclair did Apeldoorn 2015 the same in the para TA men’s 1,000m. In winning all fi ve gold medals in the women’s standing class, 21-year-ar- BIATHLONBIATHLON France’s Perle Bouge broke her own old Bochet created history by becoming the fi rst athlete ever to topop Women’sWomen’s 26-29 March para TA women’s 1,000m world re- the podium in all events at successive World Championships. She hashas ■ VisuallyVisually impaired:impaired: Iuliia Budaleeva (RUS)(RUS) cyclists from 30 countries. She won gold in cord and Great Britain’s Grace Clough now won a staggering 11 world titles in a row dating back to 2011.1. ■ Standing:Standing: Oleksandra Kononova ((UKR)UKR) the time trial, pursuit and scratch races and followed suit with a LTA women’s ■ Sitting:Sitting: AnAnjaja Wicker (GER)(GER) also lowered her time trial world record by 1,000m world record. Considering his age of just 17 years, Bugaev could soon followw in Men’s 0.043 seconds. Bochet’s footsteps after he also proved unbeatable in the men’sn’s ■ VisuallyVisually impaired:impaired: NikolaNikolayy Polukhin (RUS)(RUS) ATHLETICS: Ten world and 54 regional standing class. ■ Standing:Standing: Vladislav Lekomtcev (RUS(RUS)) Despite her success for the home team, Great records were broken during four days ■ Sitting:Sitting: AlexeAlexeyy BBychenokychenok (RUS(RUS)) Britain topped the medals table with seven of action at the fi rst IPC Athletics Grand The biggest rivalry of the Championships was arguably betweenen golds overall. Sarah Storey, Sophie Thorn- Prix of the season in Dubai, UAE. At the Austria’s Claudia Loesch and Germany’s Anna Schaff elhuber in CROSS-COUNTRYCROSS-COUNTRY hill (pilot Helen Scott) and Neil Fachie (pilot third Grand Prix of the season in Tunis, the women’s sitting. In Sochi Schaff elhuber won all fi ve Paralym-m- Women’sWomen’s Peter Mitchell) led the way, each winning two Tunisia there were two world records in pic titles but in Panorama had to settle for two gold medals, whilstlst ■ VisuallyVisually impaired:impaired: Iuliia Budaleeva (RUS)(RUS) rainbow jerseys. the fi eld. rival Loesch claimed three. ■ Standing:Standing: BrittanyBrittany Hudak (CAN(CAN)) In front of a Dutch home crowd, Alyda ■ Sitting:Sitting: (USA) Norbruis had an event to remember at the Other double gold medal winners included GOALBALL: Great Britain, Russia and On home snow Canada claimed one gold medal throughgh MeMen’sn’s UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships the USA’s Joseph Berenyi and the Chinese Portugal won promotion to the IBSA Mac Marcoux and brother guide BJ in the men’s visually impaireded ■ VisuallyVisually impaired:impaired: Eirike BByeye (NOR(NOR)) in Apeldoorn winning three world titles and duo of Jieli Li and Zhangyu Li. Men’s European Championships B downhill. ■ Standing: Vladislav LekLekomtcevomtcev (RUS(RUS)) smashing one of her Group following February’s C-Group ■ Sitting:Sitting: AndAndrewrew Soule (USA)(USA) own world records. Country Gold Silver Bronze Total Championships in Malmo, Sweden. www.panorama2015.com Great Britain beat Russia 6-5 in the www.ipc-nordicskiing.org The 26-year-old was gold medal match, whilst Portugal took the single biggest Great Britain 7119 bronze with a 9-4 win over Italy. winner at the event China 63110 which attracted 160 USA 44412 24 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 FUTURE GAMES FUTURE GAMES THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 25

Rio 2016 PyeongChang 2018 Selecting the volunteers begins After nearly a quarter of a million people are women. Applicant from 192 countries applied to be a Rio 2016 ages ranged from 16 to volunteer, the Organising Committee has over 80. started the process of selecting the 70,000 they need to stage the Games. The applicants who are se- lected will be off ered a one- To fi nd the right people, applicants are year online English course, as taking part in an online exercise and lan- well as specifi c training for their guage assessment. Interviews will then take roles. They will also receive a uni- place throughout this year before letters of form, meals and transport on working invitation to successful candidates are posted days, and a certifi cate of participation. from November. Volunteers are needed for nine functional Brazilians accounted for 60 per cent of the areas: customer services, sports, press 2,000 days to go applicants, with the USA, Russia, China and communications, operational support, To mark 2,000 days to go until the Tokyo and Great Britain providing the most foreign ceremonies production, protocol and 2020 Paralympics, children at an inter- applications. languages, health services, technology, and national school in the host city were given transport. the opportunity to try out football 5-a-side Among the Brazilian candidates, 50 per cent alongside a number of national players and are 25 years old or younger, while 55 per cent www.rio2016.com National Paralympic Day – learn more about the Paralympic values. “It’s our turn!” Japan’s national team player Kento Kato Between 14-15 March, the PyeongChang was joined at the school by Tsuyoshi Ki- 2018 Organising Committee staged its tazawa and Atsuhiro Miura, two players 55% fi rst annual National Paralympic Day who had represented Japan’s able bodied female applicants celebration in Seoul, South Korea, attract- team at Asia Cups and . 60% ing around 15,000 people. candidates from Brazil “I really hope that everyone who attended The aim of the event, which featured dem- the event will remember the experience onstrations of wheelchair curling and ice forever,” said Kato. “If the Tokyo 2020 sledge hockey, was to raise awareness of sibility, Paralympic Village, transport and Para lympics is able to contribute to in- 50% the next Paralympic Winter Games which sport. The IPC was also briefed on prepara- creasing opportunities for all people, re- of the Brazilian take place in less than three years’ time. tions for the Actualising the Dream project, gardless of impairment, to take part and applicants are 25 a promise from the bid phase to develop enjoy the benefi ts of sport, then I think that years old or younger Other activities held as part of the week- winter para-sport. will be its greatest legacy.” end included a para-sport photo exhibi- tion and a display of para-sport equipment. In the lead-up to the Games, the IPC Acad- New sponsors on board emy will deliver three Excellence Work- Around 500 dignitaries attended the event shops this year designed to provide the The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games may including CHO Yang Ho, POCOG President, Organising Committee with examples of still be more than fi ve years away, but the KIM Jong Deok, Minister of Culture, Sports best practice, knowledge and learnings Organising Committee has announced six and Tourism, KIM Sung-Il, President of the from previous Games. gold partners in the fi rst quarter of 2015. Korean Paralympic Committee (KPC), NA Kyung-won, IPC Governing Board Member This summer’s fi rst workshop will be on They are: and foreign ambassadors in Korea. “Creating awareness and infl uencing the ■ Telecommunications services: media ahead of the Games” and it will be Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Fourth Project Review and closely followed by “Advancing Paralym- (NTT) Corporation pic marketing opportunities and sponsors’ ■ Beer and wines: Asahi Breweries Excellence Programme activation.” The year’s fi nal workshop will ■ Stills cameras and desktop “Start putting plans in to action” was the be on “Paralympic integration in planning reprographic hardware: Canon clear message from the IPC to the Pyeo- and Paralympic testing.” ■ Oil, gas & electricity supply: ngChang 2018 Organising Committee fol- JX Nippon Oil & Energy lowing the completion of February’s fourth The IPC Academy has previously staged ■ Data centre hardware: Fujitsu Project Review in Seoul, South Korea. Excellence Programmes with Sochi 2014 ■ Specialist public safety equipment & and Rio 2016. software and network equipment: During two days of meetings, POCOG up- NEC Corporation dated the IPC on various functional areas www.pyeongchang2018.com including venues, accommodation, acces- www.tokyo2020.com 26 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 27 GUADALAJARA 2011 Country Gold Silver Bronze Total 2015 Toronto, 7-15 August Canada 26 April - 3 May Brazil 81 61 55 197 USA 51 47 34 132 2011 Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games Mexico 50 60 55 165 Guadalajara, IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Mexico Championships A-Pool August’s Toronto 2015 Parapan Athletics Stadium and the CISCO THE SPORTS American Games in Canada mark Milton ; all venues 1999 the start of a hugely important created with legacy in mind. , period for the Paralympic Move- Mascot Pachi has also been tour- Mexico ment’s growth in the Americas. ing the region helping to raise awareness of the Games. Taking place during Canada’s “Year of Sport”, the event is set to Toronto 2015 will be the fi fth Athletics Boccia Football 5-a-side attract more than 1,600 athletes edition of the Parapan American from 28 countries who will com- Games and the third time they pete in 15 sports. All sports are have been staged in the same qualifi ers for Rio 2016, increasing city as the Pan American Games. the chances of each nation send- ing their best athletes. Thanks to an agreement signed at January’s PASO General Football 7-a-side Goalball Judo Powerlifting Brazil, who are gearing up for a Assembly, this concept will home Paralympic Games in 2016, continue for the foreseeable will start as strong favourites to future as cities looking to host top the medals table having done the Pan American Games will 2007 so four years ago in Guadalajara, automatically have to include the Rio, Brazil Mexico. USA and hosts Canada Parapan American Games in their are expected to push them close. bid as well. Sitting Swimming Table tennis

In order to get ready for the The first Parapan American 2003 Games, around CAD 1.4 billion Games took place in November , On home ice, USA will start as favourites to land the world title has been invested in operational 1999 in Mexico City, Mexico, and Argentina and capital projects. New facili- involved 1,000 athletes from 18 On home ice in Buff alo, the USA will aim to add the world title to ties built for the Games include countries. the Paralympic gold they won in 2014. the spectacular CIBC Aquatics Track cycling Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair Centre and Field House, CIBC www.toronto2015.org rugby tennis The hosts are drawn in Group B alongside Germany and Italy and will start their campaign against Russia in a re-run of the Sochi 2014 gold medal match. Defending champions Canada line-up against Czech Republic, Norway and Japan in Group A.

FIVE TO LOOK OUT FOR AT TORONTO 2015 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES Following the success of its Sochi 2014 coverage, US broad- caster NBC will show the USA’s fi nal group game against European Champions Italy, together with one semi-fi nal and the fi nal. 1999 2015 MEXICO CITY TORONTO All matches will be livestreamed via the event website.

www.buff alo2015.com

MATT STUTZMAN YUNIDIS CASTILLO DIRCEU JOSE PINTO EDUARDO AVILA SANCHEZ ZAK MADELL USA CUBA BRAZIL MEXICO CANADA Stutzman hit Cuba’s most Pinto is set to Sanchez caused He may only ONES TO WATCH the headlines successful ever make his Para- a major shock at be 20 years old 1,000 1,600 at London 2012 Paralympian is pan American the 2014 World but Madell was ATHLETES ATHLETES by winning one of only three Games debut Championships Canada’s top FROM FROM Paralympic silver despite female para-athletes to in August and is a four-time when he beat the Ukrainian scorer at the 2014 World the fact he was born without have run the 100 m in under Paralympic champion in the Paralympic champion to Championships in Denmark arms. Images of him shoot- 12 seconds. The 27-year-old BC4 class. His rivalry with take gold in the men’s -81kg and also crowned the tourna- 18 28 ing a bow and arrow were completed a unique triple his pairs partner Eliseu dos class. ment’s Most Valuable Player. COUNTRIES COUNTRIES amongst some of the most hat-trick in 2013 winning Santos – who currently has Canada are now ranked iconic images of London world titles in the 100 m, a higher world – for second in the world and their 2012. 200 m, 400 m, just like individual gold in Toronto match with the USA, who they she had done at London could be one of the highlights eliminated from the last two 2012 and the 2011 World of the Games. major competitions, could be JOSH PAULS DMITRY LISOV GREG WESTLAKE Championships. a classic. USA RUSSIA CANADA 28 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 29

12-28 June 13-29 June OTHER MAJOR EVENTS 26 April 26-29 April 8-18 May 10-14 June 26-30 July 23-30 August IPC Athletics IPC Powerlifting IBSA Boccia Asia/ IPC Powerlifting World Archery Blind judo to feature at Football 7-a-side World Americas Open World Games Oceania Team & Asian Open Para Championships Championships Championships Seoul, Pairs Championships Championships Donaueschingen, the 1st European Games World Championships London, Great Britain Mexico City, Mexico South Korea Hong Kong, China Almaty, Kazakhstan Germany in Baku, Azerbaijan

The inaugural European Games will take place in Baku, 13-19 July 28 July - 2 August Azerbaijan, from 12-28 June 2015. Blind judo has been IPC Swimming UCI Para-cycling Road fully integrated into the Judo programme, with medals in World Championships World Championships the men’s over 90kg category and in the women’s under 57kg category.

At least 16 judokas from Azerbaijan, France, Germany, , Great Britain, Hungary, Russia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine will compete.

In the men’s tournament, Ilham Zakiyev – who has won two Para- lympic gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, and one bronze in London 2012 – will compete for Azerbaijan. Zakiyev is also being supported by BP, an international partner of the IPC and also an offi cial partner of the Baku 2015 European Games.

Zakiyev said: “To be selected to represent my country in blind judo at the fi rst European Games in Baku is a wonderful honour for me and I hope to make history as the fi rst European Games champion. Ukraine’s won the 2014 European title beating the Netherlands Glasgow 2015 is the last major event before Rio 2016 Italy’s Alex Zanardi will be hunting for gold in Nottwil It is excellent that blind judo is included at Baku 2015, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to win a medal for Azerbaijan Ukraine will start the World Championships in Burton-upon-Trent, Less than 12 months after hosting a hugely successful Common- The picturesque Swiss town of Nottwil, situated adjacent to Lake in the Heydar Aliyev Arena.” Great Britain, as strong favourites following their European title wealth Games in Glasgow, the British city will stage the 2015 IPC Sempach, will play host to around 250 cyclists in what will be one win last year. Swimming World Championships. of the last major para-cycling events prior to the next Paralym- www.baku2015.com pic Games. The London 2012 silver medallists beat Russia, the defending Around 650 of the world’s best swimmers from 50 countries world and Paralympic champions, on their way to European glory will compete at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre On home soil last September, the USA topped the medals table at last year. The 16 participating teams have been drawn into four in what will be one of the last major competitions ahead of the World Championships in Greenville and will be keen to reinforce groups of four: Rio 2016. their position 12 months out from Rio 2016.

■ Group A: Ukraine, Iran, England, Japan Ukraine topped the medals table at the 2013 World Champion- The men’s H5 class could produce the most intense races ■ Group B: Russia, , Australia, Portugal ships in Montreal, Canada, but will face stiff competition from with Dutch handcyclist Tim De Vries looking to challenge the ■ Group C: Brazil, Scotland, USA, Venezuela Russia and the host nation. dominance of Italy’s Alex Zanardi and South Africa’s . ■ Group D: Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, Northern Ireland On the women’s side also keep an eye out for dual sport athletes Each day, live coverage of both sessions, together with live results, Andrea Eskau of Germany who also excels at Nordic skiing and www.cp2015.com will be available via the event website. the USA’s Allison Jones who also does alpine skiing.

www.glasgow2015.com www.uci.ch

ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH ONES TO WATCH

TARAS DUTKO ILJAS VISKER JAN FRANCISCO BRITO ELLIE SIMMONDS MARY FISHER YEVHENIY BOHODAYKO SARAH STOREY ALEX ZANARDI CAROLE COOK UKRAINE NETHERLANDS DA CASTA GREAT BRITAIN NEW ZEALAND UKRAINE GREAT BRITAIN ITALY AUSTRALIA BRAZIL 30 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 ISSUE OF THE SEASON ISSUE OF THE SEASONTHE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 31 ISSUE OF THE SEASON How can the Paralympic Movement in the Americas capitalise fully on the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, Rio 2016 Paralympics and other upcoming events?

Two key players in the growth of the Paralympic Movement in the Americas give us their views.

Jose Luis Campo Andreww ParsonsParso President Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) ns The PASO agreement not only secures the President of theh BBrazilian Paralympic Committee and This is a veryve special time for the future of the Parapan American Games, but IPC Vice President Americas Paralympic Movement. really makes us feel part of the Americas sporting family. I believe there is no better way to say how With theth Parapan American much the Rio Games next year represent raise awareness about the values of the Games,Games, the Youth Parapan One of our aspirations for Rio 2016 – and to the Paralympic Movement than stress- Paralympic Movement as a tool for a more Am Games,Ga the South Amer- this is why Toronto 2015 is so important ed in ad- to ing the fact it will be the fi inclusive society. The debate regarding op- G rst time the ican Games, the Para Central us – is for all athletes to be cation. classifi Previously Paralympic Games come to Latin America. portunities for people with impairment and AmericanAmeric Games, and of course vance through their qualifi The impact and legacy will be immense for their role in society has increased and re- ed athletes received a wild- Rio 2016,20 we are developing a many unclassifi Brazil and the whole region. ceived more attention by governments and strongstron calendar of events. card to the Paralympic Games, however I am media organisations. pretty sure for Rio 2016 many countries will In fact, it is already happening. The SuchSuc activity is helping to preparation for the Paralympics has in- We are fully confi classify their athletes in advance. dent that this is just the i ncincrease awareness and par- cluded a series of events for high levelbeginning. The 2016 Paralympic Games ticipationtic numbers across the I think we should only determine if this cur- athletes being held in the region, not only will inspire generations and will introduce regionre and it is important we rent period has been a success when we in Brazil. More and more, these events the Paralympic Movement to millions in our getg more youngsters involved reach the Lima 2019 Parapan American have attracted competitors from Latin continent who may never have watched asa they are the athletes of to- Games. We must gauge then the what back momen- of Rio America and other parts of the world. The para-sports before. morrow. Thanks to initiatives tum we have generated off Caixa Loterias Athletics and Swimming from the Agitos Foundation, 2016. I believe the Sao Paulo 2017 Youth Open International in São Paulo in April We are also very happy to have won the TorontoToro n 2015 and soon Rio 2016, Parapan American Games can act as bridge will have a record number of almost 200right to host the Youth Parapan Am Games inc through to Lima. foreign athletes. in Sao Paulo in 2017. It will be a great boost we are also increasing the number ers, and techni- qual- ity offoach coaches,es regional classifi for the young athletes who will be moti- cials. cal delegates and offi The Games in 2019 will be a challenge; Peru Initiatives in partnership with the Agitos vated by the chance to come and compete is not a traditional Paralympic country, but Foundation, Toronto 2015 and Rio 2016 in Brazil just six months after the country So many young people are attending these that should be seen as an opportunity for Organising Committees have helpedhosted to the Paralympics. We are already seminars and returning back to their coun- us to develop Paralympic sport from the looking forward to it. tries enthused to carry on the good work. foundations up.

Our NPCs are also developing and becom- This growth started when Andrew Parsons ing more professional. This will continue and Octavio Londoño were the Presidents thanks to the agreement we recently signed of the APC and I look forward to continuing this work now with the full support of the with PASO which will see NPCs work closer . with their Olympic counterparts. IPC and its staff 32 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 GUEST COLUMN THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 33 Ioannis Daras Country: Greece through their work in the ike many sporting events, the Paralym- Position: Association media. pic Games is always looking to increase Internationale De La Press its media coverage. Sportive (AIPS) Europe Although there is a L President desire to promote AIPS Vice President One persistent problem is simply logistical - Paralympic sport as www.aipsmedia.com do journalists want to stay in town for a further high performance sport 20 days of work after the Olympics instead of throughout the Move- returning home to their families? ment, it is often the back stories of athletes There are of course exceptions that show a that can help engage new audiences in some greater preference for the Paralympics, and territories. I think everyone is in agreement that the Games need and deserve better coverage. Each country is diff erent in how receptive it is to Paralympic sport, but human interest To achieve this requires strategic planning stories are always extremely engaging. and professional organisation. Stories of athletes overcoming challenges Ioannis Dara’s view and obstacles to perform on the world stage I believe the fi rst step is to have dedicated at the Paralympics have over the years devel- Paralympic commentators, experts on radio oped a superb track record for changing per- and television that can make broadcasts more ceptions and attitudes towards people with attractive and more intimate for viewers by A strong wind comes an impairment. having a greater knowledge of para-sports and its athletes. from the soul … Admiration replaces sympathy and such stories can achieve huge cut through via One solution could be for AIPS and the IPC Education, human stories television, radio, the internet and news- to organise a series of seminars to educate and media Games are the key papers to millions of homes around the media on the various intricacies of Paralympic for the revolution world. sport. Alternatively national or international media competitions for journalists with an During the London 2012 Paralympic Games impairment could be organised whereby the I was living in Lancaster, Great Britain, when prize is an opportunity to cover the Games. on the Paralympics into the graduate pro- my four year old son watching highlights on Such initiatives would help to raise awareness grammes of Universities that produce jour- TV said: “Dad, how can this athlete be run- and bring the media closer to the experiences nalists and sport executives. ning so quickly with one leg when I can’t even of people who want to show the strength of stand on my one leg?” their souls through sport. Including the Paralympics in the humanity aspects of these courses as well would add My answer was that “there is a strong wind Another element that would increase cov- another dimension to the education of peo- that comes from the soul and pushes him erage would be the integration of modules ple who ultimately can shape public opinion ahead”. WORLDWIDE PARALYMPIC PARTNERS

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS

A record number of media attended the London 2012 Paralympic Games 34 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2015 OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT ISSUE NO. 1 | 2015

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

RZ_Paralympian_01_2015_title_final.indd 1 08.04.15 23:34

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