Each year, Virtus delivers an exciting programme of 5×5 basketball and – more recently – has introduced 3×3 competition to promote the growth of the women’s game.
World and regional Championships are held on a rolling four-year cycle culminating in the Virtus Global Games.
Players interested in competing at a high level first need to contact their National Member Organisation.
The sport is managed by the Virtus Basketball Committee.
History
The first World Championships were held in Greece in 1994, and the first European Championships in Poland in 1999. Basketball was also included when sports for athletes with intellectual impairments made their official debut at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. However, the sport was taken off the Paralympic programme for 2004.
Whilst basketball has not made its way back onto the Paralympic programme, it is still a popular sport within Virtus and features at the Virtus Global Games which is held every four years.
A list of upcoming events can be found here.
Rules And Regulations
Basketball for athletes with an intellectual impairment is run according to the rules of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) with modifications made by Virtus. These include coaches being allowed to sit courtside during 3×3 competition, and the shot clock running for 12 seconds.
The full sport specification for can be found here (Section 7).
Results
All results from all world and regional basketball Championships since 1994 until the present day are available here.
Basketball Rankings
Basketball Committee
- Chairperson – Tony Guihot (AUS)
- Americas – Emma De La Garcia (MEX)
- Africa – vacancy
- Asia – Naoke Ogowa (JPN)
- Europe – Richard Magnette (FRA)
- Oceania – Simon Robinson (AUS)
Virtus is the brand name of the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the UK (1173901)