INAS - FMH
Established by professionals who want to promote the inclusion of athletes with intellectual impairments. First executives appointed in January.
Virtus is the global organisation that governs – advocates – organises – promotes
elite sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
OUR VISION:
An inclusive world for people with an intellectual impairment.
OUR MISSION:
To drive the development of elite sport worldwide for athletes with an intellectual impairment
From INAS 1986 – To VIRTUS 2030
Virtus World Intellectual Impairment Sport, “Virtus” is the brand name of the International Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee.
Formed in 1986, Virtus (formerly INAS) has grown from 14 members to a membership of more 500,000 athletes from more than 90 nations across the world throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South/Central America and Oceania.
In 2020, the Virtus sports programme included 15 annual events across both summer and winter sports with more than 7,000 athletes registered to compete at an international level.
Virtus is the recognised International Organisation of Sport for people with a Disability (IOSD), governing the eligibility of athletes with an intellectual impairment, elite competition and sport development. Over the next decade to 2030, Virtus is committed to advocating inclusion in sport, and building elite pathways for more athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete at the highest levels of international sport.
Virtus now has its sight on more involvement in the Paralympic movement at Tokyo, Paris 2024, LA2028 and beyond – through the quadrennial Virtus Global Games held in the year prior to each Paralympic Games.
“2-3% of the world population have an intellectual impairment. That’s between 178-256 million people worldwide.”
Source: WHO Report on Disability 2011
Through sport, Virtus and its athletes are changing attitudes, challenging perceptions, and strengthening communities locally and globally.
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Breanna Clarke (USA) Gold Medallist Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Breanna Clarke (USA) Gold Medallist Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 400m (T20) shares her Games experience. -
MakingInvisibleVISIBLE - Celebrating Tokyo 2020 Paralympians in Intellectual Impairment class events
The Paralympians who competed at Tokyo2020 in Athletics, Swimming, and Table Tennis in the intellectual impairment class events. 63 Medals. 120 Athletes. You shine like stars!
Photo credit: OIS Photos -
Athletes with Intellectual Impairment at Tokyo2020 Paralympic Games
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, athletes with intellectual impairments competed in 22 medal events across Athletics, Swimming, and Table Tennis. This is a short highlights reel of some of the images from Tokyo2020, thanks to OISPhotos and ITTF. -
Todd "the HULK" Hodgetts
Before leaving Tokyo, Todd the Hulk shared with Virtus some of his thoughts.
Tokyo will be Todd's third consecutive Paralympic Games, the most any Australian athlete with an intellectual impairment has ever competed at. -
Virtus - Our place in the human race
Across the world, there are between 156-250 million people who live with a disability that is not visible. Source: WHO Report on Disability 2011.
Intellectual Impairment knows no boundaries. It cuts across the lines of racial, ethnic, educational, social, and economic backgrounds, and it can occur in any family.
There is a solution - SPORTS.
Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport for 35 years has been on a mission to drive the development of elite sport worldwide for athletes with an intellectual impairment. But, like our athletes, Virtus has been invisible, mainly making a visible global impact every four years during the Global Games, which qualifies some ID athletes to compete at Paralympics in Athletics, Swimming, and Table Tennis only.
It's our time, to balance the scales and see millions of people have opportunities and access to sport, advocate for more inclusion of athletes and sports, and change the world for athletes with ID. -
Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Qualifier- Aki Furuya
Aki Furuya from Japan qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is all set to win Japan's first medal in T20 category (Athletics). -
GAEL GEFFROY- Tokyo 2020 Qualifier (Athletics)
French runner Gael Geffroy qualified for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and is looking forward to winning a medal. -
Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Qualifier- Lucas Creange
French Table Tennis player Lucas Creange who qualified for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games spoke to Virtus about his pre-games preparation.
Virtus World Intellectual Impairment Sport, “Virtus” is the brand name of the International 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)