GG2023 Champion Chen Po-Yen Eyeing For Gold at Paris 2024

/in , , /by

At just eighteen years old, Chen Po-Yen is poised to shine on the global stage as he prepares for his Paralympic Games debut at the Paris 2024. Unlike his peers, this exceptional teenager secured his spot in Paris last year by clinching victory in the II1 Men’s Singles event at the fiercely competitive 2023 Virtus Global Games in Vichy. 

The Global Games 2023 served as the ultimate battleground for elite athletes like Yen, where skill, determination, and unwavering spirit were put to the test. Overcoming many of the ITTF’s top-ranked Class 11 opponents, Yen faced off against Makajew Maciej from Poland in the finals and secured his significant 3-0 victory (11-8, 11-8, 15-13) which secured him a place for Paris 2024.  

The ITTF’s fifth-world rank holder hails from Taiwan and draws strength and support from his close-knit family, including his devoted parents and older sister, who have been unwavering in their encouragement. 

Fortunately, Yen has never allowed his impairment to limit his ambitions, crediting his sister for igniting his passion for table tennis. 

“I developed an interest in sports because my sister used to play table tennis during her childhood. I developed an interest as I watched my sister play from the sidelines. I love table tennis because I think the posture of playing table tennis is quite cool.”   

Chen Po-Yen at GG2023 after winning II1 Single’s match (L) and flaunting his ticket to Paris 2024 (R). Photo credit: T.NGUYEN

Po-Yen received his international eligibility with Virtus in May 2022, which opened doors for him at the international elite para-sports competitions. Driven by a relentless work ethic, Yen dedicates long hours to training in the gym, honing his skills under the guidance of his coach, Wei Chun-Ta. Despite facing challenges in understanding certain tactics, Yen’s determination and perseverance have been unwavering, propelling him towards excellence. 

“Since Chen doesn’t have physical or visual impairments, his regular training is the same as mainstream athletes’, including immediate tactics and physical training. There are no significant differences. However, Po-Yen’s training requires a bit more repeated practice than usual athletes.” said Chen-Po’s coach, Wei Chun-Ta, who has been training him since 2019. 

 “Sometimes he may have some difficulties understanding certain immediate tactics, so he needs to repeatedly practice over and over again until he understands particular tactics,” he further added. 

 Yen acknowledges the pivotal role played by the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee (CTPC) and Virtus in his journey towards success.  

 “I wouldn’t be here today without the significant efforts of the CTPC and Virtus. While CTPC takes care of my daily needs and training, Virtus competitions provide us with an international stage, allowing us, athletes with intellectual impairment to showcase our talents.” 

 Dr. Mu, Ming-Chu, President of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee, who was also the Head of the Delegation for Chinese Taipei at GG2023 was emotional and very excited to witness Yen’s victory at Vichy. 

 “I am very proud of this young boy who is just a high school student. Chen had no specialised training program to train himself but he did his best and achieved this extraordinary result. I am very happy and proud that he qualified for the Paralympic Games in Paris next year.” 

  Yen is looking forward to making his Paralympic debut at Paris 2024.  

 “I’m very happy to represent our country in Paris 2024. I will continue to work hard and bring glory to our country. For me, there are two most competitive players, one is the world’s top-ranked player from Belgium, Florian Von-Acker and one from South Korea, Kim Chang-Gi who could be my biggest rivals in Paris 2024. I’ll strive for the Paralympic Games medal for sure, and I hope I can set an example for young athletes with intellectual impairment.”  

Po-Yen has already etched his name in history, becoming the inaugural male table tennis player to qualify directly from the Virtus Global Games for the Paralympic Games. Additionally, he holds the distinction of being Taiwan’s first representative ever in the Class 11 category at the Paralympic Games. Po-Yen seized a gold in men’s singles and a silver in mixed doubles at the Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2023 too.

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Chen Po-Yen’s journey Visible. 

Watch the highlights of the Women’s II1 finals from GG2023. 

 View the Paris 2024 Para Table Tennis schedule. 

What is Intellectual Impairment? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control. 

Paralympian Jessica-Jane Applegate on winning gold and being told she doesn’t look disabled enough

/in , , /by

Virtus Ambassador Jessica-Jane Applegate was recently spotted on the cover page of the UK’s ‘Big Issue Learning Disability Week edition, “Do You See Me?” The magazine was created in association with @mencap, by people with an intellectual impairment to help illustrate what they go through, celebrate their vital place in society, and present an edition from their perspective as they wanted it built.

Do you see me? cover page by ‘The Big Issue’

Jessica-Jane Applegate is a swimming sensation who has captivated audiences with her remarkable achievements. At just 16, she won a gold medal for the UK, setting a Paralympic record in the 200m freestyle at the London 2012 Games. Four years later, she competed in the Rio Paralympics, earning silver and bronze medals, and in Tokyo 2021, she won gold in the relay and two bronze medals for freestyle and backstroke. Now aged 27, Jessica-Jane, who started swimming at a young age following her autism diagnosis, aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

Speaking in the article, Jessica-Jane said “I love winning medals because it makes me feel like all the hard training and work that I’ve put in has paid off. My favourite is gold. I love coming first,” she says, reflecting on her journey.

Jessica-Jane’s dedication to her sport is evident in her rigorous training schedule. “My training regime is really busy. I train every day except Sunday. I am in the pool once a day, sometimes twice, and I go to the gym. But I love the routine and I have been doing it for 12 years now,” she explains.

Growing up, Jessica-Jane struggled with excess energy and a lack of concentration.

“I’d tried different things, but they were more group activities and I didn’t communicate well. My mum took me to the special needs swim school, where my teachers were really understanding and I didn’t need to interact with anyone else, just swim,” she recalls.

The water has always been a place of solace for her. “I love being somewhere I can be me. It is somewhere I fit in, and I love the sound of water. It’s peaceful underwater and I feel safe away from the rest of the world,” she says.

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Jessica-Jane faces challenges due to her hidden disabilities.

“I have a learning disability with multiple health conditions, but you can’t see them. I wish the world was more inclusive for people with unseen disabilities,” she shares.

She recounts a viral TikTok video of her swimming during lockdown, where people commented, “What’s wrong with you? Broken an eyelash?” highlighting the ignorance she often encounters.

“Sponsorship is so much harder when you have a hidden disability. I’ve literally been told by brands that having a learning disability doesn’t fit their criteria at the time of the Paralympics. They want someone who looks obviously disabled so that people don’t question them or say, ‘there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with them,” she reveals. She even had a brand ask her, “Do you know anyone who looks more disabled than you who we could use for a TV advert?”

To others with learning disabilities, Jessica-Jane offers this advice: “You should not let anyone tell you that you can’t go for your dreams. They are your dreams and, as long as you enjoy it, then you should go for it.”

Many athletes with intellectual impairment go through similar issues like Jessica-Jane and Virtus Sport is on a mission to raise more awareness of intellectual impairment and elite sporting opportunities for the same group.

We want to congratulate Big Issue magazine for focussing on this important issue.

As the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics approach, taking place from August 28 to September 8, Virtus Sport has launched #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE to celebrate athletes with intellectual impairments and autism who will be competing at the upcoming Paralympic Games- Paris 2024 across three sports Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis. #

#MakingInvisibleVISIBLE’ will: 

  • Leverage the platform of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games to raise awareness about intellectual impairments and make the invisible impairment ‘VISIBLE’.
  • Challenge societal stereotypes surrounding individuals/athletes with intellectual impairments and/or autism. 
  • Encourage people to recognize the exceptional abilities of athletes beyond their impairments. 

From Classroom Challenges to Athletic Triumph: Samuel Oliveira’s Road from GG2019 to Paris 2024

/in , , /by

As the world gears up for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, all eyes are on Samuel Oliveira, a promising athlete hailing from São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo. On his way to making his Paralympic debut, Samuel’s journey to the global stage is a testament to resilience, determination, and unwavering support. 

“My mother and sister always motivated me in athletics and didn’t allow me to give up. They always motivated me in athletics and didn’t allow me to give up, always cheering They vibrated with my achievements and were by my side pushing me to improve more and more. ” Samuel recalls fondly, reflecting on the pivotal role his family played in nurturing his athletic aspirations.  

Growing up in Mauá, São Paulo, Samuel’s journey to athletic stardom came along with a lot of childhood struggles due to his impairment in school. 

“The school period certainly marked me a lot, I was very well known in the schools where I studied for my agitated behaviour, I had a lot of difficulties concentrating and school was not interesting to me, so I wanted to run and play with my classmates until I received the diagnosis I was labelled as a difficult and undisciplined student which earned me several complaints and many trips from my mother to the school board. At this time I was referred for treatment with psychologists.” It was during this time that Samuel received the diagnosis of an intellectual impairment.  

Shedding light on the challenges he faced, Samuel commented,   

“Intellectual impairment affects my life in many ways. I need more time to learn new things and to perform tasks, I also have difficulty understanding complicated information and remembering important things, I always try to take notes and ask for help from my family in some situations. In training, I often forgot my coach’s instructions, but he has always been understanding with me and teaches me clearly so that I can understand.” 

“Unfortunately, many people do not understand intellectual impairment, think it is laziness and sometimes even doubt our abilities. People must understand that we athletes with intellectual impairment also have our limitations and that being in sports is sometimes a great personal overcoming, it is where we can see that we are in fact capable,” he further added.  

Samuel was always motivated to play sports in childhood as he was tall and very energetic, he practised soccer, volleyball, swimming and basketball, but it was through his friend who was a discus thrower, that he got to know about athletics and fell in love with the sport.  

“Athletics is my great passion and challenging my limits brings me a sense of freedom and personal improvement. I can see my progress with each test and see how much I’m able to accomplish my goals. How much I can achieve my goals on the track and in life, is to show especially to myself that even though I have my limitations due to my impairment, I can fly higher and higher.“ 

Samuel received his international eligibility with Virtus in May 2019, which opened doors for him at the international para-sports competitions. Reflecting on his international success, Samuel recalls his first medal, gold in the Men’s II1 Triple jump at the 2019 Virtus Global Games in Brisbane with particular fondness.  

“It was my first international trip, and I never imagined representing my country in a global competition. It was there, at GG2019 that I realised that I could reach higher places and do something great.” 

 

Samuel Oliveira thrashing WR in T20 400m at Santiago 2023. Photo Credit: NPC Brazil

Samuel shattered the 400m WR at Santiago 2024 Parapan American Games, Santiago and mesmerised everyone. Samuel’s journey in athletics has been marked by perseverance and dedication. From battling injuries to overcoming the distance between his home and the track, Samuel’s determination knows no bounds.  

“Paris this year will be the fulfilment of a great dream, I hope to surpass my mark and bring this achievement to Brazil,” he shares. 

As Samuel prepares to take on the world’s best in Paris, his message to aspiring athletes is one of hope and resilience.  

“Never give up, even if you encounter challenges along the way, don’t stop, because one day you will make your dreams come true.” 

With each stride on the track, Samuel Oliveira embodies the spirit of determination and perseverance, inspiring generations of athletes to chase their dreams against all odds. As Paris beckons, Samuel stands as a beacon of hope, ready to leave a legacy of overcoming and motivation for future runners to follow.  

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Samuel’s journey Visible.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control. 

 

2024 Virtus European Athletics Championship Concludes At Uppsala

/in , /by

The 2024 Virtus European Athletics Championship was declared open on 13th June at Uppsala Athletics Arena, Sweden. Uppsala Athletics Arena was buzzing with anticipation and enthusiastic athletes tried their luck at their respective events for the past three days. Numerous athletes set new world records, showcasing their exceptional talent and hard work.

New World Records at Uppsala 2024

  1. In the Women’s II1 100m hurdles, Karolina Kucharczyk from Poland broke the world record with a personal best time of 14.32 seconds.
  2. Maksym Koval from Ukraine broke the world record in the Men’s II1 Discus Throw with a personal best of 49.87 meters.
  3. The Polish team, consisting of Jan Wolczko, Dominik Ulatowski, Antoni Wiercioch, and Mikołaj Woźniak, set a new world record in the Men’s II2 4x100m relay with a time of 1:03.95.
  4. In the Men’s II3 100m, Federico Cabizza from Italy set a new world record with a personal best time of 11.39 seconds.
  5. In Women’s II3 100m, Agnese Spotorno (ITA) set a new world record with 14.76 seconds.
  6. In the Women’s II3 400m, Agnese Spotorno from Italy set a new world record with a seasonal best time of 1:09.52.
  7. In the Women’s II3 Long jump, Agnese Spotorno (ITS) once again set another world record by covering 3.86m.
  8. In the Men’s II3 800m event saw a remarkable performance by Luca Venturelli from Italy. He set a new world record with a seasonal best time of 2:04.77.

Best team and athlete

Best team award winners

In the Men’s II1 team competition, Portugal secured first place with 115 points, followed by Spain with 106 points, and Ukraine with 96 points. In the Women’s II1 team competition, Turkey claimed first place with 97 points, Ukraine came in second with 64 points, and Poland took third place with 53 points.

Ukraine’s Maksym Koval and Poland’s Karolina Kucharczyk won the best male and female award.

Full results can be accessed from the Virtus results page.

Vacancy: Sport & Competition Manager

/in , , /by

Virtus is seeking a passionate and motivated sport leader to manage out global sport and competition programme – delivering exceptional events and driving growth and participation. Working closely with our membership, voluntary team and wider partners in sport, this is a rare opportunity to shape sport worldwide for the 2-3% of people who have an intellectual impairment.

This is a demanding role overseeing a diverse programme of more than 17 sports and the right candidate will have a flair for working with multiple stakeholders to achieve success.

Closing date: 10th July 2024

Interview date: 18-19 July 2024

Start date: September 2024

To apply, please use the online form. Recruitment companies are kindly asked not to contact Virtus as further adverts will not be placed.

Two New World Record And One Championship Record Set At Kobe 2024

/in , /by

The World Para Athletics Championship in Kobe, Japan brought numerous celebratory moments for the Virtus family. Athletes with intellectual impairment once again commanded attention in various T20 and F20 events.

A thrilling race unfolded in the T20 Women’s 400m event featuring Deepthi Jeevanji from India and Aysel Onder from Turkey. Both athletes showcased their top form, but Deepthi claimed the championship title by a razor-thin margin, also setting a new world record with an impressive time of 55.07 seconds. Deepthi made history as the first athlete with intellectual impairment to secure a Gold medal for India.

Deepthi Jeevanji from India on the left and winners of T20 Women’s 400m on the right. Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

In the same event, Aysel Onder secured the silver medal with a commendable time of 55.19 sec, closely tailing Jeevanji in an exhilarating contest. Lizanshela Angulo from Ecuador clinched the bronze medal with a time of 56.68 sec, intensifying the event with a remarkable performance.

Sabrina Fortune of Great Britain dominated the Women’s F20 shot put event, not only clinching the gold but also setting a new world record with an astounding throw of 14.73m, showcasing her exceptional talent and dominance in the sport. Poleth Mendes of Ecuador secured the silver medal with a commendable throw of 13.90m, while Aleksandra Zaitseva (NPA) claimed the bronze with a distance of 13.01m, contributing to the competitive spirit of the event.

Poleth Mendes (ECU), Sabrina Fortune (GBR) and Aleksandra Zaitseva (NPA). Winner of F20 Women’s Shot-Put. Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

Brazil showcased prowess in the Women’s F20 Long Jump, with Zuleide Cassiano Silva securing the gold medal with a phenomenal leap of 5.80m. Debora Oliveira De Lima clinched the silver, adding to the nation’s glory with her impressive jump of 5.54m. Fatma Damla Altin earned the bronze for Turkey, soaring to a distance of 5.43m.

Winner of F20 Men’s Shot Put (left) and F20 Women’s Long Jump (right). Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli from Malaysia emerged victorious in the F20 Men’s shot put event, winning the gold medal with an impressive throw of 17.43 meters. Shane Luka Meissonnier (FRA) claimed the silver medal, while Jordi Patricio Congo Villalba from Ecuador secured the bronze.

Winners of T20 Women’s 1500m, Ilona Biacsi (HUN), Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac (POL) and Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros (BRA). Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

Poland’s Golden Basia once again shines and adds another title to her tally. Multiple-time Virtus Global Games Champion and Four-time Paralympic Champion, Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac wins gold at T20 1500m with a new championship record of 4:27.36 sec. Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros (BRA) secured silver while Ilona Biacsi (HUN) settled for bronze in the same event.

Poland’s Barbara Bieganowska-Zajac won gold at T20 1500m with a new championship record of 4:27.36 sec. Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros (BRA) secured silver while Ilona Biacsi (HUN) settled for bronze in the same event.

Winners of T20 Men’s 1500m event, Sandro Baessa (POR), Michael Brannigan (USA) and Yuji Togawa (JPN). Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

Paralympic title-holder Michael Brannigan of the USA clinched the top spot, clocking in at an impressive 3:51.71 sec, establishing a fresh championship record in the T20 Men’s 1500m competition. Sandro Baessa from Portugal secured the second position, finishing the race in 3:55.84 sec, earning the silver medal. Meanwhile, Yuji Togawa from Japan secured the third spot, completing the race in 3:55.94 sec to claim the bronze medal.
Brazil’s rising star Samuel Oliveira (BRA) once again snatched the gold medal in the T20 Men’s 400m race from his fellow teammates by microseconds. Samuel clocked an impressive time of 47.73 sec and defeated Ecuador’s John Sebastian Obando Asprilla (47.84 sec). Muhammad Ammar Amman Nor Azim (MAS) closely followed them winning the bronze medal with a time of 48.16 sec.

Winners from Men’s T20 400m (left) and T20 Long Jump (left). Photo Credit: Kobe 2024

Two-time Paralympic Champion and multiple-time World Champion, Abdul Latif Romly from Malaysia stayed undefeated and secured another World title in T20 Long Jump. Romly covered a distance of 7.30m and defeated Ecuador’s Roberto Carlos Chala Espinoza. Jhon Sebastian Obando Asprilla secured the last spot on the podium with 6.84m.
Full results can be accessed from the Kobe 2024 website.
Most of these star athletes will be competing at the upcoming Paralympic Games, Paris 2024. While some will be making their debut appearance, many will be defending their world titles. Virtus wishes luck to all the athletes for their upcoming competition.

Virtus joins 100 Days To Go Celebration for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

/in , , /by

More than 100 athletes with intellectual impairment are gearing up to compete at the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 from 27 August to 8 September across three sports: Athletics (T20 and F20), Swimming (S14) and Table Tennis (Class 11). Virtus is joining the #100DaysToGo countdown for Paris 2024 with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

IPC launch a promotional film for Paris 2024 that challenges the perception versus reality of the Paralympics 

  • Launched on 100 days to go to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the advert celebrates the dedication and competitiveness of Paralympic athletes 
  • IPC makes advert available to all its media rights holders and member organisations for use as part of their pre-Games promotion 

To mark 100 days to go until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has launched a promotional film that addresses the romantic stereotypes of what some people think the Paralympics represent versus the brutal reality of high-performance sport.   

Paul McCartney’s 1984 seminal song We All Stand Together is the soundtrack for the film titled ‘The Paralympic Dream’ which, like the original music video, features stunning animated scenes. 

The advert was developed by the IPC’s advertising agency adam&eveddb. The creative is initially set in a dream-like animated city of Paris where Para athletes run, jump, fence, and paddle, hand-in-hand alongside loveable singing plants and animals.  

However, the animated love-in and song is abruptly interrupted with the harsh realism of Paralympic sport as British Paralympic taekwondo athlete Amy Truesdale is kicked in the chest and crashes to the mat.  

As Amy climbs back to her feet and lands a blow on her opponent, the advert cuts to a stunning montage of outstanding sporting action from previous Paralympic Games. 

The film is being made available to the IPC’s media rights holders and members organisations to support their promotion of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. 

Craig Spence, the IPC’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, said:

“With our Paris 2024 Paralympic promotional film we wanted to challenge the perceptions and stereotypes some people have of the Paralympic Games in the most fun and creative way possible.  

“For some, the Paralympics is an idyllic event where the athletes are carefree and just happy to be there. The truth is that Paralympic sport is highly competitive and, at times, pretty brutal. To compete at the Paralympics, you have to be a world-class high-performance athlete and we show this in the film through fast-paced sporting action. 

“We created this film because we are aiming for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to attract record TV audiences and massive crowds of spectators. This film will be used by Media Rights Holders and IPC member organisations to engage new audiences in what will be spectacular and historical Paralympic Games this summer.” 

adam&eveDDB chose the Paul McCartney track for the advert because it has a loveable childlike quality that perfectly matches the idealistic world they were trying to create and then jolts them out of it in the most memorable way possible. 

Virtus sanctioned National Open Athletics in Yaoundé, Cameroon

/in , /by

From April 23 to 27, 2024, Yaoundé played host to an event aimed at fostering the development of sports for athletes with intellectual impairment across Africa. This competition marked a significant step forward as Africa strives for the first participation of athletes with intellectual impairment at the Paralympic Games.

Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon were the two countries that participated in this groundbreaking event. Kicking off on April 23, athletes from Equatorial Guinea underwent psychometric tests, setting the stage for two days of thrilling competitions at the Ahmadou Ahidjo Omnisports Stadium in Yaoundé.

The heart of the event revolved around sprint races and short middle-distance races, including the 100m, 200m, and 400m for both men and women, as well as the 800m for women and 1500m for young athletes. Additionally, there were competitions in shot put and long jump for both genders.

In a fantastic atmosphere, athletes showcased their talents, displaying remarkable improvements in their performances. There was a palpable sense of determination in every series, the competition was a testament to the athletes’ dedication and resilience.

“This event’s impact reverberates far beyond Yaoundé. With the dream of seeing sports for the athletes with an intellectual impairment flourish in Africa, we extend our hand to African nations, Virtus leaders, and the International Paralympic Committee. Together, we can make this dream a reality,” said Jean-Marie Aleokol, President of Virtus Cameroon.

Adding to the spectacle, the National Institute of Youth and Sports in Yaoundé brought a special audience to enliven the ceremonies, while captivating choreographies adorned the opening ceremony.

As medals were distributed and champions celebrated, the event underscored the growing importance of sports for athlete with an intellectual disability in Africa. It is a beacon of hope for the future, signalling the possibility of greater participation in the Virtus Global Games and the Paralympic Games.

First Ever Virtus Judo Training Camp Concludes in Japan

/in , /by

For the past two weeks, Japan has been the epicentre of a groundbreaking training camp, bringing together judoka from Japan, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Australia. Hosted at Nihon Bunka University by the Virtus Judo Committee members, Rudi Verhagen (NED) and Tomoo Hamana (JPN), this camp aimed to foster camaraderie, share knowledge, and enhance skills among judoka of all backgrounds, including all three Virtus eligibility classes, II1-II2-II3 and mainstream categories.

The camp kicked off with a bang as Norway’s Stale Wikadahl and Australia’s Lewis Willing led the first of four sessions, focusing on technical groundwork and standing techniques. Participants had the opportunity to learn from world-class instructors, exchange insights, and forge new friendships.

As the camp progressed, sessions were led by renowned coaches Rudi Verhagen from the Netherlands and Tomoo Hamana from Japan. Each session delivered valuable lessons and techniques that enhanced the participants’ judo skills and understanding.

The end-of-camp sessions were led by Tomoo Hamana in the morning, followed by Great Britain’s Kerry Tansey and Laurie Rush delivering the final session. With a diverse range of coaches and perspectives, participants are poised to gain a comprehensive understanding of judo principles and strategies.

The highlight of the camp’s finale was a friendly groundwork (newaza) tournament, where judoka from all countries competed for pride and recognition. Regardless of the outcome, every participant received a medal and certificate, symbolizing their dedication and participation in this remarkable event.

‘It’s been a great experience for our judoka, current and developing II judoka to catch up, make new friends and embrace the culture looking forward to and planning their next adventure. Thank you to Mr Hamana & Rudi Verhagen for planning and hosting this great opportunity for our athletes to experience a performance training environment of this capacity.” said Kerry Tansey, Virtus Judo director.
“This is the first training camp that has been organised in any Asian country. The Virtus Judo committee is considering more such types of camps in the future across the world. There is a potential development of working relationships with the European Judo Union creating and showcasing judo for athletes with intellectual impairment at its best”

As the camp draws to a close, participants look forward to the final leg of their journey—a visit to the hallowed grounds of Judo, The Kodokan. With memories made, friendships forged, and skills honed, judoka departs Japan with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ready to conquer new challenges on the tatami and beyond.