Official launch of 2015 Inas Global Games

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The city of Guayaquil, Ecuador today officially marked the launch of the
2015 Inas Global Games – the worlds largest event for elite athletes with an intellectual disability.

Organising Committee President Juan Carlos Araujo spoke of the incredible opportunity that hosting the Games offers Ecuador and the South American region whilst Amaury Russo, President of Inas, predicted that this will be the best Global Games ever.

The 4th edition of the event is expected to attract 1000 athletes in 9 sports.

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Zlatan Ibrahimović becomes ambassador for Swedish Inas football team

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Fotboll, Sverige A, träningSweden will compete in the Inas Football World Cup this summer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, thanks to the support of Swedish national team captain Zlatan Ibrahimović.

“When I heard the story about the Swedish learning disabilities national team (or The Unknown Swedes as they call themselves), I decided to make sure they would experience something that has eluded me, namely a World Cup in Brazil!”

By finishing fifth in the 2012 European Championships, which were held on home soil in Gavle, the Swedish national team for players with an intellectual disability qualified for the 2014 Inas Football World Cup.

However, the success of qualifying was immediately followed by the challenge of financing the adventure. The team manager, Stefan Jonsson, together with Torbjörn Östergren, is the driving force behind the team. “The chance of competing in a World Cup in Brazil is too good an opportunity to miss, but we are called The Unknown Swedes for a reason,” Jonsson explains. “Our team rarely, if ever, get any recognition and we are always struggling to survive financially. We speak regularly with the founder of the now internationally renowned Glada Hudik (aka Happy Hudik) theatre, Pär Johansson, and are grateful for all the support and advice we get from him and others, but they cannot solve all of our problems.

Fotboll, Sverige A, träning“One of the fundraising activities we decided to arrange to raise money to offset the extra costs involved in competing in a World Cup was an auction of football memorabilia. Several players from the Swedish national team, including Andreas Isaksson, Per Nilsson, Johan Elmander and Kim Källström, contributed immediately with signed football boots and shirts.”

When Zlatan was asked by Paul Balsom, one of the national teams coaches, if he could contribute to the auction, he immediately replied: “Tell The Unknown Swedes that I can guarantee that they will be going to Brazil.”

Zlatan explains: “Football is a game for everyone, with or without any form of disability. When we failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, I was deeply disappointed, but when I heard about The Unknown Swedes I said to myself that I would do all that I could to help them experience their own World Cup in Brazil. It was as simple as that. Now, at least, I can experience a World Cup in Brazil through them.”

Jonsson is delighted, if a little overwhelmed: “It’s unbelievable, incredible, fantastic. I still have to pinch myself to believe it’s true. Thanks to Zlatan a life-long dream will soon become reality for all of us involved.”

The Inas Football World Cup takes place in Sao Paolo in August. Sweden, France, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Poland are the teams expected to compete.

 

Zlatan Ibrahimović becomes ambassador for Swedish Inas football team

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Fotboll, Sverige A, träningSweden will compete in the Inas Football World Cup this summer in Sao Paulo, Brazil, thanks to the support of Swedish national team captain Zlatan Ibrahimović.

“When I heard the story about the Swedish learning disabilities national team (or The Unknown Swedes as they call themselves), I decided to make sure they would experience something that has eluded me, namely a World Cup in Brazil!”

By finishing fifth in the 2012 European Championships, which were held on home soil in Gavle, the Swedish national team for players with an intellectual disability qualified for the 2014 Inas Football World Cup.

However, the success of qualifying was immediately followed by the challenge of financing the adventure. The team manager, Stefan Jonsson, together with Torbjörn Östergren, is the driving force behind the team. “The chance of competing in a World Cup in Brazil is too good an opportunity to miss, but we are called The Unknown Swedes for a reason,” Jonsson explains. “Our team rarely, if ever, get any recognition and we are always struggling to survive financially. We speak regularly with the founder of the now internationally renowned Glada Hudik (aka Happy Hudik) theatre, Pär Johansson, and are grateful for all the support and advice we get from him and others, but they cannot solve all of our problems.

Fotboll, Sverige A, träning“One of the fundraising activities we decided to arrange to raise money to offset the extra costs involved in competing in a World Cup was an auction of football memorabilia. Several players from the Swedish national team, including Andreas Isaksson, Per Nilsson, Johan Elmander and Kim Källström, contributed immediately with signed football boots and shirts.”

When Zlatan was asked by Paul Balsom, one of the national teams coaches, if he could contribute to the auction, he immediately replied: “Tell The Unknown Swedes that I can guarantee that they will be going to Brazil.”

Zlatan explains: “Football is a game for everyone, with or without any form of disability. When we failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, I was deeply disappointed, but when I heard about The Unknown Swedes I said to myself that I would do all that I could to help them experience their own World Cup in Brazil. It was as simple as that. Now, at least, I can experience a World Cup in Brazil through them.”

Jonsson is delighted, if a little overwhelmed: “It’s unbelievable, incredible, fantastic. I still have to pinch myself to believe it’s true. Thanks to Zlatan a life-long dream will soon become reality for all of us involved.”

The Inas Football World Cup takes place in Sao Paolo in August. Sweden, France, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, Germany and Poland are the teams expected to compete.

 

Inas delivers successful workshop in Africa

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Inas this week delivered a workshop for representatives from national sports organisations across Africa. The workshop was designed to help promote sport for athletes with an intellectual disability and encourage greater competition opportunities.

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More than 40 delegates received presentations on topics including eligibility and classification of athletes and an overview of the Inas sport and competition programme. The event was hosted by FECASDI – the Federation Camerounaise Des Sports Pour Deficients Intellectuals – in Yaounde, Cameroon.

President, Amaury Russo thanked the delegates saying “Inas has set itself a target to grow its activities in areas such as Africa. I am delighted by the enthusiasm and ideas to promote sport for athletes with an intellectual disability, and very much hope to see out first Inas Africa Regional events taking place soon”.

The project was funded by a grant from the Agitos Foundation (set up by the International Paralympic Committee and it is hoped that through the project, Inas can establish new and sustainable links across Africa which will see more athletes with an intellectual competing in Inas and Paralympic sport. Although 120 athletes within the classification group competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games – none represented African nations – something Inas wishes to see change in 2016.

Inas delivers successful workshop in Africa

/in /by

Inas this week delivered a workshop for representatives from national sports organisations across Africa. The workshop was designed to help promote sport for athletes with an intellectual disability and encourage greater competition opportunities.

IMG_1029

More than 40 delegates received presentations on topics including eligibility and classification of athletes and an overview of the Inas sport and competition programme. The event was hosted by FECASDI – the Federation Camerounaise Des Sports Pour Deficients Intellectuals – in Yaounde, Cameroon.

President, Amaury Russo thanked the delegates saying “Inas has set itself a target to grow its activities in areas such as Africa. I am delighted by the enthusiasm and ideas to promote sport for athletes with an intellectual disability, and very much hope to see out first Inas Africa Regional events taking place soon”.

The project was funded by a grant from the Agitos Foundation (set up by the International Paralympic Committee and it is hoped that through the project, Inas can establish new and sustainable links across Africa which will see more athletes with an intellectual competing in Inas and Paralympic sport. Although 120 athletes within the classification group competed at the London 2012 Paralympic Games – none represented African nations – something Inas wishes to see change in 2016.

Ecuador celebrations mark 500 days to 2015 Inas Global Games

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There were celebrations this week in Ecuador to mark 500 days until the opening ceremony of the 2015 Inas Global Games which take place in the city of Guayaquil.

To mark the event, the Games entry information has been published.

Screen Shot 2014-05-10 at 22.07.24The 2015 Games are the fourth edition of the Inas Global Games and will include nine sports: athletics, basketball, cycling, futsal, rowing, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, and tennis table.

Juan Carlos Araujo, President of Paralympic Sport Club Primos y Primas expressed great joy how preparations for the event have been growing, and he also explained in detail how Guayaquil 2015 Global Games will offer a great opportunity not only for para-athletes to show their skills but also to Ecuador to show internationally its tourism.

The celebration took place in the presence of Ecuadorian athletes, swimmers Jéssica Lalama and Jorge Luis Jaime.

page1image14224page1image14384Next month, the second site visit will take place including the President, Secretary General and Executive Director of Inas and will include meetings with local dignitaries, Games Organisers and supporters and Arq. Pierina Correa, President of Guayas Sport Federation, Hostess of Guayaquil 2015.

Inas launches process to find 2019 Global Games hosts

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opening ceremony 2011Inas has today launched the bidding process to find the hosts of the 2019 Inas Global Games.

The Global Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with an intellectual disability and take place every four years. The 2019 event will be the 5th edition of the Games, and will follow Guayaquil, Ecuador who will host the 2015 Global Games in approximately 18 months time.

By beginning the bid process much earlier, it is hoped that nations will have much greater time to consider and prepare a bid, and much greater time for the winning host to plan and organise this prestigious event, reflecting the growing size, status and standard of the Games.

The bidding process will culminate next April when the winning host will be announced at the 2015 Inas General Assembly – enabling the winning nation to attend the 2015 Global Games in Ecuador as observers – and providing a full four-years to organise and deliver the 2019 event.

Full details about the bid process for the Games will be available on the Inas website at www.inas.org/technical/inas-global-games/ from today. Please note that any nation who is interested in bidding should submit the expression of interest no later than 30th September 2014 and the deadline for full bids is strictly 31st January 2015.

Inas launches process to find 2019 Global Games hosts

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opening ceremony 2011Inas has today launched the bidding process to find the hosts of the 2019 Inas Global Games.

The Global Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with an intellectual disability and take place every four years. The 2019 event will be the 5th edition of the Games, and will follow Guayaquil, Ecuador who will host the 2015 Global Games in approximately 18 months time.

By beginning the bid process much earlier, it is hoped that nations will have much greater time to consider and prepare a bid, and much greater time for the winning host to plan and organise this prestigious event, reflecting the growing size, status and standard of the Games.

The bidding process will culminate next April when the winning host will be announced at the 2015 Inas General Assembly – enabling the winning nation to attend the 2015 Global Games in Ecuador as observers – and providing a full four-years to organise and deliver the 2019 event.

Full details about the bid process for the Games will be available on the Inas website at www.inas.org/technical/inas-global-games/ from today. Please note that any nation who is interested in bidding should submit the expression of interest no later than 30th September 2014 and the deadline for full bids is strictly 31st January 2015.

International Relations Officer appointed to 2015 Inas Global Games

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2015 global gamesThe Organising Committee for the 2015 Inas Global Games has announced the appointment of Sarah Price (UK) as their International Relations Officer, with immediate effect.

Sarah will assume responsibility for all communication between the Organising Committee and Inas members.

Sarah’s first language is English, but she also speaks fluent Spanish, having lived and worked in Ecuador and in Chile. She has previously worked as a translator/interpreter for Inas and is a qualified Spanish and French teacher with some knowledge of Portuguese and she holds a BA Hons degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Sarah has worked with young people with intellectual disabilities both in a specialist college and in employment services. She is an active, sporty person and at weekends she coaches minis rugby.

“I’m very excited about the appointment, and really looking forward to contributing to what promises to be a truly fantastic event.”

President of the Organising Committee in Guayaquil, Juan Carlos Araujo, added “I am delighted that Sarah has accepted this position. Her fluency in English and Spanish, her familiarity with Latin American culture and her knowledge of Inas together make her an invaluable addition to the Organising Committee”.

Sarah will be based in the UK and can be contacted at global.games@inas.org

International Relations Officer appointed to 2015 Inas Global Games

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2015 global gamesThe Organising Committee for the 2015 Inas Global Games has announced the appointment of Sarah Price (UK) as their International Relations Officer, with immediate effect.

Sarah will assume responsibility for all communication between the Organising Committee and Inas members.

Sarah’s first language is English, but she also speaks fluent Spanish, having lived and worked in Ecuador and in Chile. She has previously worked as a translator/interpreter for Inas and is a qualified Spanish and French teacher with some knowledge of Portuguese and she holds a BA Hons degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Sarah has worked with young people with intellectual disabilities both in a specialist college and in employment services. She is an active, sporty person and at weekends she coaches minis rugby.

“I’m very excited about the appointment, and really looking forward to contributing to what promises to be a truly fantastic event.”

President of the Organising Committee in Guayaquil, Juan Carlos Araujo, added “I am delighted that Sarah has accepted this position. Her fluency in English and Spanish, her familiarity with Latin American culture and her knowledge of Inas together make her an invaluable addition to the Organising Committee”.

Sarah will be based in the UK and can be contacted at global.games@inas.org