9th Inas World Athletics Championships underway

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The 9th Inas World Athletics Championships began on schedule yesterday, despite the extensive flooding faced by host city Prague (Czech Republic) in recent days.

The first gold went to Ryo Kaneko (Japan) who took the 10,000m title in a time of 33m 15 seconds.

Around 150 athletes representing 22 nations are competing at the event which runs until Saturday.

For results, photos and video of the event, visit the event website.

UPDATED: Statement regarding the Inas World Athletics Championships, Prague, Czech Republic

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Inas is aware of the developing situation in Prague, Czech Republic which is under threat from extensive flooding. The city is due to host the 2013 Inas World Athletics Championships with teams departing for Czech Republic in the coming days.

Inas is in contact with the local organising committee and we will keep you informed of any developments that may affect the safe and successful running of the event. We will take advice from the organisers and any decision regarding the event will be taken as soon as possible.

We advise all teams to check the Inas website (www.inas.org) and the event website (www.prague2013.org) regularly.

Inas extends its best wishes to the people of Prague as it deals with this threat over the coming days.

Update 13.30GMT 4.6.2013

The organisers of the Inas World Athletics Championships have given re-assurance that the venue, hotel and airport are all  unaffected by the ongoing flooding in the centre of Prague, and anticipate that the event will go ahead as planned.

Teams are advised to continue to plan their travel accordingly, but should seek the advice of their own national authorities.

Inas will continue to monitor the situation and liaise with local organisers, and will inform members should there be any change.

Russo elected Inas President

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Jose Amaury Russo of Brazil has been elected the new President of Inas – the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability within the Paralympic movement has confirmed – a role he will take with immediate effect.

He becomes Inas’ first President to be elected from outside of Europe in its 26 year history and will lead the organisation as it builds towards the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.

Russo, 59, was declared the winner in a close election contest with UK nominee Dr Geoff Smedley. He has more than 30 years experience in disability sport, including holding positions with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and ABDEM (the Brazilian member organisation of Inas) and is a Director of ‘Piquesporte’ – a health and fitness facility in Sao Paolo.

As the results were announced he led a number of emotional tributes to former President Dr Bob Price OBE, who steps down after 6 years at the organisations helm. “You have led Inas through some difficult times and achieved so much. I will work hard to build on that success and behalf of all Inas athletes, I wish you well in your retirement”.

Further tributes were paid to Bengt Lindstedt (Sweden) and Michel Chopinaud (France) who also stepped down at this election.

Further appointments included Robyn Smith (Australia) who becomes Vice President, Karon Nicol (UK) and Barry Holman (USA) become Treasurer and Secretary General respectively and Prof. Jan Burns (UK) and Marc Truffaut (France) were re-elected to the posts of Head of Eligibility and Technical Officer.

Dr Bob Price to step down as Inas President

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Dr Bob Price OBE, will this weekend step down as Inas President following completion of two terms of office in which he has overseen the successful re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability into the Paralympic Games.
Price, who has previously held roles including Chairman of the Great Britain National Paralympic Committee, President of the European Paralympic Committee, Chef De Mission of the GB team to 5 Paralympic Games, and is a member of the Paralympic Order, was elected President of Inas in 2007.
His appointment followed seven years of exclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability from Paralympic sport and he immediately set about the task of building a collaboration between Inas – the International Federation for sport for athletes with an intellectual disability – and the International Paralympic Committee.
A joint Inas/IPC working group was soon established which, supported by a team of researchers from universities in Europe and North America, developed a system of classification which brought about a decision in 2009 to re-instate competition for athletes with an intellectual disability in time for the 2012 Paralympic Games. 120 athletes went on to compete in London athletics, swimming and table tennis.
Colleagues within Inas have congratulated Dr Price on his retirement. “Bob’s achievements in disability sport were already significant, but the success he has achieved during his time as Inas President leaves a lasting legacy for all athletes with an intellectual disability across the World”.
Xavier Gonzalez, Chief Executive of the International Paralympic Committee thanked Dr Price for his contribution to the Paralympic movement. “Your leadership has contributed so much, in particular our work on the inclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability in the Games where your vision was key to the success”.
Inas rules allow individuals to hold office for no more than two terms and an election will be held on Sunday (29th April) at the Inas General Assembly in Rio De Janeiro to identify Dr Price’s successor.

Inas delivers Central Americas workshop

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Over the last two days, Inas has been meeting with NPC’s from across the Central Americas area to foster relationships and improve understanding of the athlete eligibility process.

Representatives from a number of NPC’s including hosts Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Panama and Nicaragua participated in the workshop and it is hoped to see greater opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities developing across the region in the future.

Nick Parr, Inas Executive Director talked about Inas’ aims for the future, following the recent publication of its new four year strategic plan, whilst Professor Jan Burns, Inas Head of Eligibility, talked about the process of eligibility.

The workshop followed the conclusion of the 2013 Central American Para-Games in San Jose, Costa Rica and was facilitated by Aimee Poyo – NPC Relations Co-Ordinator for the International Paralympic Committee.

Inas confirm appointments to sport roles

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Inas has today confirmed the appointment of a number of its key sports personnel as it continues to build on the momentum of the recent London Paralympic Games.
The Sport Director roles – all voluntary – are responsible for managing and growing the Inas sport programme over the next four years. The appointments are seen as crucial as Inas seeks to build on the successful re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability in Paralympic sport, and coincides with the publication of the organisations new 4 year strategy.
Nick Parr, Executive Director, explained “Inas has set itself some ambitious targets for the next four years. We particularly want to reach areas of the World where pathways for athletes with an intellectual disability are less well developed and strengthen our sports programme – particularly the Inas Global Games. These appointments are a critical first step and I believe we have some fantastic individuals to lead our sports as we turn our attention to Rio De Janeiro in 2016”
Adam Pine, a former Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer and currently Paralympic High Performance Manager with Swimming Australia has been appointed Sport Director for Swimming, whilst Lorraine Landon – former General Manager, National Teams with Basketball Australia, Chair of the FIBA Women’s Commission and a 2011 inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame – takes the Basketball role.
John Ball, a former Football Development Officer in England has been appointed to a joint role of Sport Director Football/Futsal, whilst Karen Ross – Performance Manager for Tennis Scotland – takes over in Tennis.
And finally, Winston Stubbs (South Africa) will continue in the role of Sport Director for Cricket – a developing sport in the Inas programme – and a role that he has held since 2011.
Each has been tasked with developing a plan for their sport, to grow participation worldwide.
Further appointments in additional sports are due in the coming weeks.

Inas confirm appointments to sport roles

/in /by
Inas has today confirmed the appointment of a number of its key sports personnel as it continues to build on the momentum of the recent London Paralympic Games.
The Sport Director roles – all voluntary – are responsible for managing and growing the Inas sport programme over the next four years. The appointments are seen as crucial as Inas seeks to build on the successful re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability in Paralympic sport, and coincides with the publication of the organisations new 4 year strategy.
Nick Parr, Executive Director, explained “Inas has set itself some ambitious targets for the next four years. We particularly want to reach areas of the World where pathways for athletes with an intellectual disability are less well developed and strengthen our sports programme – particularly the Inas Global Games. These appointments are a critical first step and I believe we have some fantastic individuals to lead our sports as we turn our attention to Rio De Janeiro in 2016”
Adam Pine, a former Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer and currently Paralympic High Performance Manager with Swimming Australia has been appointed Sport Director for Swimming, whilst Lorraine Landon – former General Manager, National Teams with Basketball Australia, Chair of the FIBA Women’s Commission and a 2011 inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame – takes the Basketball role.
John Ball, a former Football Development Officer in England has been appointed to a joint role of Sport Director Football/Futsal, whilst Karen Ross – Performance Manager for Tennis Scotland – takes over in Tennis.
And finally, Winston Stubbs (South Africa) will continue in the role of Sport Director for Cricket – a developing sport in the Inas programme – and a role that he has held since 2011.
Each has been tasked with developing a plan for their sport, to grow participation worldwide.
Further appointments in additional sports are due in the coming weeks.

Inas confirm appointments to sport roles

/in /by
Inas has today confirmed the appointment of a number of its key sports personnel as it continues to build on the momentum of the recent London Paralympic Games.
The Sport Director roles – all voluntary – are responsible for managing and growing the Inas sport programme over the next four years. The appointments are seen as crucial as Inas seeks to build on the successful re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability in Paralympic sport, and coincides with the publication of the organisations new 4 year strategy.
Nick Parr, Executive Director, explained “Inas has set itself some ambitious targets for the next four years. We particularly want to reach areas of the World where pathways for athletes with an intellectual disability are less well developed and strengthen our sports programme – particularly the Inas Global Games. These appointments are a critical first step and I believe we have some fantastic individuals to lead our sports as we turn our attention to Rio De Janeiro in 2016”
Adam Pine, a former Olympic and Commonwealth swimmer and currently Paralympic High Performance Manager with Swimming Australia has been appointed Sport Director for Swimming, whilst Lorraine Landon – former General Manager, National Teams with Basketball Australia, Chair of the FIBA Women’s Commission and a 2011 inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame – takes the Basketball role.
John Ball, a former Football Development Officer in England has been appointed to a joint role of Sport Director Football/Futsal, whilst Karen Ross – Performance Manager for Tennis Scotland – takes over in Tennis.
And finally, Winston Stubbs (South Africa) will continue in the role of Sport Director for Cricket – a developing sport in the Inas programme – and a role that he has held since 2011.
Each has been tasked with developing a plan for their sport, to grow participation worldwide.
Further appointments in additional sports are due in the coming weeks.

PhD opportunity

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The Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences at Canterbury Christchurch University (UK) are looking for a full-time PhD scholarship to work on the project ‘cognitive profiling sporting competence in athletes with intellectual disabilities’ and will support the wider research work overseen by Inas/IPC to develop classification for athletes with an intellectual disability.

For further information visit the university website.

Inas Asia General Assembly

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The 2nd Inas Asia General Assembly will take place in Rio De Janieri, Brazil on 30 April 2013, directly after the 2013 Inas General Assembly.

Motions from nations are requested to submit within one month (by 7 March 2013) for discussion in the Inas Asia General Assembly and for further information please contact David Ip (Secretary General) at secretariat@hksam.org.hk