The 2011 Inas Conference and General Assembly closed in Canberra, Australia on Sunday following 2 days of debate, discussion and planning.

Dr Bob Price was elected to serve a further term as President, whilst Karon Nicol (Secretary General), Michel Chopinaud (Treasurer) and Professor Jan Burns (Head of Eligibility) were each returned to serve in the new Executive.

All presentations and papers are now available on the Inas website and a summary of key decisions will be sent to Inas members shortly.

As well as representing Inas 25th anniversary, the weekend also marked the retirement of Marie Little OAM who has supported Inas since its inception, most recently as President of the Asia/South Pacific region. Paying tribute, Dr Bob Price thanked Marie for all her efforts over the years. Meanwhile, Inas Honorary President Mr Bernard Atha, sent a personal message of appreciation for Marie’s efforts to develop sport for athletes with an intellectual disability over so many years.

The bidding process for the 2013 Conference and General Assembly will begin shortly and member nations will be notified when the process commences later this year.

This is the final week for delegates to register their attendance at the 2011 Inas Conference and General Assembly which takes place in Canberra, Australia next month.

The conference will provide updates on sports classification and doping control together with a chance to help shape future sports policy and the discuss the future direction of the organisation.

The general assembly is the ‘members’ meeting where the Federations biennial report and accounts will be presented, and elections will be held for a number of important posts.

You can find further information here.

Registration for the event closes on 25th March 2011.

Athletes have begun to arrive in Helsinki, Finland today in preparation for the 2011 Inas Open European Indoor Athletics Championships which take place this weekend.

More than 80 athletes representing 14 nations will participate in the event, which is organised by the Finnish Sports Association of Persons with Disabilities in partnership with Helsingin Kisa-Veikot sports club

The event begins with the Opening Ceremony on Friday 18^th March at 10 am and the competition then runs until 20th March.

Hannele Pöysti, Event Manager, says “The athletes will receive a very warm welcome in Finland for the next few days! On behalf of the organising committee I wish all the athletes an unforgettable time”

Daily results updates can be found on the Inas website or at www.helsinginkisaveikot.fi

Inas and FISDIR (organisers) are pleased to announce that Indoor Rowing has been added to the programme of the 3rd Global Games which takes place in Italy later this year. The event will comprise the 3rd World Championships and is in addition to the water-rowing event which takes place as a demonstration sport.

Further information and entry can be made at the Global Games website.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), led by its President Sir Philip Craven, has said it is ‘utterly disgusted’ by comments made by ‘broadcaster’ Michael Laws on New Zealand based RadioLive and called for the radio station to terminate his employment.

During his show last Friday the broadcaster, who has a reputation for provocative comments, described sports for people with a disability as ‘ludicrous’.  He also claimed it was ‘crazy’ that Para-athletics should be eligible for New Zealand’s Halberg Awards which recognize top sporting achievements before adding “If you have had your legs chopped off, you shouldn’t be in there at all.”

He later questioned the competition levels of Paralympic Sport by adding: “The fact that a guy was able to fall down, get up again and still win, shows that there wasn’t really a lot of competition in his field was there.”

After hearing about his comments Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “I speak on behalf of the whole Paralympic Movement when I say that I am utterly disgusted at what this individual said.

“This person has a history for ill-advised comments and actions and now he has stooped to a new pathetic low.

“His derogatory comments are an insult to all athletes within the Paralympic Movement who train for long hours each day to compete at the highest level.

“To say there is not a lot of competition in Paralympic Sport is pure ignorance.  It’s a real shame that he couldn’t attend the recent IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch.

“In the Men’s 100m T44 for example just 0.09 seconds separated the top four finishers – now most people would class that as excellent competition.

“What is equally disappointing is that his employers RadioWorks are standing by him claiming to have not received any complaints.

“I will be writing to them together with the New Zealand Broadcasting Standards Agency to highlight my disgust at this individual’s comment and I urge others to do the same.

“His comments have absolutely no place in society, and his employer should do the responsible thing and remove the platform they currently give him to air his archaic and mindless views.

“I would also urge listeners and advertisers to boycott the station. No-one should have to hear this foolish man’s polluted comments ever again.”

Anyone wishing to make a complaint regarding Michael Law’s comments should contact the Media Works website – www.mediaworks.co.nz/Default.aspx?tabid=267