In her third year at university, Kae Kurahashi suffered a cervical spinal cord injury in an accident while trampolining. She later got to know about wheelchair rugby at the Independence Support Centre, and, at the age of 26, she received her first call to Japan;s team selection camp and was selected for Japan for the first time. Kurahashi was the first woman to be selected for Japan and was a member of the winning team at the 2018 World Championships. Her fearless and courageous play makes her one of the strongest players within Japan’s strongest lineup.
Favourite athlete: None iPhone or Android? Android Twitter or Instagram? Instagram. It’s interesting to see what my friends post. Cats or dogs? I cannot choose as I love them both! Last country visited: USA Favourite world landmark: Eiffel Tower Favourite cartoon character: Miffy Favourite superhero: Sailor Moon
Beach or mountains? Mountains. I feel like I want to breathe in a lot of good air. Favourite Actor / Actress? None Favourite all time movie: My Neighbor Totoro Favourite sporting team: Hanshin Tigers (Japanese professional baseball team)
Favourite athlete: None
Most used app: LINE Last app you downloaded: Animal Tower Battle Favourite video game: Super Mario Kart
Favourite snack: Kelp, plum paste called Umeneri, gummi
Highlight of your sporting career? Now Favourite subject in school: Physical Education What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Enjoy
If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Tom. Dog that already passed away as I could not meet at the last moment.
Chuck has been a member of the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA) since 2007, when he first joined the St. Louis Spartans. He has been on the US National Wheelchair Rugby team since 2012. Chuck has been a co-captain with the St. Louis team for many years and is also co-captain of the USAWR team for the past five years. He is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer receiving his certificate after passing performance testing and the dreaded written test. Chuck can be seen in the local CrossFit gym five-six days a week, where he has other individuals in wheelchairs that he mentors and coaches as well as coaching able-bodied athletes in class settings. Chuck was in an episode of NCIS New Orleans with his USAWR teammates. Tokyo 2020 will be his second Paralympic Games as he brought home a silver medal from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and a Gold from the 2019 Parapan American Games. He has been married to Kelly for 24 years and has three wonderful children Blake (21), Bailey (20), and Allison (18).
Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan
iPhone or Android? iPhone
Twitter or Instagram? Instagram
Cats or dogs? Definitely Dogs
Last country visited: England
Favorite world landmark: Acropolis of Athens/Parthenon
Favorite cartoon character: Wile E. Coyote
Favorite superhero: Wolverine
Beach or mountains? Mountains
Favorite Actor / Actress: Sean Connery / Emily Blunt
Favorite all time movie: Tombstone
Most used App: Daily Crossword
Last App you downloaded: OCHA
Favorite video game: Tie between Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda
Which would you rather win—a Grammy or an Oscar? Oscar
Favorite subject in school: History
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? A quote from David Goggins, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations… we fall to the level of our training!”
The world’s best wheelchair rugby players will take centre stage as the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic competition is held at the Yoyogi National Stadium from 25-29 August. Check out who they are below or visit https://youtu.be/UvELkZpiG94.
Kae Kurahashi (JPN)
Kae Kurahashi was the first female player to represent Japan in wheelchair rugby and was a key member of the team which won Worlds gold for the first time in the nation’s history in 2018.
The addition of Kurahashi has been instrumental in Japan’s rise in wheelchair rugby. Kurahashi is essentially a free player on court as she is classified as 0.5 points, but counts as zero due to a 0.5 reduction for all female players.
She played a huge defensive role in the gold medal game against reigning world and Paralympic champions Australia at the 2018 World Championships in Sydney, when she shut down key player Chris Bond in the final moments as Japan scored a memorable 62-61 victory.
Ⓒ IWRF
Yukinobu Ike (JPN)
As Japan’s key attacking option, Yukinobu Ike continues to get better with age. The 3.0-classified athlete causes plenty of headaches for opposition defences with his speed and reach.
He featured in Japan’s first medal-winning team in wheelchair rugby at a Paralympic Games when he captained the side to the bronze medal at Rio 2016 and was a huge factor in Japan winning their first ever World Championship in 2018.
Ⓒ IWRF
Kylie Grimes (GBR)
The Brit is a dual-sport double Paralympian from London 2012 and Rio 2016. She took up wheelchair rugby in 2010 and was called up to the national team one year later. She represented her country at the 2012 Paralympics on home soil, where the British squad ended fifth in the sport.
Grimes then switched to Para athletics, finishing fourth in the women’s club throw F51 at Rio 2016. She returned to wheelchair rugby afterwards, helping the British team become European champions in Denmark in 2018.
Considered by many as the world’s best player, the powerful Australian has very few weaknesses. Speed, strength and incredible game awareness makes Ryley Batt almost impossible to stop. Tokyo 2020 will be his fifth Paralympics and he will look to lead his country to a third straight gold medal, a feat that is yet to be achieved at the Games in wheelchair rugby.
The Rio 2016 gold medal match against the USA will go down as one of the greatest in Games history, with Batt making some unbelievable plays as Australia won a double-overtime thriller, 59-58. He was at his devastating best as Australia was crowned world champions for the first time in 2014 in Odense, Denmark, but was unable to lead the side to back-to-back victories in 2018 as Japan broke through for its first Worlds triumph, 62-61 on Australian soil.
While he has always been a power scorer, Batt’s defensive capabilities have improved throughout his career with an amazing ability to close down players and force turnovers when his team needs it the most.
Ⓒ Getty Images
Andrew Edmondson (AUS)
One of the unsung heroes of an incredibly successful Australian team, Andrew Edmonson has become one of the world’s most consistent mid-point players. Was called upon at crucial stages throughout his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 as Australia defeated USA in double overtime to secure back to back gold medals.
Australia have traditionally used a high-low lineup with two 3.5 athletes and two 0.5 athletes, but the addition of Edmonson allows the Steelers to use different combinations if it is not working.
Edmondson was always destined for a career in sport, having accepted a scholarship to play rugby union at an elite Sydney private school before he broke his neck while bodysurfing at the age of 13. A video on wheelchair rugby was shown to him during his rehab and he became interested in the sport and pursued it from there, making his debut for the national team in 2014.
Ⓒ IWRF
Mark Peters (DEN)
The addition of Mark Peters added a spark to the Danish team and was a big reason why they qualified for the Paralympics for the first time in wheelchair rugby. Peters, a former Corporal in the Danish army, came into contention for the national team after starring at the Invictus Games as captain of Denmark.
The 3.5-classified player has incredible speed up and down the court and his strength to maintain possession or win the ball back for the team through brute force is a major advantage for the Danes. Peters played his best game for Denmark in the semi-finals of the 2019 European Championships in Vejle, as the host nation defeated France 53-49 to guarantee a top two finish and a place at Tokyo 2020.
Ⓒ Alyssa Mello
Cedric Nankin (FRA)
Cedric Nankin continues to take the wheelchair rugby world by storm and has stamped himself as the best 1.5 player in the world.
Nankin helped France qualify for Tokyo 2020 in the last qualifier in Canada, where they finished with a 6-1 record. A meeting with French wheelchair rugby veteran Ryadh Sallem prompted Nankin to try the sport at club level and he quickly made an impact with national selectors.
The “machine” of the French wheelchair rugby team is the nightmare of opposing attackers, as they find it difficult to find a way past the defensive specialist. He made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and was named the best 1.5 player at the 2018 World Championships in Sydney, and the 2019 European Championships in Vejle, Denmark.
Ⓒ Getty Images
Johnny Coggan (GBR)
People outside the world of wheelchair rugby may not know much about Johnny Coggan, but he has certainly created plenty of headaches for the world’s best attacking players. Coggan’s contribution to Great Britain’s rise in wheelchair rugby cannot be overstated.
Despite carrying the lowest classification on court of 0.5, Coggan’s ability to defensively position himself on the court makes life difficult for the opposition to get through. Coggan featured in the All-Tournament Team as the best 0.5 player at the 2018 World Championships, and achieved the same feat at the 2015 European Championships in Pajulahti, Finland.
He will play a key role as Great Britain look to win their first Paralympic medal in wheelchair rugby at Tokyo 2020.
Ⓒ Megumi Masuda
Chad Cohn (USA)
Chad Cohn is an asset for the USA wheelchair rugby team with his ability to get himself in the perfect positions on court.
The 1.0 classified athlete’s game is focused on defence, but he can be called upon as an outlet in offence if the higher point athletes have been caught in picks by the opposition. He has impressive speed for a player of his classification.
Cohn’s Paralympic debut came at the London Games, where the USA won bronze. He also featured in what was described by many as the best ever game of wheelchair rugby in the gold medal match at Rio 2016, which USA lost in double overtime to Australia.
He is said to be a real student of the game, working out regularly on his own, reading about the game, and when he goes to tournaments, he spends every minute when he is not playing watching other teams, studying other players’ moves.
Ⓒ Getty Images
Patrice Dagenais (CAN)
Patrice Dagenais is the co-captain of Canada and known for his hard-work and smarts on the court, primarily in defence. Like many members of the Canada team, Dagenais comes from a strong hockey background, so he is not worried about absorbing contact. Dagenais made his way into the national team in 2012 and featured in Canada’s journey to the gold medal match where they were beaten by Australia.
He tasted gold for the first time at a major tournament when Canada upset arch rivals USA at the 2015 Parapan American Games on home soil in Toronto, to qualify for Rio 2016. But it did not go to plan as Canada missed the medals for the first time since Sydney 2000 with a loss to Japan in the battle for bronze.
Off the court, Dagenais actively gives back to the community and often visits schools and rehabilitation centres as a motivational speaker and advocate for athletes with a disability.
The first official Paralympic video game ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ has been launched and is now available worldwide for download on App Store and Play Store.
Developed by JP Games, a studio founded by renowned Japanese game director Hajime Tabata, with the support of Worldwide Paralympic Partners Bridgestone and Ottobock, ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ is an avatar role-playing game (Massive Avatar RPG). It places players into a virtual Paralympic Games held in a fantasy, futuristic, inclusive and diverse metropolis known as Pegasus City. Its deputy mayor is none other than Doraemon, one of Japan’s most iconic characters.
The development of ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ video game is part of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) efforts to bring Para sports to a new and young audience. At the same time, it aims to highlight the benefits of video games to inspire positive change and tackle social issues. It has already seen real-world athletes, artists and influencers come together to raise awareness about the Paralympics.
IPC Chief Brand & Communications Officer Craig Spence said: “The launch of Pegasus Dream Tour is a wonderful opportunity to connect with and further promote Para sports across new and younger audiences in an innovative and fun way.
“Pegasus Dream Tour will bring together gaming and sport enthusiasts from all around the globe, who will have the opportunity to enjoy a Paralympic experience from the comfort of their homes not as mere spectators but as participants as well.”
Ryoji Yamada, Executive Director of Corporate Communications Division, Bridgestone Cooperation, added: “Bridgestone was proud to be the first partner of The Pegasus Dream Tour when it began development in 2019, and we are excited to see this truly innovative video game come to life through its official launch.
“We believe strongly in the Paralympic Movement’s mission to create a more inclusive world through sport, and we hope this project will help a new generation of fans engage with the Paralympic Games and support the inspiring Paralympic athletes who are chasing their dreams.”
Peter Franzel, Head of Events, Exhibitions & Sports at Ottobock, said: “We are very proud and grateful to support The Pegasus Dream Tour with our know-how of prosthetics and wheelchairs. Now, we are excitingly looking forward to the launch of this great Paralympic App Game, which will spread the Passion for Paralympics into the world and new audiences.”
The game generates an advanced avatar named ‘Mine’, which pursues its dreams of becoming a Para athlete and is created based on the player’s own face through a photo taken with their smartphones. Mine can forge new relationships with other avatars by freely roaming the city and participating in different competitions.
As Mine goes about its life with its forward-looking attitude and matures, the player will also be inspired and motivated by their alter ego to lead a positive and healthy life.
Players can participate in boccia, football 5-a-side, athletics and wheelchair basketball online tournaments and interact with other players as they take part in this immersive Paralympic experience not only as spectators, but as actual participants.
Players are also encouraged to communicate and collaborate with each another in order to tackle various issues and help Pegasus City evolve and build a better future together.
They will also come together for a series of in-game experiences including the “Pegasus Avatar GALA Party”, a live event that will feature popular artists who share the game’s mission of advancing social contributions through gaming.
Japanese sporting legend and two-time figure skating Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu has been named as one of the video game’s ambassadors.
“I am honoured to have been appointed as the ambassador for The Pegasus Dream Tour. As someone who enjoys games and an athlete as well, I look forward to this wonderful opportunity to experience the excitement of the Paralympics through gaming. I will also be appearing as a character in the game, and I hope to meet you in Pegasus City!”
Pegasus City was created by a team of up-and-coming female creative artists whose goal is to create a space where the individuality of each person is fully respected and where everyone can lead positive lives.
The video game’s original music is composed by Harvard and Juilliard School-graduate violinist Sumire Hirotsuru.
‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ is available in five languages: Japanese, English, French, German and Spanish.
In addition, Japanese mascot Kumamom, real-life sport journalists and nine of the world’s best Para athletes will show up in the game such as Japan’s boccia player Takayuki Hirose, Canadian wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson, New Zealand’s field athlete Holly Robinson and Argentina’s football 5-a-side legend Silvio Velo.
They are joined by Worldwide Paralympic Partner Bridgestone-supported athletes Manami Tanaka (wheelchair tennis, Japan), Kohei Kobayashi (badminton, Japan), Rie Ogura (badminton, Japan), Scout Bassett (athletics, USA) and Chaiwat Rattana (athletics, Thailand).
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) today signed an agreement to work together to foster diversity and equity through global initiatives promoting health and sport for everybody, everywhere.
The two partners will collaborate to improve global access to quality rehabilitation and assistive technology as part of universal health coverage; and mitigate existing inequalities in relation to access to these life-changing services — a prerequisite for equal opportunities and participation in sports for persons with disabilities, including for Paralympians and Para athletes.
“Sport and health are natural allies, with mutually reinforcing benefits,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “More than that, the Paralympic Games are an inspiring statement of what persons with disabilities can achieve. We hope this partnership between WHO and IPC will provide a platform for more persons with disabilities to participate in sport, but also for demonstrating why universal health coverage is so important, by ensuring all persons have the care and technologies they need to fulfil their potential.”
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “This new partnership is one that will greatly benefit society, as sport is a tremendous tool for ensuring persons lead active and healthy lifestyles. The IPC’s partnership with the WHO goes beyond promoting physical and healthy lifestyles and will also focus on highlighting the role assistive technology plays in the creation of an inclusive world, especially for the over 1 billion persons with disabilities.”
Mr Parsons and Dr Tedros signed the MOU in Tokyo. The Paralympic Games will begin on 24 August and conclude on 5 September.
Disability is a global public health issue but with a higher prevalence in lower-income countries with even less access to health care and assistive technology. The World Health Organization estimates about 15 percent of the world’s population live with a disability – and this number is growing due to demographic changes including population ageing and the global increase in chronic health conditions. Only 1 in 2 persons with disabilities can afford health care, including rehabilitation services; and 1 in 10 have access to life-changing assistive technology.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed persons with disabilities to increased risks of contracting COVID-19 and having poorer health, as health information and care have not been provided in ways easily accessible to them.
The Birmingham Organizing Committee for The World Games 2022 (TWG2022) has officially launched ticket sales. The release date marks only one year until the city welcomes the world to the Opening Ceremony at Protective Stadium.
The World Games 2022, an international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee, will hold its 11th edition in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022. An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in more than 30 different sports throughout The Games.
“Today is a very big day for the State of Alabama and the entire nation as The World Games 2022 officially opens our ticket sales,” TWG2022 CEO, Nick Sellers said. “We could not be more excited for this once-in-a-lifetime event. This is the first opportunity sports fans will have to attend an international multi-sport event on American soil since the pandemic. We’re honored to have that distinction and we can’t wait to see thousands of fans from around the world in Birmingham a year from now to watch the new generation of sports.”
Tickets can be purchased for each individual sport, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and in select packages. To purchase tickets to The World Games 2022, visit TWG2022.com. “We want to encourage everyone to jump on the opportunity to purchase their tickets now,” Sellers said. “We expect many venues to sell out quickly, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on their chance to witness history.”
The Birmingham Organizing Committee also announced several musical artists that will perform at The World Games 2022, including Master of Funk turned TWG2022 Master of Ceremonies Bootsy Collins and country music icons Randy Owen and Sara Evans.
In addition to the musical artists, the official mascots of The World Games 2022, Vulcan and Vesta, were also officially revealed.
Named after the famous Vulcan statue that overlooks Birmingham, the largest cast iron statue in the world, Vulcan is joined by a female companion, Vesta. Both mascots are presented by O’Neal Industries and in partnership with the Vulcan Park and Museum with costume design by Princess Closet Designs.
The Vulcan originally represented Birmingham at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and has come full circle to help the community welcome the world in July 2022.
The announcements and ticket sales were celebrated at an event at The Club in Birmingham featuring comments from Sellers, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato.
ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022
The World Games 2022 Birmingham is the new generation of global sport competition, welcoming elite athletes from all over the world to compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the Birmingham community in 25+ venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2022
Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from July 7-17, 2022 and will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 is supported by the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit TWG2022.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
The IWRF announce the inaugural International Wheelchair Rugby Federation Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference 2021 in partnership with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (Loughborough University). The event brings together practitioners, coaches, medical staff and students, from the fields of sports science, medicine, physiotherapy, coaching and strength and conditioning.
Taking place Wednesday 22nd September 2021 13:00 – 18:30 BST.
This virtual event will cover historical insights into sports science and medicine, covering topics on Classification, thermoregulation, autonomic dysreflexia, shoulder health, nutrition and much more.
The event is delivered by:
The event will be delivered by Professor Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey, Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC), Loughborough University, and IPC Paralympic Scientific Award recipient 2017.
Dr Viola Altman, IWRF Classifier and Honrary Clinical Lecturer in Rehabilitation at Loughborough University.
Steve Griffiths, IWRF CEO.
Dr Ken Lee, IWRF Chief Medical Officer and Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Centre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA).
Supported by Dr Sven Hoekstra, Research Assistant of the PHC at Loughborough University.
The events online registration will be opening soon.
IPC announces six athletes to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
The athletes and where they are refugees from: Ibrahim Al Hussein (Syria), Alia Issa (Syria), Parfait Hakizimana (Burundi), Abbas Karimi (Afghanistan), Shahrad Nasajpour (Iran), and Anas Al Khalifa (Syria).
International stars Chris Martin, Alphonso Davies, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Barbara Hendricks, Khaled Hosseini, Asmir Begović champion the refugee cause and welcome the “world’s most courageous sports team” in a heart-warming reveal video https://youtu.be/dhlCevI-vIM
IPC working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Airbnb to support the team and raise awareness of the 82 million displaced people globally.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has today confirmed the six athletes who will represent the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The athletes, one woman and five men will compete in Para athletics, Para swimming, Para canoe and Para taekwondo.
The team represents the more than 82 million people around the world who have been forced to flee war, persecution, and human rights abuses, 12 million of whom live with a disability. The Chef de Mission for the team is Ileana Rodriguez, a refugee from Cuba who competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games in swimming for the USA.
Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “I would urge people everywhere to support the world’s most courageous sports team, the Refugee Paralympic Team. These athletes exemplify how change starts with sport: they have suffered life-changing injuries, fled for their safety and undertaken dangerous journeys, but despite the many barriers put in their way, they have become elite athletes ready to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
“Sport is a powerful tool to include refugees with disabilities in society and the announcement of the Refugee Paralympic Team is a poignant moment for the IPC – we are delivering on a commitment we made at the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum in 2019 to promote equal participation in sporting events for refugees.”
The IPC is working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to provide opportunities for these remarkable Para athletes to tell their stories at the Games and send a strong message of hope and inspiration to others around the world who have been forced to flee. While all refugees face significant challenges, those with disabilities are frequently at heightened risk and face additional barriers to accessing assistance, services, and opportunities.
UNHCR, the IPC and the RPT athletes are calling for a world in which all displaced people – with or without disabilities – can equally access sport and a commitment to an inclusive and equal world for all. RPT athlete Abbas Karimi, who was a member of UNHCR’s Global Youth Advisory Council and who has recently been named a UNHCR High Profile Supporter epitomises this commitment as a passionate advocate for disabled refugees’ access to and inclusion in sport – at all levels.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomed the announcement.
“I am thrilled to congratulate each of the six athletes named today as members of the IPC Refugee Paralympic Team. I am also immensely proud of our collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee in promoting inclusion of refugees with disabilities in sport. These athletes, as individuals and as a Team are sending a message of hope and inspiration to refugees around the world. They are truly trailblazers in promoting refugee and disability inclusion, in elite sport and in life, and we hope their example will move us one step closer towards an inclusive and equal world for all,” Grandi said.
The RPT was announced via a video by stars from the worlds of music, sport, literature, stage and screen who champion the refugee cause. They included Goodwill Ambassadors and High Profile Supporters from UNHCR, the UN Refuge Agency. The athletes on the Refugee Paralympic Team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are:
Ibrahim Al Hussein, Syrian refugee living in Athens, Greece, Para swimming – announced by Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin.
Alia Issa, Syrian refugee living in Athens, Greece, Para athletics (club throw) – announced by British actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
Parfait Hakizimana*, Burundian refugee living in the Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda, Para taekwondo – announced by opera singer and French Legion d’honneur recipient and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks.
Abbas Karimi, Afghan refugee living in Fort Lauderdale, USA, Para swimming – announced by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Khaled Hosseini, the best-selling author of The Kite Runner and himself an Afghan refugee.
Anas Al Khalifa, Syrian refugee living in Halle, Germany, Para canoe – announced by footballer and UNHCR High Profile Supporter, Asmir Begović, who was forced to flee his home in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a young age, first arriving in Germany.
Shahrad Nasajpour, Iranian refugee living in Phoenix, USA, Para athletics (discus) – announced by Bayern Munich and Canada footballer Alphonso Davies, himself a refugee originally from Liberia and recently announced as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
*Parfait’s participation in the Games is subject to him being classified by 1 August 2021.
The RPT Tokyo 2020 will compete under the IPC flag, and will be the first Team to enter the Japan National Stadium during the opening ceremony.
The IPC has been able to support the RPT to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games thanks to the generous backing of commercial partners:
Airbnb – Worldwide Paralympic Partner. Airbnb, as part of its mission of belonging, has been supporting refugee initiatives since 2015, first through its Open Homes programme, and now Airbnb.org and Paralympian Experiences – and is the lead partner of the Refugee Paralympic Team.
ASICS – Official Supplier of the IPC. ASICS is the official sport apparel kit provider of the RPT at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Panasonic – Worldwide Paralympic Partner. Panasonic published a photo book entitled Ayase Haruka meets Beautiful Athletes showcasing their “Beautiful Japan towards 2020” campaign. Part of the proceeds from the sales of this book were donated to supporting the RPT.
Catherine Powell, Global Head of Hosting at Airbnb, said: “I’d like to congratulate the six members of the Refugee Paralympic Team competing in Tokyo 2020 officially announced today. When I read the stories of Abbas, Shahrad, Anas, Alia, Ibrahim and Parfait, their journeys seem so different, yet there is a common thread – how often one person helped change their lives by welcoming these terrific athletes into their new communities and making them feel they belong, I encourage you to go and read more about these athletes and join Airbnb in cheering them on!”
Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto said: “The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee welcomes the participation of the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, following its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I hope that the Refugee Team will show the world the endeavour, the resilience and the hope of human beings through sporting competition, and that they will perform at their best with a wish for peace. We will continue to cooperate with the IPC and relevant local municipalities and will make every effort to ensure everything proceeds smoothly and safely for the Refugee Team.”
The RPT also honours the legacy of Sir Ludwig Guttmann. He was a refugee who found a new home to welcome him and repaid that kindness by helping create one of the world’s great movements, the Paralympic Movement. The RPT builds on previous refugee initiatives created by the IPC. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games a two-person team of refugee and asylum-seeking athletes formed the Independent Paralympic Athletes Team.
Ileana Rodriguez, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Paralympic Team, added: “I am so pleased for all the athletes who have made it to the Refugee Paralympic Team. This past year has been especially challenging for refugee athletes, but they are no stranger to toughness in their lives. Showing the very best of human spirit, they will be a team like no other at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. They will proudly represent the 12 million refugees around the world who have a disability and show that everyone has potential.”
The six countries that will compete in the Wheelchair Rugby tournament at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham in Alabama have been announced.
The United States as the host will be joined by Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and Switzerland when the sport makes its debut on The World Games programme.
“I’m proud to see the inclusion of wheelchair rugby into The World Games 2022,” said International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) President Richard Allcroft, and continued: “My thanks to the Organising Committee in Alabama, USA for pushing this initiative and to the International World Games Association for their innovative thinking in terms of inclusion. It was important to us as the International Federation that we included a discipline of our sport that wasn’t in the Paralympic Games. This continues the ethos of The World Games.”
At The World Games 2022, the Wheelchair Rugby discipline to be played is Low Point Wheelchair Rugby. It is a mixed gender full contact sport where athletes with impairment classes 0.5 (most severe), 1.0 and 1.5 take part, on a scale that goes up to 3.5. The 4 athletes on the court total a maximum of 3.5 points.
Besides the teams invited, the IWRF have put four countries on standby in case those already confirmed have to withdraw from The World Games next year. They are, in order of priority, France, Sweden, Finland and Israel.
The World Games 2022 will be organised in the period 7–17 July 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA with 3,600 athletes from 34 sports and over 100 countries.
The 2021 IWRF European Championship Division B will be held in Warsaw, the capital of Poland from 30.06.2021 until 3.7.2021.
The championship’s will be the first fully sanctioned International Wheelchair Rigby tournament to be held since the outbreak of the pandemic.
The schedule for the tournament is as follows, with all timings UTC +2 hours:
Wednesday 30.6.21
10:00 – 11:30: Poland v Czech Republic
12:30 – 14:00: Switzerland v Russia
15:00 – 16:30: Finland v Czech Republic
17:30 – 19:00: Poland v Israel
Thursday 1.7.21
10:00 – 11:30: Finland v Switzerland
12:30 – 14:00: Russia v Israel
15:00 – 16:30: Switzerland v Czech Republic
17:30 – 19:00: Poland v Russia
Friday 2.7.21
10:00 – 11:30: Finland v Israel
12:30 – 14:00: Poland v Switzerland
15:00 – 16:30: Czech Republic v Israel
17:30 – 19:00: Finland v Russia
Saturday 3.7.21
10:00 – 11:30: Switzerland v Israel
12:30 – 14:00: Russia v Czech Republic
15:00 – 16:30: Poland v Finland
Live Streaming of all the games during the IWRF European Championship Division B will be available online, via the IWRF and Poland Wheelchair Rugby YouTube as well as the IWRF Facebook account:
