Photo: Isa Luchtenberg-ABRC
The premier event of Wheelchair Rugby on the continent, the WWR Americas Championship, also known as the Copa America, will be hosted by Brazil in 2025.
The Brazilian Wheelchair Rugby Association (ABRC) and the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB) have received approval from World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR), the International Federation of Wheelchair Rugby, to organize the competition in 2025.
The tournament, which aims to bring together the top eight teams from the Americas, offers two direct slots for the 2026 World Championship. In the 2022 edition of the Copa America, held in Colombia, Brazil secured the bronze medal.
“ABRC believes that hosting international events like the Copa America is very important for the growth of Rugby in Brazil, as it brings the sport closer to the Brazilian public and fans, and allows for exchanges with some of the strongest teams in the world that are here in our continent,” emphasized José Higino, president of ABRC.
This will be the first time Brazil hosts the WWR-licensed competition, made possible through a partnership with CPB, which will provide the facilities of the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center, in São Paulo, for the event.
“For us, it is a great joy to host such a significant event at the Paralympic Training Center. Wheelchair Rugby is a sport that evolves every year. We won an unprecedented medal at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, where we secured the bronze. We went to the Qualifiers for Paris 2024 and came very close to a Paralympic spot.
With the work that ABRC and CPB have been doing, including at the grassroots level, I am sure that better results will soon emerge. And Brazil hosting the WWR Americas Championship is also part of this process,” said Mizael Conrado, president of CPB.
In late 2023, the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center received a visit from Juan Foa, Regional Manager of the Americas for WWR, who was accompanied by Mateus Campana, ABRC’s administrative vice president. Foa inspected the Brazilian facilities and praised the space managed by CPB, which serves as the home for the Brazilian National Team.
“I found the facilities at the Paralympic Center to be very good. Having accommodation and sports facilities in one place facilitates the flow of a tournament schedule. The 100% accessible accommodation is very good, and the sports facilities are also up to the standard for an international event,” declared Foa.
Tim Johnson, WWR Competitions Working Group Lead, said, “Brazil’s growth over the past 10 years has been substantial. Hosting the 2025 WWR Americas Championship will further their development and performance even more. They missed qualification for 2024 Paris Paralympics by the smallest margins after their loss against Germany at the recent 2024 WWR Paralympic Qualification tournament. I’m confident that hosting this event will be another step towards a return to the Paralympics.”
Richard Allcroft, President of WWR added, “I was pleased to see Brazil putting in a strong bid for our Championship Event. Brazil have been running some exciting programs recently and the opportunity to host the 2025 Americas Championship will act as a catalyst, to promote and develop wheelchair rugby in Brazil and hopefully South America. Congratulations! “
The WWR Americas Championship will be held in São Paulo, at the Paralympic Training Center, in July 2025.
For further information contact: office@worldwheelchair.rugby
