Author: Editor Prime

Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic partner, Airbnb, has launched an Athlete Travel Grant programme to support elite athletes impacted by the global pandemic and postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020. Airbnb and the IOC are offering up to 500 athletes $2,000 USD in Athlete Travel Support Credit redeemable for Airbnb accommodation bookings in upcoming training or competition travel, which we would like you to encourage your athlete community to apply!  

The application can be found online here, and deadline to apply is Friday 14 May.

Application Process

The athlete should review the qualification criteria to ensure he or she is eligible. Then, the athlete must share a bit more about his or herself and their journey. Applicants will be reviewed based on selection criteria designed by the IOC, which will take into consideration all aspects of the application, including the personal statement provided as well as geography and sport to ensure diversity across recipients. To learn more about the selection process, see the Athlete Travel Grant Terms and Conditions. Those selected will be notified via email within 6-8 weeks from the application close date. Submissions will be accepted between 12:00am PDT 19 April 2021 and 11:59pm PDT 14 May 2021.

How to know if your athlete qualifies

Pro tip – before applying, make sure the athlete is eligible by reviewing the requirements below.

To be eligible, you must complete the application in full, and be/have:

• Currently competing under an IOC or IPC recognized federation within a sport that is part of the official programme of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 /Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 /Olympic Games Paris 2024/Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 / Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 /Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
• Competed at an elite level as defined by the IOC and IPC, including competing at one of the following levels during the previous 40 months:
  • Olympic/Paralympic Games
  • World Championship
  • World Cup
  • Continental Championship
  • Tokyo/Beijing Olympic Qualifier
  • Tokyo/Beijing Paralympic Qualifier
• Not currently serving sanctions for a contravention of the Olympic Charter or the IPC Handbook, any doping-related offense, or any other act against the integrity of sports competitions (e.g. match fixing).
• Eligible to register for an Airbnb account under your own name and be legally able to receive Athlete Travel Support Credits from Airbnb. Airbnb users must be 18+ years of age.

You can find more information about the programme on the FAQ page here.  For any questions about the application process, please contact AirbnbATG@blacktomato.com.

The IWRF is delighted to announce that the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby European Championship Division A has been awarded to France.

The European Championship will take place in Paris, 21st – 27th of February at a prestigious Parisian Sport Venue.

The European Championship Local Organising Committee is composed of members from CAPSAAA Paris Wheelchair Rugby Club, the Fédération Française Handisport and the Wheelchair Rugby French Commission.

 IWRF President Richard Allcroft said,

“This is a great way to start 2021 by looking ahead at our future competition structure. In the middle of last year the IWRF restructured its calendar up to and including Paris 2024. This required squeezing 4 years of competition in to only 3 years. France has long been a member of the IWRF and have developed their national clubs and featured at the highest level consistently. After speaking with them over the previous few months it was clear that they were passionate and committed about promoting wheelchair rugby in the lead up to the Paralympic Games taking place in Paris in 2024. I would like to congratulate them on their strategic approach and wish them all the best in their preparations”.

Head of IWRF Competitions Kathy Newman added,

“The IWRF Competitions Committee was really impressed with the bid plans received and presented from Paris, France to host the 2022 IWRF European Championship – Division A.  The Organizing Committee’s attention to detail was exemplary.  France has made a commitment to event hosting and we are excited to continue to work with France.  Each time they host an event they improve on the event delivery.  As we move towards the 2024 Paris Paralympics hosting this event will build capacity to ensure an exceptional event”.

The top eight teams in Europe will play off to see who is crowned European champion over eight days of exciting wheelchair rugby.

Guislaine Westelynck, President of the French Handisport Federation stated

 “It is a great honour for us to have the opportunity to host the 2022 European Championship. French Wheelchair Rugby have been booming for the last 10 years and France has become one of the top European nation in this discipline. On the brink of Rugby World Cup 2023 and Paralympics 2024 in Paris, we are honoured to co-organise with CAP SAAA Paris the first major international Wheelchair Rugby event in France. It is the beginning of a long story that is starting between France and IWRF to develop Wheelchair Rugby around the world”. 

Ryadh SALLEM Founder of CAP SAAA Paris added:

“With various international events already organized (Women’s Cup, Wheelchair Basketball European championship …) CAP SAAA Paris is honoured to be associated with IWRF and FFH in organizing the European Wheelchair Rugby championship A. From the 21st to the 27th of February 2022 Paris will be the capital of the European Wheelchair Rugby for the first time in its young history in France. CAP SAAA Paris is a club of para sports (Basketball, Rugby, Swimming and Archery), mental disabilities (Basket and Athletics) and is dedicated to the promotion and awareness of disability through the universal values of sport.”

For further information please contact Kathy Newman (knewman@iwrf.com)

The draw for the Tokyo 2020 Wheelchair Rugby competition took place on Wednesday 28^th April, at the Sheffield College campus in Hillsborough Sheffield. With the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) conducting proceedings.

The qualified Nations were drawn into two pools. With the draw taking place in pairs, each pair was pre-determined by the nations seeding in the world ranking list. With the tournament host Japan choosing Pool A.

The results of the draw are as follows :

The IWRF wish to thank the staff and students from the Sheffield College for supporting the draw at short notice and wish all the teams the very best in their preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The recording of the draw can be viewed via the IWRF YouTube account : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qokTKSlziPk&t=1s

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 (Tokyo 2020) have today launched the second editions of the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks, with the version for Athletes and Team Officials.

Building on February’s publication, the new Playbooks provide more specific details to participants about the countermeasures that will help ensure safe and successful Games for all those taking part and the residents of Tokyo and Japan. Some of the key measures in the Playbooks can be found in the five-party joint statement.

The countermeasures detailed in the Playbooks are based on science, benefiting from learnings gathered during the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to implementing the most effective tools being used throughout society, such as screening testing, mask wearing, personal hygiene and physical distancing, they also draw upon the experience of hundreds of sports events that have taken place safely across the world over the past year, with minimal risk to participants and the local population.

The Playbooks have been developed through the ongoing work of the All-Partners Task Force, which includes the Government of Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the IOC, IPC, World Health Organization and independent experts and organisations from across the world.

Speaking about the Playbooks, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “Tokyo and Japan have accepted the unprecedented challenge of organising the first postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games in history. We thank them for their great work in this respect and, as partners, we understand the great responsibility that everyone attending the Games must accept so that all participants and the Japanese population remain safe. This is why we have created the Playbooks, based on science and the best medical and event expertise available to us.”

He continued: “Providing more details about the operations that stakeholders can expect at Games time, we have also remained flexible to the evolving global situation, combining numerous countermeasures to create the safest possible environment. Increased testing for athletes and stakeholders, before and during the Games, is one important example. We’re also encouraged by the growing number of vaccinations being administered throughout the world. These tools will only work, however, if everyone shows solidarity and follows the guidelines. This is why those violating the rules can expect to be strictly dealt with in Tokyo. This is our commitment to the people of Tokyo and Japan, who are so kindly welcoming us to their city and country this summer.”

IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “With the support of the world’s leading experts in health and sport event delivery, the updated Playbooks offer greater information for everyone attending the Tokyo 2020 Games, outlining the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder.

“As with the first editions, special considerations for persons with disabilities are included in all Playbooks, and I believe the stringent measures outlined will offer reassurance and comfort to all Games stakeholders, as well as the people of Japan. We are taking every possible measure to deliver safe Games.” Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto Seiko said: “The COVID-19 countermeasures included in the first edition of the Playbooks [published February 2021] have been reviewed and significantly updated in order to address the evolving situation of the pandemic. Rules to be observed by all Games participants during their stay in Japan have been expanded and clarified to include further details to ensure safe and secure Games.

“It is important that all stakeholders fully understand these rules, and that each and every one arrives in Japan with the understanding that their cooperation is critical to the success of the Games. We will hold online briefings for each of our stakeholder groups to ensure clear and comprehensive communication on these points.”

One of the key updates in this version of the Playbooks details daily testing, in principle, for athletes and those in regular contact with them, which will be a crucial part of minimising transmission and the risk of an uncontrolled outbreak. Testing will be used for general screening and for those identified as a close contact of a positive case; as well as for diagnosis for those experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

The latest Playbooks also outline the role of COVID-19 Liaison Officers (CLOs), to be appointed by each stakeholder, who will work very closely with Tokyo 2020 and Japanese health authorities. They will receive extensive training to enable them to play a key role throughout the Games, providing an essential support network for their delegation. The CLOs will ensure all members of their organisation are fully informed of the contents of their relevant Playbooks. In addition, they will be monitoring the implementation of all COVID-19 countermeasures, ensuring participants follow their detailed activity plans and managing any positive cases that are detected.

The publication of version two of the Playbooks builds upon the optimisation and simplification of operational plans, reduced delegations from all Olympic and Paralympic Movement stakeholders, and the decision and announcement in March by the Japanese side, and respected and accepted by the IOC and IPC, to not allow spectators from overseas to enter Japan.

In acknowledging the evolving COVID-19 situation around the world, the IOC, IPC and Tokyo 2020 reinforced their commitment to regularly update the Playbooks. They will continue to receive regular input from the All-Partners Task Force, taking into account the latest advances in science and developments on the ground, in close collaboration with experts. As part of this ongoing evolution, the next version of the Playbooks (which is expected to be final) will be published in June 2021. 

The second published Playbook for Athletes and Officials can be viewed and downloaded Here and via the IOC and Tokyo 2020 websites. 

The Wheelchair Rugby competition at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will include eight nations in two pools of four nations each. Nations will be assigned to pools using a random draw process.

The random draw will be conducted by the IWRF Competitions Committee in Sheffield, UK. The draw process will be shown live at 11.00 BST on Wednesday 28^th April 2021 accessible through the IWRF Youtube account (IWRF – YouTube).  Should any technical issues occur the draw will be shared immediately following its completion with the Paralympic Qualified Nations to the contacts listed on the IWRF MALS system.

Seed List

Nations will be seeded for the draw based on their relative standings on the IWRF World Ranking List as of 17^th April, 2021 as follows:

World Ranking as ofApril 7, 2021	Nation	Tokyo 2020Seeding
1	Australia	1
2	United States of America	2
3	Japan	3
4	Great Britain	4
5	Canada	5
6	France	6
7	Denmark	7
10	New Zealand	8

Draw Process

During the draw, a system for selecting a random Nation will be used. The authenticity and suitability of the system has been confirmed by IWRF.

The process for the draw is as follows:

1. The teams seeded 1^st and 2^nd will be drawn first. The first team drawn will be allocated to Pool The remaining team will be allocated to Pool B.
2. The teams seeded 5^th and 6^th will be drawn second. The first team drawn will be allocated to Pool The remaining team will be allocated to Pool B.
3. The teams seeded 7^th and 8^th will be drawn third. The first team drawn will be allocated to Pool The remaining team will be allocated to Pool B.
4. Following the third draw, the Host Nation for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be invited to choose the Pool they wish to be allocated to. The remaining team, seeded 4^th, will be allocated to the other pool.

In the event the Host team is unable to attend or confirm their decision during the draw, the following process will replace step 4 above:

The teams seeded 3^rd and 4^th will be drawn. The first team drawn will be allocated to Pool A. The remaining team will be allocated to Pool B.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is proud to announce that its 2021 Play True Day Campaign – centered around the theme “What does Play True mean to you?” – reached over 87 million people around the globe. The campaign, which took place on 9 April, once again saw athletes, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Sports Federations, governments, Major Event Organizers and other stakeholders from the global anti-doping community unite in celebration of the Play True message.
 
Since 2014, in April of every year, WADA and the anti-doping community worldwide have celebrated ‘Play True Day’ – a day that is dedicated to raising awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others about the importance of protecting Clean Sport.
 
WADA President Witold Bańka said: “Thank you to all who took part in WADA’s 2021 Play True Day Campaign. It is amazing that the clean sport message was shared with over 87 million people worldwide. This demonstrates what we can achieve when the anti-doping community unites towards our common goal of a healthy sporting environment. WADA is very grateful to all who embraced the spirit of the day and stood shoulder to shoulder with us as we encouraged everyone to Play True. It is this unified and collegial approach that must prevail as we work together towards a world of clean sport. I look forward to continuing to work with all of our stakeholders as WADA engages and collaborates with everyone involved in anti-doping to increase support, unity and coherence in our collective efforts.”

To highlight the success of this year’s campaign, WADA has created a Play True Day 2021 recap video, which showcases stakeholder celebrations around the world through their photos, videos and campaigns on social media.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “I too was thrilled to see such an immense mobilization by athletes and the global anti-doping community for Play True Day 2021. I wish to thank all our partners, as well as WADA’s employees, for this fantastic result. Such efforts are at the very core of WADA’s mission to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport. The 2021 campaign was once again carried out in a socially distanced fashion due to COVID-19, but I truly hope that 2022 will allow us to gather again in person to build bridges and unite efforts to protect athletes and the integrity of sport.”
 
WADA Athlete Committee Chair, Ben Sandford said: “On behalf of WADA’s Athlete Committee, I would like to thank everyone who took part in Play True Day 2021 – especially our fellow athletes. It was wonderful to see so many athletes of different sports, nationalities, ages and levels come together to let the world know what playing true means to them. The global anti-doping system involves many people and many component parts; however, ultimately it is athletes – through their choice to play true – that are the front line in protecting clean sport.”
 
WADA takes this opportunity to invite stakeholders to “Save the Date” for next year’s Play True Day, which will take place on 8 April 2022. As was the case this year, going forward, Play True Day will be celebrated on the second Friday of April in order to accommodate as many stakeholders as possible.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has appointed Colleen Wrenn to the newly created role of Chief Paralympic Games Delivery Officer following an extensive global recruitment process.

Wrenn brings to the IPC 20 years of experience in the planning and delivery of major events, including involvement in the 2010, 2012 and 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the 2019 Panamerican and Parapan American Games.

In addition to multi-sport events, Wrenn helped deliver both the World Para Athletics and IAAF World Championships in London in 2017, the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2016, and the Modern Pentathlon World Championships in 2002. In recognition of her contribution to the Organising Committee, she was selected as a torchbearer for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Torch Relay.

She joins the IPC from TrackTown USA where she was a Senior Director.

“I’m thrilled to join the IPC,” said Wrenn. “I have been fortunate to see first-hand the tremendous impact Para sport has, not just on the athletes participating, but on all those touched by Para events— media, volunteers, spectators, and even community members who may never step foot in a venue but benefit from improved infrastructure and other legacies long after the last medal is awarded. I am honoured and excited to be a part of this transformational Movement.”

Mike Peters, the IPC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said: “When we created this position, we knew successfully filling it would require a rare individual. We could not be any more excited than we are to have Colleen joining our team in this capacity. The Paralympic Games are now firmly established as the one of the world’s largest and most impactful sport events, and Colleen will provide our stakeholders with the strategic direction, innovation and collaboration necessary to further grow and reach new heights with the Games.

“Colleen joins at arguably one of the busiest times in our history with two Paralympic Games taking place almost back-to-back for the first time ever. With her track record and experience, we are confident she will meet the challenge and be a fantastic asset for the team and wider Paralympic Movement.”

Wrenn will begin her new role in the week commencing 24 May 2021 and will lead the teams involved in Paralympic Games Delivery; Paralympic Sport and International Federation Relations; and Protocol, Hospitality and Events.

Her primary responsibilities will include providing executive leadership and strategic direction to maximise and enhance the Paralympic Games and its legacies, overseeing the co-ordination of all Paralympic Games delivery, and acting as primary point of contact for the IOC Olympic Games leadership team and executive and key personnel of Organising Committees. She also will join the IPC executive leadership team contributing to the wider corporate strategy of the IPC with CEO Peters, General Counsel Liz Riley, and Chief Brand and Communications Officer Craig Spence.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reduced the number of people it will accredit as guests for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The decision follows clear direction from the Japanese government that it requires a very significant reduction in the numbers of accredited participants who do not have essential and operational responsibilities at the Games. The IPC fully respects this decision and endorses the approach to take all necessary measures to ensure safe and secure Games this summer.

Following the approach taken for Olympic Games stakeholders, no accreditation will be granted to any ‘Accompanying Guest’ populations for the Paralympic Games throughout all categories including the IPC, National Paralympic Committee (NPC), International Federation (IF), host Organising Committee (OCOG), future OCOGs and Broadcaster. Accompanying guests that provide care or assistance to delegates that require support for mobility, daily living or other accessibility considerations are not impacted by this move.

The IPC has significantly reduced the number of people it accredits under the IPC category, especially the guest populations for Tokyo 2020. To achieve this reduction, it has taken the following approach:

• No IPC Honorary Board members, with the exception of international dignitaries
• No guests of International Organisations of the Disabled (IOSDs) or IPC Regional Organisations
• No participants from the 14 Recognised International Sport Federations (sports that are currently not on the Paralympic programme) including Presidents or Secretaries General
• No participants from Winter Sport International Federations, including Presidents or Secretaries General
• No IPC Standing Committee Chair and members, with the exception of the ones of the IPC Medical Committee and IPC Anti-Doping Committee who have operational roles at the Games
• A significant reduction in the number of IPC Honoured Guests, Distinguished Guests and IPC Guests
• NPC Guest Passes providing access to the Paralympic Village have been cancelled

In calls with IPC membership organisations at the start of April, the IPC also urged members to take a responsible approach towards their own accredited guest programmes for the Games. Members should prioritise individuals that have an operational or essential need for the Games following the approach and leadership taken by the IPC.

All attending participants will also need to read and abide by the guiding principles of the Playbooks, the first editions of which were published in February. Updated Playbooks will be published in April offering greater information for all stakeholders planning to attend Tokyo 2020.

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place between 24 August – 5 September 2021.

-ends-

Further to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) media release of 26 March 2021, WADA wishes to remind stakeholders that Play True Day 2021 will be celebrated on 9 April 2021.

Since 2014, in April of every year, WADA and the anti-doping community worldwide have celebrated Play True Day — a day that is dedicated to Clean Sport and is intended to raise awareness among athletes, the sporting public and others about the importance of protecting Clean Sport.

This year’s theme is “What does Play True mean to you?”. Therefore, we invite athletes, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Sports Federations, Governments, Major Event Organizers and other anti-doping stakeholders from around the world to join the Agency’s social media campaign on 9 April 2021.

Like previous years, to engage as many stakeholders as possible, WADA has created a number of branded visuals (available in English, French and Spanish) for participants to incorporate and share their own Play True Day 2021 photos and videos. These include:

• Branded frames that can be layered onto photo or video messages;
• A Play True Pledge that can be either printed and personalized or personalized digitally for various social media platforms; and
• Various GIFs that will be created for the day to be used on Instagram.

Paralympic Games
2021 sees us move into the delayed Paralympic Games year.  A very different Games will be before us.  The first ever during a pandemic with all that entails. The IOC/IPC/Tokyo 2020 have published the first “Playbook” outlining general principles related to going to Tokyo and all the requirements that we as visitors to the Games will have to comply with.  Further “Playbooks” will be published in April and June which will be more specific. The IPC will be working with IF’s to generate sport specific protocols.
 
Return to Competition
Preparations are ongoing for other competitions being held in 2021, these events will be challenging and it will be important that all the necessary precautions outlined in the four IWRF documents (Return to Train and Play, Athlete Checklist, Referee Checklist and Return to Competition Model) related to play and competition are followed as a minimum standard.  Irrespective of our desire to return to competition the most important thing is the safety and welfare of all involved in wheelchair rugby.
 
Anti-Doping
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has launched a new education course on its Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL), specifically designed for athletes and coaches aiming to attend the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

The new course, entitled ‘ADEL for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics’, was developed by WADA in collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). This collaboration was established as part of WADA’s ongoing work to support the implementation of the International Standard for Education (ISE), which promotes the principle that athletes and their Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) should be educated prior to arriving at a Major Games or event.  All wheelchair rugby athletes and support staff will be required to complete the online course before attending Tokyo 2020 later this year.
 
Governance
The Governance project group has been reviewing the IWRF Statutes and Bylaws so that the governance model for the organisation is fit for purpose and reflects the best practice for sport governance.  The amendments will be presented to a General Assembly of the IWRF membership.
 
Ongoing Communication
Newsletters – There will be three more Newsletters this year.
IWRF Member Nation Meetings – Apart from the General Assembly it is intended to have 3 more virtual meetings with National Member Organisations.

Kind regards

Steve

IWRF Chief Executive