World Abilitysport
{{Short description|International disabled sports governing body}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = World Abilitysport
| image =
| size =
| formerly = International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS)
International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation
| type = International sport federation
| formation = 1964
| headquarters = Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
| membership =
| leader_title = President:
| leader_name = Rudi Van den Abbeele
| leader_title2 = CEO:
| leader_name2 = Charmaine Hooper
| language =
| website = [http://www.iwasf.com www.iwasf.com]
}}
World Abilitysport (formerly the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation or IWAS) is an international sports organisation that governs sports for athletes with physical impairments.
It is a registered charity with its headquarters located at Aylesbury College in Buckinghamshire.{{EW charity|1011552|International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS)}} It is the international governing body for the Paralympic sport of wheelchair fencing, as well as power hockey and Para dance sport. It also organizes the World Abilitysport Games, an event for Paralympic sports held outside of Summer Paralympic years.
History
The International Stoke Mandeville Games were the forerunner of the Paralympic Games and followed the vision of their creator and founder, Ludwig Guttmann.
IWAS was formed in 2005 following a merger of the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) (which was formerly known as the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF) and the International Sports Federation of the Disabled (ISOD). ISOD had been founded by the International War Veterans Association in 1964.DePauw, Karen P. and Gavron, Susan J. (2005) [https://books.google.com/books?id=BPsqAoFtGsC&dq=Skiing+World+Championships++isod&pg=PA73 Disability Sport]. Human Kinetics Publishers. {{ISBN|978-0-7360-4638-1}}. Google Books.
In November 2022 during an Extraordinary General Assembly, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and IWAS approved a merger.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-12 |title=CPISRA members vote to officially merge with IWAS at Extraordinary General Assembly |url=https://worldabilitysport.org/news/cpisra-members-vote-to-officially-merge-with-iwas-at-extraordinary-general-assembly/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=World Abilitysport |language=en-GB}} In April 2023, the organization rebranded as World Abilitysport.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-15 |title=World Abilitysport formed after IWAS and CPISRA merger |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1135951/world-abilitysport-iwas-cpisra |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=Inside the Games}}{{Cite web |title=FAQ in relation to the transfer of Para dance sport to World Abilitysport |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/faq-relation-transfer-para-dance-sport-world-abilitysport |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=International Paralympic Committee |language=en}} In January 2024, it took over governance of wheelchair dancesport from the International Paralympic Committee.{{Cite web |title=FAQ in relation to the transfer of Para dance sport to World Abilitysport |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/faq-relation-transfer-para-dance-sport-world-abilitysport |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=International Paralympic Committee |language=en}}
Sports
World Abilitysport serves as the international governing body for the Paralympic sport of wheelchair fencing. It also serves as the governing body for two non-Paralympic sports, power hockey and Para dance sport.
It also governs frame football, frame running, and wheelchair slalom as "developing" sports.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- https://www.paralympic.org/news/fie-iwas-extend-agreement
- http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/iwas-news1/results-summary-iwas-wheelchair-fencing-world-cup1/
- http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/sports/iwas-wheelchair-fencing/
- http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/sports/iwas-wheelchair-fencing/competitions1/
- http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/sports/iwas-wheelchair-fencing/history1/
- {{Official website|http://www.iwasf.com}}
{{International Sports Federations}}
Category:Parasports organizations
Category:Amputee organizations
Category:Sport in Buckinghamshire
Category:Charities based in Buckinghamshire
Category:Sports organizations established in 2005
Category:2005 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:International organisations based in the United Kingdom