Over 500 paralympic athletes to compete in Sharjah

By Divi S.

SHARJAH 10 February 2019: The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federatio (IWAS), World Games, the world’s eighth largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship, commences today Sunday with 1,462 participants from 50 countries in Sharjah.

From 10th to 16th February, Al Thiqa Club for the Handicapped, American University of Sharjah, AUS, and Al Dhaid Shooting Club, the main games venues, are hosting 555 male and female athletes from 50 countries competing in seven games categories: archery, athletics, fencing, shooting, swimming, table tennis and badminton.

The IWAS flag-hoisting ceremony at Al Thiqa Club marks the championship kick-off, and will be attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games, Sharjah 2019; Paul DePace, IWAS President; Dr. Tariq Sultan bin Khadem, Vice Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, and other members of the International Higher Organising Committee.

The Games will open Monday with the shooting competitions at Al Dhaid Shooting Club, from 11th to 13th February, and fencing at Al Thiqa Club for the Handicapped, from 11th to 16th February.

Badminton, table tennis and swimming competitions will be held between 13th to 15th February, at the AUS. Archery and athletics will be hosted by Al Thiqa Club, from 13th to 16th February.

UAE Participation

Home favourites, the UAE, will be competing in all disciplines barring fencing. Algeria has confirmed participation in athletics, while Iraq will compete in four: archery, athletics, table tennis and fencing. Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and Egypt will participate in wheelchair fencing.

Archery will see the participation of 25 male and female participants, while 200 competitors will compete in athletics, 25 in badminton, 205 in fencing, 24 in shooting, and 28 in swimming and 48 in table tennis.

The six-day tournament will see the participation of 111 technical and administrative bodies, 39 international judges and observers, 99 local judges, 155 volunteers, 82 members of the opening and closing committee, 120 from the logistical committee, 80 members of the media committee and 221 members from the service and support committee.

Winners of this year’s IWAS Global Games will stand an opportunity to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. This event elevates Sharjah’s status as a global sports hub.