Top six stories of the week – 16-22 November

On 11 December, Australian wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott aims to play tennis for 24-hours straight, and hopes his venture will raise AUD 100,000 (EUR 68,000)

In another jam-packed week of para-sport news, the snowboard season has kicked off, the football-5-a-side World Championships are reaching their climax and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven spoke about the importance of sport in rehabilitation. Here are the top six stories of the week:

Semi-finalists decided at football 5-a-side Worlds

Three-time Paralympic champions Brazil will face Asian champions China, whilst European champions Spain will clash with two-time world champions Argentina in the semi-finals of the 2014 IBSA Blind Football European Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Brazil continued their pursuit for a fourth world title with a 4-0 drubbing of Germany in the quarters. Argentina beat fellow South American’s Colombia 1-0, whilst both Spain and China needed penalties to overcome Paraguay and Japan respectively.

- More on the 2014 IBSA Blind Football World Championships

IPC President addresses 2014 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Annual Assembly

IPC President Sir Philip Craven told an audience of leading physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians in San Diego, USA, that sport and physical activity must play a major role in recovery from serious illness or injury.

In his keynote address at the Paralympic Sports Medicine and Science Symposium, Sir Philip talked about the growth and future direction of the Paralympic Movement and the benefits of participation in para-sport.

- More on Sir Philip Craven's speech

Penny Briscoe named as ParalympicsGB’s Chef de Mission

The British Paralympic Association (BPA) has announced that Penny Briscoe will once again take up the role of Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

Briscoe has been Performance Director for the BPA since 2002 and acted as the Chef de Mission at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Russia, as Great Britain had their most successful winter Games.

- More on Briscoe’s appointment

Mexico City to host IPC Powerlifting Americas Open Championships

IPC Powerlifting announced on Wednesday (19 November) that Mexico City will stage the 2015 IPC Powerlifting Americas Open Championships between 26-29 April, replacing the original host city of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Mexico City 2015 will be open to all countries to ensure athletes have as many opportunities as possible to qualify for Rio 2016, with National Paralympic Committees able to submit 15 male and 15 female lifters across the 10 weight categories.

- More on the IPC Powerlifting Americas Open Championships

Dylan Alcott in world record attempt for charity

On 11 December, Australian wheelchair tennis star Dylan Alcott aims to play tennis for 24-hours straight, and hopes his venture will raise AUD 100,000 (EUR 68,000) for children’s charity Variety, and the Starlight Foundation.

The 23-year-old will commence his record-breaking attempt at Melbourne Park and will line-up against a number of Australian celebrities, including tennis player Nick Kyrigos, women’s basketball star Elizabeth Cambage, Neighbours actress Olympia Valance, Aussie rules players Jack Watts and Tom Hawkins, as well as a number of family members.

- More on Alcott’s world record attempt

Banked slalom makes its para-snowboard debut

In the first competition of the para-snowboard season, the USA’s Mike Shea claimed bragging rights over Paralympic champion compatriot Evan Strong as he claimed two men's SB-LL2 titles in as many days in the new discipline of banked slalom.

The IPC Alpine Skiing World and Europa Cups in Landgraaf, the Netherlands, saw over 50 athletes competing from over 10 countries, with Paralympic gold-medallist and home-favourite Bibian Mentel-Spee also claiming two women's SB-LL2 titles.

The biggest competition for para-snowboarders this year is the 2015 IPC Para Snowboard World Championships in La Molina, Spain, from 23-28 February, and will feature around 80 athletes from 20 countries.

- More on the 2014 IPC Para Snowboard competitions