Wheelchair Dance Sport: Competitions 2000 and Integration
Initiatives
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A lot of international Wheelchair Dance Sport competitions have been held in the past
few months. A real step forward were the first Asia Pacific Championships in March 2000
that took place in the Culture Center for Disabled Sport in Yokohama, Japan. These
Regional Championships integrated dancers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the
Philippines and South Korea for the first time. Wheelchair Dance Sport is a relatively new
activity in these countries; until now only Japan has been the major participant. We hope
this event will lead to the expansion of our sport in more countries in the Asia and
Pacific Region. |
In Europe four IPC-approved competitions were organized from March to June 2000: the
World Cup in the Netherlands, and the Polish, German and Belgian Opens. A very high level
in all these competitions was noted. Wheelchair Dance Sport can really look forward to the
future with great hope. Many thanks to all organizers for their support. The results of
these competitions will be available soon on the IPC website.
| The World Championships 2000 in Wheelchair Dance Sport, which took place on 2 and 3
December 2000 in Oslo, Norway, were a good occasion to welcome more new countries. The WC
Organizing Committee has made the effort to hold good competitions. The facilities in the
Congress Center/Folkets Hus in the middle of Oslo were very good, and the Rainbow Hotel
Oslofjord was a good communication center for all athletes |
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| and officials. Together with the Championships, an Extraordinary Sport
Assembly, a training session for classifiers and a meeting for adjudicators, were held.
More information can be obtained from the Norges Funksjonshemmedes Idrettsforbund, E-mail:
mette.berg@nif.idrett.no. |
Committee update
The Wheelchair Dance Sport Committee made strategies and working plans, and determined
once more the needs, aims and goals at its last meeting in April 2000. Committee members
were given tasks for which they are responsible, e.g. coordinating and developing a
strategic plan; making contacts within the IPC (intensifying cooperation and winning new
nations) and in the dance world, e.g. with the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF)
and the World Dance & Dance Sport Council (WD&WDC); organizing Wheelchair Dance
Sport; working on budget management; developing and renewing the adjudication and
classification system; and establishing a better information system. For more details,
e-mail g.krombholz@t-online.de.
A good step forward in contacting and cooperating with countries was made at the
General Assembly of the IDSF in May 2000. On that occasion the aims of Wheelchair Dance
Sport could be introduced to more than 50 nations. IPC and IDSF nations exchanged
addresses and established contacts. It is very important that Wheelchair Dance Sport
cooperates with this dance organization and also with the WD&WDC. The Wheelchair Dance
Sport Committee will continue to work on establishing and maintaining contacts with these
organizations.
Dr. Gertrude Krombholz
Chairperson, Wheelchair Dance Sport |
