New ID Basketball World Champions Established

Portuguese Team crowned World Champion

taking a shot

From June 2 to 9 2002, eight women’s and eight male’s Basketball teams competed in the 4th International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INASFID) Basketball World Championships. The Championships took place on Madeira, Portugal, in three Basketball stadiums. The Russian women’s team was crowned World Champion after the match against Poland.Australia won the bronze match against Portugal. From the men’s teams, host nation Portugal won the finals played against Poland.Australia defeated Greece achieving 3rd place.The men’s team of Brazil and Russia were banned from the Championships due to their non-compliance with the Sydney re-registration process.

25,000 Spectators at Final ID Football Match

A total of 16 teams, each consisting of 25 persons (players and staff), played 48 matches during two and a half weeks to finally have England establish itself as the men’s Football World Champion in Japan. The 3rd INAS-FID World ID Football Championships took place from August 8 to 25 2002 in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan.

Photo: Ralf Kuckuck

The final match England versus Netherlands (2:1), which was the only match played in the Yokohama stadium, had 25,000 spectators. The Russian team won the bronze match against Germany scoring 2:0. The teams from Saudi Arabia and Mali were allowed to participate as “invited teams” only, as not all eligibility registrations of their players were fully in order. The Netherlands versus Germany in the semi-finals

Following the same principal as for the Paralympic and Olympic Games, where both Games take place in the same country, Japan hosted the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 INAS-FID World Football Championships. Now, Germany wants to follow the Japanese example and not only host the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but also apply for the INAS-FID Football World Championships in 2006.