2020 IWAS World Games: Sitting volleyball joins growing list of sports

World Para Volley has become the latest International Federation to give its seal of approval to the 2020 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Games being held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, from 22-27 February 2020.

Sitting volleyball, together with powerlifting - another of the latest additions - will join 10 other sports on the Games programme which will enjoy a variety of different levels of recognition from their governing bodies.

The sanctioning agreement for sitting volleyball was signed during the 2019 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly in Bonn, Germany. Attending as IPC members, IWAS President Rudi van den Abbeele met with World Para Volley President Barry Couzner to seal the arrangement.

Both men’s and women’s competitions will be on offer in Nakhon Ratchasima.

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The 2020 edition of the World Games will take place less than six months ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. The Games have a growing reputation for being a springboard for the careers of many Paralympic medallists. 

For powerlifting, athletes will have the chance to gain ranking points which go towards qualification for Tokyo 2020. Junior medals will also be up for grabs, highlighting the chances that the IWAS World Games provide for young athletes just starting out on their careers.

As well as sitting volleyball and powerlifting, Nakhon Ratchasima 2020 will feature a wide range of sports all sanctioned by the relevant International Federations.

Archery, athletics, badminton, cycling, shooting, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing and wheelchair tennis are the other sports on the programme.