New Taipei City to host wheelchair dance Asian Champs

“I would like to thank the National Paralympic Committee of Chinese Taipei for their bid, and I have no doubt that they will host a successful event from which we can build in future years.”

IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport has announced that New Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, will host the first Asian Championships in the sport’s history on 5-6 November.

Around 60 dancers from seven countries are expected for the competition at the Sanchong District Complex Gymnasium, where the New Taipei City Cup Open was hosted in 2015.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Chief Executive Officer, Xavier Gonzalez, said the Championships represent a big step forward for the sport: “Since the World Championships were hosted in Tokyo, Japan, in 2013, we have seen wheelchair dance sport grow around the world, especially in Asia.

“A number of competitions have been held in the region and athlete numbers have reached a point where we can now have a competitive Championships, which is great news.

“I would like to thank the National Paralympic Committee of Chinese Taipei for their bid, and I have no doubt that they will host a successful event from which we can build in future years.”

Lai Fou-Hwan, President of the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee, said: “In order to take forward wheelchair dance sport in Asia, we are delighted to be hosting the 2016 IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Asian Championships, and are looking forward to welcoming teams from across the region to New Taipei City. We are particularly pleased to be organising the first Asian Championships, and to be part of this amazing moment in history.”

The 2016 IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Asian Championships will feature a full programme of combi, duo and singles dances across standard, Latin American and freestyle events.

The announcement also comes as the season is scheduled to get underway in Asia on 9-10 April in Astana, Kazakhstan.

The Suomi Open in Lohja, Finland, will follow on 30 April-1 May. Dancers will then head to Frankfurt, Germany, for the Mainhatten Cup between 28-29 May before competing in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Cup on 10-12 September.