PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

World Sledge Hockey Challenge takes to ice
Canada, USA, Norway and Japan will compete at this week’s World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary, Canada.

No. 31: Australia’s top dog
Swimmer Matt Cowdrey won eight medals at London 2012 to become Australia’s most-decorated Paralympian of all-time, making his performance the No. 31 moment of the year.
Clare Colfer: A view from the stands
A journal entry from a spectator’s personal experience at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

IPC to launch spectacular London 2012 online video
The video, “London 2012 – Best Games Ever” celebrates the contribution that Paralympians at London 2012 made as agents for societal change, and highlights what people with an impairment can achieve, if barriers are removed.

No. 32: Woman of waves sails past Paralympic greats
One athlete’s fight against three Paralympic gold medallists to take the top of the podium at the London Games is Paralympic moment No. 32 of 2012.

USA’s Salamone on top of the world
Having won the last World Championships and Paralympic Games, American Alexi Salamone is now being heralded as one of the world’s ice sledge hockey greats.

Wheelchair fencing World Cup comes to Hungary
Sixty-four athletes from 11 countries will compete in the Wheelchair Fencing World Cup this weekend in Eger, Hungary.

Big names headline Brazil’s Circuit Loterias Caixa
Andre Brasil, Terezinha Guilhermina and Alan Cardoso Fonteles Oliveira will all be competing on the national stage this weekend in Brazil.

Anjali Forber-Pratt: Athletes can make voices heard at VISTA
American Paralympic wheelchair racer Anjali Forber-Pratt shares why it’s vital that athletes are represented at the IPC’s sports science conference.

Brazil win South American Wheelchair Basketball title
Brazil defeated Argentina for gold at the South American Wheelchair Basketball Championships, though both qualified for the Americas Cup.

IPC extends memorandum of understanding to sport injury, illness
The IPC has extended its memorandum of understanding with the Clinical Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Group (CSEMRG) in South Africa.

No. 33: Korean sledge hockey win surprise silver at Worlds
Nobody expected Korea to make the podium at last year’s Ice Sledge Hockey A Pool World Championships, so their surprise silver is the No. 33 moment of 2012.

Rob Richardson: Funding, football and media bingo
Great Britain’s sitting volleyball captain discusses the future of his programme, his work with Arsenal's football club and games he plays with the media.

Top German athletes scoop up awards
Kirsten Bruhn won a BAMBI award, and Birgit Kober, Jochen Wollmert and Germany’s women’s wheelchair basketball team were also honoured.

No. 34: Pushing in the face of adversity
Sometimes it takes more than a winner to inspire and excite fans. That was certainly the case for Haitian earthquake survivor Leon Gaysli when he crossed the line last at Brands Hatch. The emotional moment is the No. 34 of 2012.
Rwanda hosts leadership training for East African NPCs
East African Paralympic committees in Rwanda last week to discuss how to further develop disability sport in their region.
IPC Swimming calls for bids for 2014 European Championships
IPC Swimming has announced the opening of the bidding process for the 2014 IPC Swimming European Championships

USA Para-Triathlon awarded $50,000 grant
US Paralympics have given USA Para-Triathlon monies to help fuel growth in the sport among American military veterans.

Sam re-elected to lead SASOC
Gideon Sam will lead the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in South Africa for another four years.