Focus Sports
Athletes Without Limits is currently focusing recruiting efforts on those sports most likely to be reincluded in the 2012 Paralympics (Athletics, Swimming, Rowing & Table Tennis) as well as cycling because of the strong medal performances of US cyclists at the 2009 Global Games.
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Rowing (Indoor & Mixed Four)
- Table Tennis
- Track & Field and Cross Country (also called Athletics)
World championship level competitions for athletes with intellectual disability also exist in the following sports; Athletes Without Limits will identify/organize US Teams based on athlete interest.
- Basketball (FIBA Rules)
- Futsal/Indoor Soccer (FIFA Futsal Rules)
- Soccer (FIFA Rules)
- Tennis (ITF Rules)
- Skiing Alpine/Downhill (FIS Rules)
- Skiing Cross Country (FIS Rules)
Open vs. Banded Competition
From the INAS-FID website:
“INAS-FID believes that persons with intellectual disability have the right to participate in the sport of their choice at the level of ability they desire and achieve. This may be in banded competition as organised by Special Olympics or in open competition as promoted by INAS-FID.
Banded competition is competition between athletes of approximately similar disability. Thus for instance there could be a hundred metres event for four different levels of ability and there would then be four gold medal winners. The level of ability (in which band should an athlete be placed) is identified through pre-competitions prior to the main games.”
Open competition is competition as at the Olympics. INAS-FID’s choice for open competition is based on the principle of normalization. Participation in INAS-FID competitions is based on an athlete’s performances, as in able bodied sport. INAS-FID is a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). INAS-FID competitions are run on the strict rules of the International Federations (for athletics IAAF, for basketball FIBA, etcetera).”
“Although the philosophies and structures of Special Olympics and INAS-FID differ, they both play an important role in sport for persons with intellectual disability. Both organisations are not competitive but complementary to each other. Many national member organisations in membership of INAS-FID offer in their respective countries both the programmes of Special Olympics and INAS-FID, depending the wishes and abilities of their athletes.”
