World Abilitysport and World ParaVolley partner on development

World Abilitysport and World ParaVolley have signed an agreement which will see the two organisations work together on the development of the sport, athletes and officials over the next four years.

World Abilitysport offers a range of sports and development opportunities for people with physical impairments, headlined by its biennial World Games. It has a long history of supporting sports and disciplines both on and off the Paralympic programme.

World ParaVolley governs the Paralympic sport of sitting volleyball and is responsible for growing that, and other forms of volleyball for Para athletes, around the world.

The new partnership will see the two organisations work closely together to offer a beach version of standing volleyball at the World Abilitysport Games, soon-to-be-launched Guttmann Games, and at development camps.

They will also collaborate to find opportunities to train International Technical Officials at World Abilitysport events.

The third main area of the agreement covers the membership of both organisations, and raising awareness of their respective activities. Games, training and development opportunities for ParaVolley will be promoted to the worldwide communities that World Abilitysport and World ParaVolley represent. In addition, dual membership opportunities will be made available to expand their reach.

President of World ParaVolley, Barry Couzner OAM, said: “World ParaVolley is honoured that the newly formed World Abilitysport has agreed to sign a cooperation agreement that will benefit both parties in the future.  We look forward to working with World Abilitysport at several levels, from grass roots to elite, including the World Games and the Guttmann Games that will provide great opportunities for ParaVolley athletes to participate in competitions under the World Abilitysport banner.”

World Abilitysport President, Rudi Van Den Abeele, said: “We could not be happier that the first agreement we have signed since transforming into World Abilitysport is with World ParaVolley. It is the latest in a long line of sports which, throughout the history of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation and the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association, have been supported to grow.

“Sitting volleyball is hugely entertaining and popular, which will surely help expand the reach of our Games in all their forms. And beach ParaVolley is an exciting discipline which we are delighted to be on a journey with. Combine this with the many opportunities there are to build the number and level of athletes and officials, we think we can achieve great things.”

The agreement between World Abilitysport and World ParaVolley was signed during the recent International Paralympic Committee General Assembly in Bahrain.