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Inclusive Skating Ignites New Spark to Light the Paralympic Flame for Skating Sports
PRESS RELEASE
ISSUED: 10/07/2024
For Immediate Release
Inclusive Skating Ignites New Spark to Light the Paralympic Flame for Skating Sports
This week marked the successful introduction of Inclusive Skating’s Para-Skating format, at the 2024 World Inclusive Para Skating Championships held in Östersund, Sweden hosted by IF Castor. The new system builds on the robust Inclusive Skating format by segueing the developmental programme levels into a comprehensive para-sport system with the ultimate view toward the inclusion of skating sports in the Paralympic programme. This event welcomed skaters from all the IS Paralympic classes and included members from ten countries. Skaters competed in both free skating and ice dance events. We are incredibly grateful to the skaters, coaches, volunteers, and warm Swedish hosts who made this inaugural Para Skating championships a resounding success.
Inclusive Skating is holding a development training camp concurrently with the championships which will feature international skaters, coaches, judges and volunteers throughout the remainder of the week. Education and training work synergistically with event development as without the outstanding work of the entire community worldwide, this event would not have been possible. The continued work toward greater international development will require more coaches from around the world to upskill and continue their education surrounding both technical skating skills as well as inclusive coaching practises: IS would like to remind our community that we are still accepting applications to enrol in our SQA approved coaching courses.
Inclusive Skating affirms its fundamental commitment to total inclusion in the sport and will continue to prioritise its inclusive system alongside this paralympic endeavour. Founder and Board Chair Margarita Sweeney-Baird stated “Total inclusion remains our primary mission. Paralympic inclusion is a desirable aspiration as it will facilitate inclusion of our skaters in another format based on their disability class. It is my hope that the introduction of this new format will help to maximise opportunities for the entire community.”
To watch the event please check the playlist here
To view the results please visit our resource centre and search for “Para Skating” here
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Notes to editors
Contact
Margarita Sweeney-Baird Founder and Board Chair of Inclusive Skating
+44-(0)7813 993 237 margarita@inclusiveskating.org
Inclusive Skating Inclusive Skating is the world governing body of inclusive skating competitions and championships and is a world-recognised charity. Inclusive Skating’s goal is to provide events, activities, educational resources, training, and championship events for skaters with additional needs across the globe. We seek to include all skaters with an impairment on an equal basis and our competition and training pathways allow everyone to participate in all competitions and events. www.inclusiveskating.org
International Skating Union is the exclusive international sport federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) administering sports in the branches of Figure Skating, Synchronised Skating, Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating throughout the world. www.isu.org
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