News: International

PARIS (Nov. 14, 2011) – The U.S. Power Soccer team won the 2011 FIPFA World Cup for the second straight time with a 3-0 victory against England. Power Soccer is a sport for severely disabled people who use power wheelchairs.

The eight-member team, led by head coach Chris Finn, beat France 2-0 in the semifinals before defeating England two days later on Nov. 6 in the final.

The single game elimination tournament included a total of 10 countries from four different continents. The U.S. defeated Japan 2-0 and Portugal 13-0 in their opening games. A day later, the team fell 1-0 to England but still advanced to the semifinals with a 21-0 victory against Switzerland.

The U.S. Power Soccer Team is the first U.S. Soccer team to win back-to-back World Cups. The USA defeated France in the 2007 FIPFA World Cup to win the inaugural title in Tokyo.

The U.S. players faced tough competition but remained positive and determined throughout the tournament. This success is due in part to their resilience and managing adversity in their everyday lives. These athletes are an inspiration to others who believe they can’t play a sport because of a disability.

In power soccer, instead of the players using their feet, they use wheelchairs and foot guards to push or kick the ball. Two teams of four play on a regulation basketball court in a fast-paced...

The months of anxious waiting for the evaluation of the candidature of Powerchair Football for the Paralympic Games gave way to a sense of disappointment as the results of the bidding were just announced by the International Paralympic Committee. Powerchair Football was not selected to join the Rio 2016 Sports Programme. FIPFA President Hervé Delattre, in Guangzhou for the results and the opening of the Games, nonetheless was up-beat and spoke with a sense of hope: “FIPFA is still a young Federation and we made a great deal of progress in preparing our excellent bid for the Paralympics, which will help us for the next time. The FIPFA World Cup, Paris 2011 is taking place in less than a year. It is our flagship event and we look forward to a great event at which I hope to see Paralympic officials attend to see what they will miss at Rio!”

FIPFA was also represented in Guangzhou by its Asia Zone President; Hiroshi Takahashi. “Our eyes are on the thousands of athletes here for the Asian Paralympic Games. Many of those competing are also quite familiar with Power Soccer (Powerchair Football) and play it already. I hope one day soon we can see our exciting sport widely appreciated in the Paralympic Movement.”

The FIPFA bid document was reviewed by the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board at its meeting in Guangzhou,...

18 November 2009 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Today, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board (GB) concluded its 54th official meeting, which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the occasion of the upcoming IPC Conference and General Assembly.

During two days of meetings, the IPC GB focused on the upcoming General Assembly, approved the Paralympic Medal Events programme for the London 2012 Paralympic Games as well as the Sochi 2014 Sports programme (Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing, Ice Sledge Hockey, Wheelchair Curling). It was decided to not include Standing Ice Hockey on the Sochi 2014 Sports programme as the number of countries widely and regularly practicing the sport does currently not meet the minimum requirement of eight countries from two regions.

The Board also discussed and approved the International Federations that intend to apply for inclusion of a sport/discipline on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Sports Programme (Badminton, Canoe, Golf, Handball, Basketball ID, Futsal ID, Powerchair Football, Taekwondo, Triathlon).

Said IPC President Sir Philip Craven after the meeting: “This last meeting with the current Governing Board was as fruitful and productive as all the other meetings we had so far. I want to thank my fellow Governing Board members for their...

Paris, France and Bonn, Germany: Friday 6 November 2009 In a letter Thursday to Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA) asked for recognition of powerchair football (known as power soccer in the United States) as a sport for the 2016 Paralympic Games.

In accordance with IPC procedures, FIPFA consequently also seeks to become a member of the highly respected International Paralympic Committee as an independent federation governing powerchair football, a team sport widely played both competitively and for recreation by severely disabled athletes in 20 countries.

Speaking in Paris, France, where FIPFA has its official headquarters, the FIPFA President, Hervé Delattre stated that his letter to Sir Philip was sent after careful consideration in the governing bodies of FIPFA, which is as yet a relatively new structure for many in the sports world. Delattre has been involved as a volunteer since the idea of playing football in electric wheelchairs was born, thirty years ago.

He went on to say that for the 3500 players, coaches, referees, classifiers and volunteers involved in powerchair football the time seems to be truly right...