ABSTRACT
As outlined in Chapter 1 disability sport from an organisational perspective originally developed along the lines of specific impairment groups. Originally there were six of these International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs), but in 2002 the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) merged with the International Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ISOD) to form the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS). Therefore, the five current IOSDs are:
• The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) • The International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) • The Cerebral Palsied International Sports and Recreation Association
(CP-ISRA) • The International Sports Federation for People with an Intellectual
Disability (INAS-FID) • The Comité International des Sports des Sourds (CISS)
The first three are currently members of IPC and take part in the Paralympic Games. INAS-FID are also members of IPC, however, their athletes are currently banned from the Paralympic Games. The reasons behind this can be found in Chapter 10. CISS, who are responsible for deaf and hard of hearing athletes have their own world games called the Deaflympics, which usually take place the year following the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games. Today each IOSD is responsible for the development of sport for athletes in the specific impairment groups that they represent. Each organisation has its own
world games, although with IWAS, IBSA and CP-ISRA these Games are largely a stepping stone for athletes wishing to make the Paralympic Games, as well as an opportunity to experience international competition for those athletes who may never be quite good enough to perform at the Paralympic Games.
