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(CANCELLED DUE TO COVID) AWL US Team Trip to Inaugural 2022 Virtus Americas Games (Brazil)
September 18, 2022 - September 23, 2022
JUNE Update: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled by the organizers in Brazil. The economic situation world-wide has made it impossible for many other nations in the America’s region to send teams this year. We thank the Brazilian organizers for trying to host this event and hope that in the future it can be held there. In the mean time we encourage athletes to explore the opportunities at the upcoming 2023 Virtus Global Games in France for which planning is well underway by the French organizers.
The 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This multi-sport event will take place at the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center from 18 to 23 September 2022. To date sports include: Athletics/Track, Basketball, Futsal, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Swimming.
Virtus would like to congratulate CBDI – Confedera Brasileira de Desportos para Deficientes Intelectuais (Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Intellectual Disabled) as the successful National Member Organisation.
There are 16 nations currently represented in the Virtus Americas region. This first Regional Games will showcase the very best athlete talents representing their countries, competing for medals and achieving personal best performances.
The 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games will set a competitive schedule across three Virtus eligibility groups:
Virtus II1: Athletes with intellectual disability
Athletes with an IQ of 75 or lower, Significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior and onset prior to age 18. Also called S-14 in Paralympic Swimming, T-20 in Paralympic Track & Field, Class 11 in Paralypmic/ITTF Table Tennis, and P20 in World Taekwondo.
Virtus II2: Athletes with intellectual disability and significant additional impairment
This group includes most athletes with Down Syndrome and others who meet the II1 criteria and have additional (physical) impairment.
Virtus II3: Athletes with autism who are not eligible in II1
Virtus Trial group for athletes with Autism who do not meet the IQ and/or Adaptive Behavior criteria used for the II1 group.
Learn more about the eligibility groups and criteria for US athletes on Athletes Without Limits Eligibility page.
The sports program is being finalised. The following sports are currently planned for the competition schedule – Athletics/Track, Basketball, Futsal, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and Swimming. There may also be demonstration events following consultation with Virtus and National Members in the coming months. The Final Sports Program is subject to change and final approvals.
Virtus President, Mr. Marc Truffaut said the 2022 Virtus Americas Regional Games now secures the third Regional Games event, joining Europe and Oceania/Asia Games on the Virtus sports program for 2022.
Congratulations to Mr. Adilson Pereira Ramos, President of CBDI, and his team for their winning bid, Mr. Truffaut said
I am looking forward to seeing a celebration of sport come together in the cultural and vibrant city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Through sport, Virtus and its athletes are changing attitudes, challenging perceptions and strengthening communities locally and globally he said.
The Brazilian Paralympic Training Center features indoor and outdoor sports facilities that are used for training and competitions at Paralympic standards. In addition, it has a residential area with accommodation for 280 people, a cafeteria, laundry and an administrative sector with rooms, auditoriums, and other spaces of support.
CBDI President, Mr. Adilson Pereira Ramos said hosting the first Virtus Americas Games in Sao Paulo, with the use of world class facilities built for Paralympic training, allows athletes to experience the same stage as Paralympians.
This event will contribute to the nation’s goal to help massify Paralympic sport in Brazil and help in the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society, Mr. Ramos said.
I would like to thank our key supporters in this bid – Brazilian Paralympic Committee, Municipality of Sao Paulo, Government of the State of Sao Paulo, Ministry of Sports, Brazilian Swimming Confederation CBDA and Liga Nacional de Futsal.
Our vision for this event, is to shine light athletes from every part of the Americas region, where even a young man or woman, from a small town, can become a national athlete on a world stage.
Sport and competition is in our DNA and my team and I will be calling on our current Regional Members and hopefully new nations to bring their best athletes to put on a great competitive multi-sport event, he said.
More information about the event program, sport, and eligibility will be shared when available.
Athletes Without Limits will post additional details as we learn more about this inaugural event from Virtus and the event organizers and will be able to field questions at that time.
