PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![A swimmer celebrating in the pool observed by another swimmer](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/Simone%20Barlaam%20of%20Italy%20-%20Photo%20by%20David%20Fitzgerald-Sportsfile.jpg?itok=2pej4zju)
Euros, a very special place for Barlaam
Three years after his breakthrough in Dublin, Italian Para swimmer goes for more gold medals in Madeira
![Mohammad Abbas Karimi smiling while sitting next to a swimming pool](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/Abbas%20Thumbnail.jpg?h=37b31ebc&itok=ou0830aq)
Refugee Abbas Karimi driven to prove a lesson
Born without arms, Karimi fled his home in Afghanistan to explore a new future
![A male swimmer without his left hand swimming a pool](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2020-08/GettyImages-1174423996.jpg?itok=HHAogAqZ)
Veiga and Grachat lead Portugal at home Europeans
Eight athletes to represent the hosts at the second edition of the European Open Championships in Madeira
![Chinese sitting volleyball team celebrates on the podium after winning gold at London 2012](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/Tang-Xuemei.jpg?h=e9c7b8c0&itok=k7tYuniX)
Tang finds true calling for sitting volleyball
Chinese player survives earthquake and goes on to become Paralympic champion
![Woman shoots basketball over defenders](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-04/Katharina-Lang-2018WC-credit%20uliphoto_-43760.jpg?h=434387bf&itok=XuPHhMhp)
Draws made for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Women and men’s groups set up thrilling tip off in August
![A group of five male wheelchair racers on an athletics track in an empty stadium](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/Tokyo%202020%20-%20Test%20Event2.jpg?itok=EpNpwcFT)
Five takeaways from the Ready Steady Tokyo test event
Japanese and Asian records fall as 120 Para athletes take part in the Ready Steady Tokyo competition at the National Stadium
![P&G and Archewell Foundation logos](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/PG-Archewell.jpg?itok=V83qBi3N)
P&G and Archewell Foundation to use Para sports to build better communities
Global partnership aims to make a difference in three focus areas
![Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium 2.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-04/Tokyo%202020%20Olympic%20Stadium_reduced.jpg?itok=zziYbx2e)
WHO expresses confidence in delivery of safe and secure Games
Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme supports countermeasures, Playbooks and decision on spectators
![A banner showing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2023-11/E%20SDG%20Poster%202019_without%20UN%20emblem_WEB.jpg?itok=0o2I2wv2)
Madeira 2020 joins UN SDG #TurnItAround campaign
European Open Championships to support promotion and awareness about United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
![Group of men posing for photo holding signed agreement](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/bahrain-UN.jpeg?itok=CaCpvms3)
NPC Bahrain signs cooperation agreement with UNDP
The two parties will work together to further the Sustainable Development Goals
Goalball pools decided for Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
Teams learn their fates as groups are drawn ahead of competition kick-off on 25 August
![Japanese wheelchair tennis player hits backhand return](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/funamizu-shiori%202.jpg?itok=_jGIWXng)
Funamizu rises from the junior ranks
The 20-year-old took on the challenge of learning how to master the different intricacies of wheelchair tennis. Now, she wants to be like Yui Kamiji.
Roohallah Rostami breaks world record in Thailand
Season’s third World Para Powerlifting World Cup sees Iran top medals table with five golds and one silver
![A female Para snowboarder riding with one arm](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/Snowboard-Serbia4_0.jpg?h=cf0b5b0c&itok=hsBhWQ1z)
‘Free spirit’ Nesic brings Serbia into Para snowboard world
'Free spirit' Para snowboarder wants to show others in her country that it is never too late to start
![The view of a ski slope in Lillehammer, Norway](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/assets_ioc_2021-05-07_125427.jpg?h=2d94cc57&itok=rg3rtNdd)
World Para Snow Sports to host online Nations Meetings in June
Four virtual sessions to set direction for sports development during next season ahead of the World Championships and Winter Paralympics
Madeira 2020: Ones to Watch - Male swimmers
Ten male swimmers who will be among the top stars at the Madeira 2020 European Open Championships
![Male handcyclist rounds a corner](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/DeLosSantosMH5ParaTTHuntsville041721-159.jpg?h=1f1b7cb3&itok=FW_rBcAX)
De los Santos finds expression through art and cycling
As handcyclist hopes to make Tokyo 2020 Paralympic team, he finds peace in other forms
![A man on a bench press lifting a bar in a Para powerlifting competition](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/PONGSAO%20Amorntep.jpg?itok=hXONG4Sa)
Bangkok ready to host first-ever World Cup ever
Third stop in the 2021 season will see Paralympic and World Championships medallists on stage during three action-packed days
![Collage of two athletes, one female athlete running with a prosthetic and another of a male nurse](/sites/default/files/styles/image_crop_16_9_800_450/public/2021-05/melissa-stockwell-kim-daybell.jpg?itok=8WdIVjrM)
Paralympian and Olympian-supported charities receive P&G grants
Athletes' charities receive more than USD 500,000 in grants from joint initiative by IPC, IOC and P&G