PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Sao Paulo 2017 mascot](/sites/default/files/images/161114134033834_Sao%2BPaulo%2B2017.gif)
Powerlifting criteria for Sao Paulo 2017 announced
Athletes must be between 15-20 years old, and each NPC can take up to three athletes per category to this year’s Youth Parapan American Games.
Goalball to be contested at 2017 Pajulahti Games
Lahti, Finland, will stage the event from 20-22 January, with goalball teams from nine countries competing in both men’s and women’s tournaments.
Ones to watch for 2017 for rowing and wheelchair basketball announced
Nine rowers and eight wheelchair basketball players have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
![A male athlete with prosthetic legs and a female athlete](/sites/default/files/images/170224152557889_jessica-enis-hill-richard-whitehead-london-mascot-searcg.jpg)
Ennis-Hill and Whitehead launch mascot design competition live on Blue Peter
Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill and double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead are ambassadors and part of the judging panel for entries
Skiers continue World Championships warm-up
Dutch, Austrian, German, Canadian Italian and Slovakian athletes all reached the top of the podium at the World Cup in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia.
![Vitaliy Lukyanenko - Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games](/sites/default/files/images/140617095642764_SOC_20140314_LP_1205_WEB_0.jpg)
Lukyanenko wins first race since Sochi Paralympics
Ukraine’s multi-Paralympic champion won the men’s biathlon sprint visually impaired at a World Cup on home soil in Western Center, on 19 January.
![Andreas Onea of Austria competes at the Men's 100m Breaststroke SB8 Final at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.](/sites/default/files/images/170118105728920_Andreas%2BOnea.jpg)
Austria’s Onea on agonising four-year medal wait
The swimmer sealed his first Paralympic medal at Rio 2016, ending a run of fourth place finishes.
Ones to watch for 2017 for taekwondo and triathlon announced
Six taekwondo athletes and 14 triathletes have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
Houdet, Reid on equal points in men’s world rankings
The new wheelchair tennis rankings have been published by the International Tennis Federation whilst the Melbourne Open draws were also revealed.
![Finland's Petri Posio and Erkki Miinala block the ball during their gold-medal match at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. After winning Paralympic gold, the Finnish squad will now host the 2014 World Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/130919140941426_151463100.jpg)
Brazil and Finland announce new national coaches
Jarkko Pokkinen was named head coach of the Finish men’s goalball team and Raphael Moreira was announced as coach of the Brazilian table tennis team.