PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Michele George, winner of the Belgian Paralympian of the Year 2014.

Para-dressage rider joins list of previous winners including Joachim Gerard and Marieke Vervoort

Alexey Bugaev, Russian Federation is so fast his speed moves the gates and takes the gold medal

Bugaev leads a clean sweep for Russia in the men’s standing, whilst Rothfuss, Schaffelhuber and Krako also picked up wins.

Ellie Simmonds and Andrew Mullen in the pool with a huge ticket in hand

Britain’s best known Paralympian launches tickets sales for the nation’s biggest para-sport event since London 2012.

Longjumper jumping in front of Allianz banner

2014 has been a hugely successful year for the sports governed by the International Paralympic Committee.

Anna Schaffelhuber

Paralympic medallists Markus Salcher, Andrea Rothfuss and Valerii Redkozubov also finish on top of the podium in Pitztal, Austria.

A yellow mascots and blue mascot with green leaves as hair stand on top of Rio's Sugar Loaf mountain.

Nearly 325,000 people took part in the public vote to decide the name of the Rio 2016 Paralympic mascot.

Game kicks off at centre ice

Find out more about the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B-Pool, taking place from 15-21 March.

An athlete poses showing his gold medal.

Powerlifting world champion Ali Jawad looks forward to competing against Egypt's Sherif Othman next year.

Three sprinters run on a blue track

Find out who are the young track and field stars who could come of age during the 2015 para-athletics season

female athlete in a sit ski propelling herself forward

Russia has dominated the IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup yet again, taking all men’s victories, whilst USA’s Oksana Masters won her first World Cup event.