PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Allianz Fact of the week Football 5

The game uses a special ball with a bell inside that makes a noise as it moves to guide the players. Each team also has a guide behind the opponent’s goal to direct the players when they shoot.

A player wearing blue seated in a wheelchair with a white ball on his lap about to collide with an opponent wearing white.

Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile all qualify for next year’s Parapan American Games

Man on a track holding a handbike above his head and smiling

On 5 September 2012, 21 years after he last raced there in Formula 3000, a laughing Alex Zanardi hoisted his handcycle aloft at Brands Hatch and punched the air after winning double gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

A woman in a wheelchair hits a tennis ball as a backhand.

Japanese world number ones will be aiming for title success at Flushing Meadows

Richard Browne of the United States looks on after the Men's 100m T44 heats on day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Two races – the men’s 200m T44 and women’s 400m T34-54 – will take place at the final Diamond League meeting of the year.

Two men on a press conference podium.

German Thomas Weirkert succeeds Canadian Adham Sharara who has taken up his new role as ITTF President

Lin Ma

The Chinese class 9 player has had a tough season, but hopes to make a comeback at the 2014 ITTF Para-Table Tennis World Championships in Beijing.

Six men celebrating on a volleyball field.

The Paralympic Movement is filled with inspirational and compelling stories of triumph over adversity, but there are few stories as awe-inspiring as the Rwandan sitting volleyball team’s formation and qualification for London 2012.

Two women in wheelchairs with tennis rackets during a match

November’s event will feature 20 of the world’s best wheelchair tennis players.

Zak Madell

After a bumper month of sport in August, the nominations will be split into three categories beginning with Best Male.