PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
Griffioen, Peifer and Alcott retain Sydney titles
The Apia International was the first ITF Super Series of the year, with all 2016 singles champions successfully defending their title.
![Sao Paulo 2017 mascot](/sites/default/files/images/161114134033834_Sao%2BPaulo%2B2017.gif)
Media accreditation opens for Sao Paulo 2017
The fourth Youth Parapan American Games will take place in the Brazilian city from 20-25 March.
![Lucas Mazur - Badminton - France](/sites/default/files/images/170112144411530_Lucas%2BMazur%2B2.jpg)
Ones to watch for 2017 for badminton and shooting announced
Six badminton players and 12 shooters have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
Italy’s Bertagnolli: ‘If we ski well, we can win’
With under one week to go until his home alpine skiing World Championships, the teenager talks of his hopes.
![VISTA logo](/sites/default/files/images/170518140930999_VISTA2.jpg)
Two weeks to go until deadline for VISTA 2017 abstracts
Experts from around the world have until 31 January to submit their abstracts for September’s event in Canada.
![Andrea Eskau Oberstdorf](/sites/default/files/images/140118210640262_18_01_Oberstdorf_Nordic_WC_2014_00017_WEB.jpg)
Eskau sweeps cross-country World Cup
Ukraine also picked up five more home victories at the Western Center.
![Tine Teilmann portrait](/sites/default/files/images/140508104339154_Tine%2BTeilmann.jpg)
Nominations open for Women’s Day award
The Paralympic Movement is being asked to help celebrate role models, influencers and unsung heroes who help to grow female representation in Para sport.
![woman in red standing on stage in front of a gold background and addressing the crowd](/sites/default/files/images/141119191339933_Penny%2BBriscoe%2B-%2BMark%2BRunnacles_0.jpg)
Briscoe appointed Chef de Mission for PyeongChang 2018
The ParalympicsGB Senior Leadership Team for the Paralympic Winter Games was also confirmed, with Chief Executive Tim Hollingsworth taking the position of Secretary General again.
Ones to watch for 2017 for canoe and powerlifting announced
Six canoeists and 11 powerlifters have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
Loesch and Knight unbeaten at alpine skiing World Cup
Both skiers won the women’s sitting and visually impaired super combined respectively in Innerkrems, Austria, on Sunday (15 January).
![Oksana Shyshkova of Ukraine](/sites/default/files/images/161206112837805_GettyImages-479034701_0.jpg)
Ukraine’s Shyshkova back in top form at home
The Ukrainian secured her fourth cross-country World Cup win of the season on Sunday (15 January), after losing out in the middle distance classic.
![Rocio Ledesma stands on top of the podium whilst holding the flag from her province.](/sites/default/files/images/170113144954150_Rocio%2BLedesma.jpg)
Faces of the Future: Argentina's Rocio Ledesma
The 18-year-old judoka is hoping to successfully defend her title from Buenos Aires 2013 at the Sao Paulo 2017 Youth Parapan American Games.
![Group of sitting volleyball players celebrate after a point.](/sites/default/files/images/160918183100404_GettyImages-607536146.jpg)
Ones to watch for 2017 for sitting volleyball and goalball announced
Eight sitting volleyball and six goalball players have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
Blind football world rankings updated
Paralympic and world champions Brazil hold first, followed by South American rivals Argentina, China, Spain, Turkey and Iran.
![Oleksandra Kononova competing at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games](/sites/default/files/images/120209170123015_97924037_10.jpg)
Ukrainian skiers stand out at home World Cup
The host country’s Para Nordic skiers won two golds, three silvers and four bronzes in Western Center.
Kunz speeds to first World Cup victory since 2014
The Swiss sit-skier won the super-G at the World Cup in Innerkrems, Austria, beating New Zealand’s world champion Corey Peters.
![Veronika Vadovicova celebrates second gold medal win at Rio 2016](/sites/default/files/images/160910211044773_shoot%2Bok_0.jpg)
Veronika Vadovicova: My best moments of Rio 2016
As one of the most success shooters of the Paralympics, the two time gold medallist’s favorite Rio memories are hardly surprise.
Para alpine skiing Worlds to be streamed live
All speed and technical events at the last major Championships ahead of the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games will be shown fully live at Paralympic.org.
![Yanping Yuan (blue) of China with Alimova Khayitjon of Uzbekistan during the Women +70 kg Judo Gold Medal match on Day 3 of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/170105143223167_Yuan%2BYanping_Judo_GettyImages-602233696.jpg)
Ones to watch for 2017 for judo and table tennis announced
Six judoka and eight table tennis players have been named as athletes to look out for in 2017.
Para Nordic skiing Worlds mascot gets a name
The name was selected after a competition on social media.