PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Marcel Hug powers to victory in the 2014 IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland.](/sites/default/files/images/140517181239088_IPC_ATH_GP_NOTTWILL_20140516_LP_0264_WEB_0.jpg)
IPC Athletics 2015 Grand Prix set for five continents
IPC Athletics has announced the biggest year ever of events for para-athletics in the year before Rio 2016
![A group of five men, three blindfolded and wearing football shirts, jump up and hug in celebration](/sites/default/files/images/141128104700309_34%2BBrazil%2Bwin%2BBlind%2BFootball%2BWorld%2BChampionshps_0.jpg)
No. 34 Brazil’s 5-a-side team secure fourth world title
A 1-0 win over arch-rivals Argentina means Brazil have now won four world titles in the last 16 years.
![Hannah Cockroft lighting the heritage flame in a metal sphere](/sites/default/files/images/141127152652369_35%2Bbranded%2Bcredit%2BGetty_0.jpg)
No. 35 First ever Heritage Flame lit at Stoke Mandeville
• The IPC’s Top 50 Moments of 2014 continue with British Paralympian Hannah Cockroft’s involvement in the first ever international leg of the Paralympic Torch Relay.
![Two women in wheelchairs on a tennis court hold a trophy and smile to the camera.](/sites/default/files/images/140707095948723_451764938_0.jpg)
Big shock as Whiley defeats Kamiji at wheelchair tennis masters
Shock on the first day of the 2014 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, as Japan’s defending champion Yui Kamiji slips to defeat in the opening game
![Sledge hockey players on the ice in action](/sites/default/files/images/141126152120625_Sledge%2Bhockey%2Bnorway%2Bsweden_0.jpg)
Norway move to second in sledge hockey World Series
Norway take a double win, but a victory for Sweden gives them their own edge in the overall standings.
![A picture of a Wheelchair Fencer celebrating her victory](/sites/default/files/images/121130094658831_151462671.jpg)
Hungary dominate wheelchair fencing World Cup
Zsuzsanna Krajnyak was the star of the show as Hungary excelled on home soil in Eger, winning four titles.
![No. 36 Beatrice Vio fences to gold after studious hiatus](/sites/default/files/images/141126121814465_36%2Bbranded%2Bcreit%2BLuc%2BPercival_0.jpg)
No. 36 Beatrice Vio fences to gold after studious hiatus
Having concentrated on schoolwork rather than wheelchair fencing in early 2014, Italian prodigy Beatrice Vio returned to win two titles at the European Championships.
![Logo NPC Republic of Korea](/sites/default/files/images/140715102958911_Logo%2Bsquare.jpg)
South Korean para-cyclists complete international bicycle tour
Six South Korean para-cyclists took part in the final stretch of the tour, which covered 15,000km in a bid to promote Korean reunification.
![IPC President Sir Philip Craven with Croatian Paralympic President Ratko Kovacic at the 50th anniversary of para sport in Croatia.](/sites/default/files/images/140909174054218_hpo05.jpg)
Allianz’s Wholehearted Coaches project wins best sponsorship award
The project, which was started in 2013, aims to develop sport for people with impairments, and has now been nominated for the ESA Best of Europe award
Sir Philip Craven’s visit to India will raise para-sport’s profile
IPC President laid the foundation stone for a new Indian Para-Sports Academy on Tuesday (24 November).
![A picture of a man skiing](/sites/default/files/images/130116121636279_97805313.jpg)
Ulset highlights competition ahead of Nordic ski season
Norway’s reigning world champion Nils-Erik Ulset on the threat of Russia’s Azat Karachurin and Canadian Mark Arendz.
![Two women make a jump of joy on a podium](/sites/default/files/images/141125124344875_37%2Bbranded%2Bcredit%2Bgetty%2Bv2_0.jpg)
No. 37 Gallagher and Evans win historic Sochi gold
At Sochi 2014, Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans became the first British skiers to win gold at either an Olympic and Paralympic Games.
![CAN vs NOR Canadian player Brad Bowden weaves by goalie to score on an open net](/sites/default/files/images/140617114009256_SOC_140309_MH_5318_0.jpg)
Canadian sledge hockey roster trimmed to 19
Players to progress to national training camp before selection is made for the 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships A-Pool from 24 April-2 May.
![Logo Paralympics New Zealand](/sites/default/files/images/141007104952155_NZ_Paralympics_Corporate.jpg)
Nine New Zealand swimmers attend development camp
With one eye on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, nine young New Zealand swimmers attended a camp in a bid to develop their skills and technique.
2014-15 alpine skiing season: 19 skiers to watch
IPC Alpine Skiing reveals the Ones to Watch athletes for the 2014-15 season.
![Boccia International Sports Federation icon](/sites/default/files/images/130312103341528_Boccia_140.png)
BISFed invite bids for 2016 events
The Boccia International Sports Federation is now accepting bids for the five competitions it plans to host in 2016.
![Sir Philip Craven](/sites/default/files/images/140311115704422_Sir%2BPhilip_477111561_0.jpg)
IPC President praises technology in encouraging para-sport growth
Speaking at a major UNESCO conference in Delhi, India, Sir Philip Craven has said that although much has been achieved, much more still can be done.
![three wheelchair tennis players and the Mayor of London holding tennis rackets up in front of London Bridge](/sites/default/files/images/141124182315637_Mayor%2Bof%2BLondon%2BNEC%2BWheelchair%2BTennis%2BMasters_0.jpg)
Mayor of London meets stars ahead of NEC Masters
Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, met a number of wheelchair tennis stars at City Hall, London, Great Britain, ahead of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters
![A yellow mascots and blue mascot with green leaves as hair stand on top of Rio's Sugar Loaf mountain.](/sites/default/files/images/170202124815472_Tom-and-Vinicius.jpg)
Meet the Rio 2016 mascots
Inspired by animals and plants, Rio 2016 has launched its mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
![Great Britain's Kelly Gallagher (right) and guide Charlotte Evans (left) celebrate winning Sochi 2014 gold in the women's Super-G](/sites/default/files/images/140614104829434_477618159_0.jpg)
Gallagher and Evans shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality
British skiers on shortlist of 10 for prestigious award which will be presented on Sunday 14 December.