PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Breaking down barriers - Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/OL41WcJXEVHYQelFbj5RKYQi80oJP58Q_BH_Vv_nbWE.jpg?itok=kg__NRa9)
IPC launches spectacular Sochi 2014 highlights video
To mark the three month anniversary since the Closing Ceremony of the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has launched a stunning online short film ”Sochi 2014 – Breaking Down Barriers” featuring many highlights from March’s event.
![A picture of a man holding the starting block with his hands](/sites/default/files/images/130124161433115_151031643.jpg)
Swimmers to watch with 50 days until Eindhoven 2014
A total of 22 swimmers with 98 Paralympic and 123 world gold medals have been listed ahead of the 2014 swimming Euros and other major competitions.
![Jose Roberto Ferreira de Oliveira (L) and Filippe Santos Silvestre of Brazil dive in front of the goal during the Men's Group A Goalball match between Finland and Brazil on day 1 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/140106111541236_Goalball%2BBrazil%2Bcredit%2Bgetty_0.jpg)
Goalball world rankings for May published
IBSA have published their monthly goalball world rankings as of 31 May and it sees a change at the top of the women’s game, whilst there is no change in the top five of the men’s game.
![A view onto the Rio 2016 venues](/sites/default/files/images/140123113817823_PO%2Balta%2BCredit%2BAECOM_0.jpg)
Update to Rio 2016 para-athletics medals programme
IPC Athletics has announced that 27 of the 177 events planned for inclusion in the track and field programme at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games are currently not meeting the minimum eligibility criteria as of 6 June 2014 due to the population of athletes.
![A young amputee girl smiles to the camera, wearing a white t-shirt with a Swansea 2014 imprint](/sites/default/files/images/140616112339608_Molly%2BSwansea_0.jpg)
German Assignment for Swansea 2014 Youngster
An aspiring young Paralympian will fly to Berlin for a unique Swansea 2014 mission this week.
![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)
Kelly Gallagher and Charlotte Evans awarded MBEs for Sochi 2014 success
The pair were Great Britain's first ever winners of a Paralympic Winter Games gold medal and have been recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list.
![On the left, a wheelchair basketball player looks to pass the ball. On the right is typed information about the 2014 Women's Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/140516105055085_9090727651_92994c4550_o_0.jpg)
Teams set for largest women’s World Championships in history
Twelve teams are heading to Toronto, Canada, for the women's wheelchair basketball World Championships which start on Friday.
![Sophie Pascoe Day 3 London](/sites/default/files/images/120901140832111_Pascoe_0.jpg)
Roly Crichton confirmed as full time PNZ Performance Coach
Coach of Sophie Pascore will become a Performance Coach for Paralympicz New Zealand para-swimming programme.
![Zak Madell](/sites/default/files/images/130807095238087_Zak%2BMadell.jpg)
Zak Madell eager for Canada Cup to begin
Eight of the best teams will compete in Vancouver just two months prior to playing at the World Championships.
![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)
Kelly Gallagher, Charlotte Evans, Jenny Archer awarded MBEs
Sochi 2014 gold medallists Gallagher and Evans recognised together with Jenny Archer in Queen's birthday honours list.
![British wheelchair racer David Weir with his lifelong coach Jenny Archer MBE.](/sites/default/files/images/140614101314676_Weir%2BArcher_0.jpg)
David Weir’s coach Jenny Archer awarded an MBE
Since becoming Weir's coach in 2002, Archer has seen her prodigy win six Paralympic golds and six world titles
![Aled Davies throwing a discus](/sites/default/files/images/140601094027248_IPC_ATH_GP_GROSETTO_20140531_LP_1689_WEB.jpg)
Aled Davies wins Athlete of the Month for May
Great Britain’s Aled Davies wins the public vote after breaking the discus world record at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Grosseto, Italy.
![Paralympian 02/2014 page 6](/sites/default/files/images/140613114219840_WEB_Paralympian_02_2014_final_s_Page_21_Page_07_0.jpg)
25-year anniversary edition of The Paralympian now online
Filled with Sochi 2014 highlights and a special feature about the 25 years since the IPC was founded, the second edition of 2014 will not disappoint.
![Veronika Vadovicova 2014](/sites/default/files/images/140609120203442_Vadovicova%2BFort%2BBenning_0.jpg)
Visually impaired shooting to be demonstrated at Suhl 2014
IPC Shooting is offering visually impaired athletes the chance to take part in a demonstration event during the 2014 World Championships, with a view to future development of the sport under IPC Shooting.
![Sir Philip Craven](/sites/default/files/images/140311115704422_Sir%2BPhilip_477111561_0.jpg)
“Gender parity at the Paralympic Games is our goal,” says Sir Philip Craven
Speaking at the 6th International Working Group (IWG) World Conference on Women and Sport in Helsinki, Finland, the IPC President outlined the Paralympic Movement's long term ambition.
![Walid Ktila](/sites/default/files/images/130801135913000_174411150.jpg)
Africa set to stage its first IPC Athletics Grand Prix
The IPC Athletics Grand Prix series moves to Africa for the 8th Tunis International Meeting on 16-18 June, marking the first time the continent has staged a major IPC Athletics event.
![Female wheelchair basketball players lined up, cheering during a game with an amputee man in a suit standing in front of them](/sites/default/files/images/140612105606611_151458974_0.jpg)
Van der Linden prepares for two World Championships in successive months
For most coaches, managing one team is stressful enough, but preparing two teams for upcoming World Championships in successive months takes some doing.
![Athlete swimming.](/sites/default/files/images/130808115327516_151079333.jpg)
Norway’s Rung aims to make 2014 her best season ever
Four-time world champion and double Paralympic champion Sarah Louise Rung reveals that despite winning four gold medals at the 2013 worlds, she can swim better and faster at Eindhoven 2014.
![Man in black suit putting a medal around a young girls neck](/sites/default/files/images/140612131912715_IMG_1059_0.jpeg)
Second site visit reveals exciting plans for 2015 Inas Global Games
Officials from Inas - the International Federation for Sport for athletes with an intellectual impairment - this week concluded their second site visit to Guayaquil, Ecuador, venue for the 2015 Inas Global Games.
![The british doubles team (Shuker/Whiley) plays at the London 2012 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/130613155055107_120907_152547_mh_3149.jpg)
Trio of British wheelchair tennis players set for Wimbledon
Australian Open and Roland Garros champion Jordanne Whiley is among three Brits on the Tennis Foundation’s Performance Programme set to contest the wheelchair tennis doubles event at Wimbledon this year after the British No. 1 and British No.2 Lucy Shuker gained direct entry for the women’s doubles with their respective partners.