PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
![Man in wheelchair on a tennis court, showing a trophy to the camera](/sites/default/files/images/151207105000648_Joachim%2BGerard.jpg)
Joachim Gerard named December’s Allianz Athlete of the Month
The Belgian upset No. 1 men’s singles player Kunieda in the year-end Masters to land the honour.
![Sports programme confirmed for 2017 Youth Parapan American Games](/sites/default/files/images/160121102704426_2017%2BYouth%2BParapan%2BAmerican%2BGames.jpg)
Sports programme confirmed for 2017 Youth Parapan American Games
The Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, will feature 1,000 athletes competing in 12 sports.
![Virginia Azu competes at the 2015 IPC Powerlifting European Open Championships in Eger, Hungary.](/sites/default/files/images/151127191845090_powerlifting_eger%2B%25281299%2529.jpg)
Rio 2016 powerlifting Test Event attracts champions
A series of Americas Championships gold medallists and lifters from around the world will get the chance to compete in the venue for the upcoming Paralympics.
![Australian athletes mark the launch of the Australian Paralympic Foundation.](/sites/default/files/images/160120025311529_Cadbury_Paralympians_01_V1.jpg)
AUD 1million donation from Cadbury kicks off Australian Paralympic Foundation
The Australian Paralympic Foundation is the new fundraising division of the APC.
![Matti Suur-Hamari took the victory in the men's SB-LL2 snowboard-cross race at the La Molina 2015 IPC Para-Snowboard World Championships](/sites/default/files/images/150226160710203_150224_LAMOLINA_IPC_2015_SUUR__1.jpg)
Suur-Hamari looks to build on good season start
Finnish snowboard-cross world champion is working harder than ever during the 2015-16 World Cup season.
![Canada's women's sitting volleyball team playing Cuba in the bronze medal game at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.](/sites/default/files/images/151022182926518_DSC_7157.jpg)
WPV welcomes Blue Mountains Natural Spring Water as a Sponsor
The historic deal between World ParaVolley and Blue Mountains Natural Spring Water will support the last qualifying event for Rio 2016: the 2016 World ParaVolley Intercontinental.
![Dylan Alcott celebrates winning his quad wheelchair tennis singles match against Great Britain's Andy Lapthorne at the 2014 Australian Open.](/sites/default/files/images/140210082240480_464535989.jpg)
Peifer, Griffioen, Alcott win Sydney Super Series titles
Many wheelchair tennis players made their 2016 debut at the Super Series tournament in Sydney, Australia.
![Young canoeist in aciton](/sites/default/files/images/150911162817188_Dylan%2BLittlehales.jpg)
Canoe: 5 questions to be answered
Canoe will debut at the Paralympics in Rio. Here are five questions to think about as the Games come closer.
![Man holding up an American flag](/sites/default/files/images/151029174952285_browne.jpg)
Athletics record breakers in 2016
With Rio 2016 fast approaching we look at which world records could fall in Paralympic year.
![a male from Germany wearing red and black clothes competing in the long jump](/sites/default/files/images/160115115459552_Markus%2Brehm%2Bcredit%2Bgetty.jpg)
Paralympic champion Markus Rehm to face Olympic champion Greg Rutherford in major UK indoor meeting
Paralympic long jump champion Markus Rehm will take on Olympic champion Greg Rutherford at the world’s number one indoor athletics grand prix
![Two graphics with ice sledge hockey results, illustrated by photos](/sites/default/files/images/160119135629730_WSHC%2BResults%2Bday%2B2.jpg)
Canada, USA go 2-0 at World Sledge Hockey Challenge
Canada blanks South Korea, the US edge Russia on day two of tournament play. Preliminary rounds wrap up 20 January for first-place slot.
![Podium with three men smiling.](/sites/default/files/images/160119163327888_20160119-00981.jpg)
Bugaev’s strong first run enough for first place
The Russian posted the fastest run in the men’s giant slalom standing to take first on day two of the World Cup.
![Podium of six people in front of a branded wall](/sites/default/files/images/160118171616412_Womens%2Bvisually%2Bimpaired%2Bslalom%2BTarvisio.jpg)
US skiers take six podiums at alpine World Cup
The dominant performance included wins for Staci Manella and Tyler Walker in slalom in Tarvisio, Italy, on Monday (18 January).
![Sculpture showing a golbus held by four people](/sites/default/files/images/150615103709107_USOC.jpg)
US Paralympics launches athlete development model
The American Development Model for Paralympic Sport aims to enable athletes to participate in Paralympic sport at all levels.
![a photo showing the top half of a lady in a canoe wearing a white top, life jacket and sunglasses](/sites/default/files/images/151216124542430_EdinaMuller%2BRalfKuckuck%2BDBS-Akademie.jpg)
Canoe: 10 things we learned in 2015
With canoe set to debut at the Paralympics in Rio 2016, 2015 was a big year for athletes. Here are what we learned coming off of last year.
![A female swimmer doing breaststroke](/sites/default/files/images/160118121816232_Marks_Elizabeth_1_800_375.jpg)
US swimmers break records at Jimi Flowers Classic
Elizabeth Marks showed good form, setting a new world record in the women’s 50m breaststroke SB7 in Colorado Springs.
![Two graphics showing sledge hockey results](/sites/default/files/images/160118125045642_Day%2B1%2Bresults%2BWSHC.jpg)
Winning start for Canada, US at Sledge Hockey Challenge
Hosts Canada open their account with a 5-1 victory over Russia, whilst the US beat South Korea 8-1 in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
![Para-Snowboard](/sites/default/files/images/160125131446677_150228IPC0551.jpg)
Moore praises Great Britain’s snowsport development
The World Championships medallist is also training hard to achieve World Cup success this season.
![Marie Bochet](/sites/default/files/images/151028104258633_Marie%2BBochet_getty.jpg)
French team prepare for ‘rapid, dramatic’ speed races
The IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in Tignes, France, will see the first speed races of the 2015-16 contested.
![Logo_International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID)](/sites/default/files/images/161010105910538_Inas_logo_large.jpg)
INAS teams up with Sport:80
The new partnership will help INAS launch innovative online services.