PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS
China's wheelchair fencers aim high for Grand Prix
The Chinese team head to the IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Grand Prix in Hong Kong (18-22 December) looking to continue their dominance, but the home nation will not be making it easy.
![Sochi 2014 poster](/sites/default/files/images/131218154358941_08.jpg)
Sochi 2014 posters to decorate Winter Games host city
Two official posters and special collection posters have been released by Sochi 2014.
![Natalia Bolshakova cheers after winning gold at the 2013 World Rowing Championships.](/sites/default/files/images/131216155314905_15_Natalia%2BBolshakova_2013%2BWorld%2BRowing%2BCup%2BCREDIT%2BLuc%2BPercival.jpg)
No. 15: Russian rookie rows to gold at Worlds
Natalia Bolshakova set a world-best time and upset the top contenders at the 2013 World Rowing Championships.
![Great Britain's Heather Mills debuted in the 2011-12 ski season](/sites/default/files/images/120222174104396_MillsHeather%2BCREDIT%2BMichael%2BKNAUS.jpg)
IPC Alpine Skiing statement - British athlete Heather Mills
IPC response to the statement issued earlier by British alpine skier Heather Mills
![Iran's Mansour Pourmirzaei](/sites/default/files/images/170202144321221_Mansour-Pourmirzaei%2B.jpg)
Mansour Pourmirzaei wins IPC Athlete of the Month
With a world record lift of 276kg at the IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships, Iran’s Mansour Pourmirzaei has cruised his way to winning IPC Athlete of the Month for November.
![Iran National Paralympic Week 2013](/sites/default/files/images/131217120428522_T-Shirt-2.jpg)
Iran celebrates National Paralympic Week
Thousands of children, dignitaries and celebrities help to raise awareness of sport for all in the country.
![Day 5 - biathlon - 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup (Canmore)](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/u2hAG95OckDFsGcpeWRXc-v5EZ6knu1IPdf6BNnMGZk.jpg?itok=H7AqAIj2)
Russia's dominance continues at IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup
For the second consectutive day, Russian athletes win 15 out of 18 medals in Canmore, Canada
![Paralympics Ireland](/sites/default/files/images/130621094131095_150943586.jpg)
Paralympics Ireland to embark on new strategic planning process
Plan the organisation through upcoming World Championships and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
![Saad Rafi, TO2015 CEO](/sites/default/files/images/131218104904797_HR-13-FINAL_web.jpg)
New Chief Executive Officer of TO2015 named
Saad Rafi to take over in January from previous CEO Ian Troop.
![Iran's Mansour Pourmirzaei](/sites/default/files/images/170202144321221_Mansour-Pourmirzaei%2B.jpg)
No. 16: Pourmirzaei lifts 2.5 times body weight
Iranian powerlifter could lift two of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger after setting a new world record of 276kg at the 2013 IPC Powerlifting Asian Open Championships.
![A picture of a woman in the pool with her head and hands above the surface](/sites/default/files/images/130124154556239_151099210.jpg)
Cortney Jordan and Jessica Long show their form at Can-Ams
USA’s Cortney Jordan and Jessica Long both booked two wins on the last day of the 2013 Speedo Can-Am Para-swimming Championships in Edmonton, Canada.
![Azat Karachurin lies to shoot a gun in hte short course biathlon event](/sites/default/files/images/131215143810144_Pam%2BDoyle%2BPhoto.jpg)
Russia win 15 out of 18 medals in biathlon World Cup
Host nation athletes of Sochi 2014 underline why they will be the ones to beat next March with empahatic disaply of power.
![Lucas Sithole No.17](/sites/default/files/images/131215224005450_17%2BLucas%2BSithole%2BBritish%2BOpen%2B2013%2Bby%2BTennis%2BFoundation.jpg)
No. 17: Lucas Sithole makes wheelchair tennis history
The South African became a global wheelchair tennis star after becoming the first from his continent to win a Grand Slam event.
![No 19 Ukraine](/sites/default/files/images/131214200500031_18_Dmytro%2BVynohradets_Montreal%2B2013_0.jpg)
No. 18: Ukrainian swimmers win 33 world titles
Olga Sviderska and Dmytro Vynohradets won seven gold medals each at the 2013 IPC Swimming World Championships, contributing to the 33 gold medals the team claimed overall.
![19. Canada Wheelchair Curling](/sites/default/files/images/131213125839758_19_Wheelchair%2BCurling%2BWorld%2BChampionship%2B2013_Flickr.jpg)
No. 19: Sonja Gaudet sweeps Canada to third title
Canada’s wheelchair curling team asserted their dominance with a third consecutive world title ahead of the Sochi 2014 Paralympics.
USA Wheelchair Rugby announces 2014 team
16-man squad to compete in 2014 world championships.
![Wheelchair Curling Worlds 2012 - Team USA](/sites/default/files/images/120223122353894_USA_Wheelchair_Curling_World_Champs_KOSAD.jpg)
USA Curling nominates athletes for Sochi 2014
Patrick McDonald to lead Team USA's hopes of first ever wheelchair curling medal.
![Day 3 - cross-country skiing long distance - 2013 IPC Nordic World Cup (Canmore)](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/BMXcJ-RxoaX3nwoTjOw_ShGP4EK4gkGtnIQqI6Xdiw4.jpg?itok=zY7JnElt)
Triple gold for Norway’s Marthinsen at Nordic World Cup
Marthinsen amongst multiple medal winners in long distance races at IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup.
![Day 2 - cross-country sprint - 2013 IPC Nordic World Cup (Canmore)](/sites/default/files/styles/video_crop_16_9/public/oembed_thumbnails/RrZBGk1ZzGc74q2EPpQJwEiBG1sr5Z6_p_wk3LkhWQA.jpg?itok=udP9vnZq)
World Champions dominate on second day of Nordic World Cup
Sprint classic races see top performers leading the field at the 2013 IPC Nordic Skiing World Cup in Canmore, Canada.
![Glenn Tasker is the new President of the Australian Paralympic Committee](/sites/default/files/images/131212092446346_Glenn%2BTasker%2Bcredit%2BGetty.jpg)
Tasker elected new APC President
The Board of Directors of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has unanimously elected Glenn Tasker as its new President.