Biggest Sporting Events in Adaptive Sports

IWAS World Games

Abbreviated from International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports, IWAS are a multi-sport competition for athletes with disability. Started by neurologist Ludwig Guttmann in 1948, IWAS was renamed as World Wheelchair Games in 1997. The recent edition was held at Sharjah, UAE which included the following sports Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Swimming, Shooting, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Fencing. 

Invictus Games

Created by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the Invictus Games is an international adapative multi-sport event in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and associated veterans take place. Sports included in the Invictus Games are wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball and indoor rowing.

The name Invictus was taken from Latin for ‘unconquered’ or ‘undefeated’ and the first games took place in 2014 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, UK. The latest edition at Sydney in 2018 saw 18 nations participating and the next games will be hosted at Rotterdam & The Hague in 2020.