News

World Boccia and Gerflor have signed a new four-year agreement that extends one of the sport’s most established technical partnerships and marks the third consecutive contract cycle between the sport’s international governing body and the global flooring manufacturer.

The renewed deal confirms Gerflor as the official flooring provider for all top-tier boccia competitions worldwid. It also sets the framework for a deeper collaboration with athletes as the company looks to refine future surfaces in line with the sport’s evolving technical demands.

This decision confirms World Sailing’s firm commitment to maintaining a fair, inclusive, and globally consistent competitive structure for athletes with disabilities as the federation continues its mission to grow the sport worldwide and achieve a return of the sport into the Paralympic Games. 

The new Classification Sub-Committee will operate under the direction of the Para World Sailing Committee and will be responsible for overseeing the global integrity and governance of the athlete classification system. 

By Graham Thomas

When the world’s best boccia players arrive in Seoul next August, they will be stepping into a venue steeped in Olympic heritage, hosted by a polished organisation who have a growing sense of ambition.

The 2026 World Boccia Championships promises to be the biggest and most technically advanced edition yet — and Technical Delegate Rachael Crack believes the Korean hosts are well on their way to delivering something special.

“It’s an amazing venue,” Crack says.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the International Blind Tennis Association (IBTA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance global development and strengthen collaboration between the two organisations.

The MOU reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to tennis and ensuring the sport is inclusive and accessible for all, while growing opportunities for blind and visually impaired players of all ages and skill levels.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) and World ParaVolley (WPV) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote volleyball in all its forms and ensure it is more accessible and inclusive.

Seoul, 23 September 2025 — The Association of Paralympic Sport Organisations (APSO) held its General Assembly in Seoul, where members reviewed reports and finances, endorsed the APSO Strategy 2025–2032, and elected new leadership.

In the presidential election, Dr. Debra Alexander (South Africa) won with 10 votes to 5 against Richard Allcroft (United Kingdom).

Underlining its commitment to the evolution of Para Snow Sports, FIS has invested in a series of research initiatives and strategic partnerships with leading academic institutions across all three disciplines. 

The Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO) Executive Board has formally approved the composition of the new APSO Classification Commission (ACC). The Commission brings together six informed experts from across the APSO Membership, ensuring broad representation while maintaining operational effectiveness.

The Commission members are:

On Thursday, 21 August, APSO hosted its annual Sport Technical Meeting online via Zoom. The three-hour session gathered 24 specialists and staff members, representing 17 APSO member federations and one IPC sport, to share expertise and exchange practical solutions on hosting Para sport events.

The discussions focused on some of the most pressing operational challenges faced by International Federations and Local Organising Committees. Key themes included:

The ITTF World Para Table Tennis Championships 2026 will make history when 165 male and 165 female athletes compete in Pattaya from 23-29 November, marking the first time the championships have achieved complete gender equality. 

This groundbreaking milestone coincides perfectly with the ITTF’s centenary celebrations, creating what promises to be a special ITTF World Para Championships in the sport’s history. 

Professional wheelchair tennis players across the world will have more opportunities to compete alongside their non-wheelchair peers from next year, thanks to a new calendar structure announced by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) today.