World Dwarf Games – Belfast 2009.

A team of 75 dwarf athletes will soon travel from all corners of the UK to participate in their chosen sport at the 5th World Dwarf Games in Belfast from the 26th – 2nd August

Among these athletes will be our own World record holder and star of the Paralympics Eleanor Simmonds M.B.E.

She will be joining the event with her fellow dwarf athletes to participate in this much valued multi sport programme.

These World Games will be sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee which endorses 260 competitors from 18 countries around the world to come along and improve their performances in competition with one another. These countries include USA, Australia, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Morocco, Poland, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Slovakia, and more.

The multi sport programme of Athletics, Swimming, Table Tennis, Badminton, Power-lifting, Boccia, Football, Basketball, Uni-Hock, and New Age Curling is a precision run event which involves many dedicated people. Belfast has opened its arms to the Northern Irish branch of DAAAUK who are hosting the games, after the French association had ran the previous world event in Rambouilet 2005.

President and founder of DAAUK Arthur Dean will be opening this unique event alongside 1972 Olympian Gold Medallist, Dame Mary Peters who is a great support of disability sport.

Arthur says;

“If going by former world games this should prove to be another record breaking haul of medals for the UK team”.

He started a sports association because his family and friends had nowhere to play sport and enjoy leisure activities together.

“The membership boasts over 500 today which is a far cry from the original 36, it holds its own valuable place in the world of disabled sport producing confident young sports people who are most certainly holding their own within their chosen sport”.