SPORTS 'N SPOKES

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Paris Calling

Young athletes enjoyed great competitive action with a good dose of international flavor and spirit.

Initiated in 1997 under the leadership of former International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) President Philip Craven, current International Paralympic Committee (IPC) president, this tournament (Under-23 World Championships) has done much to prepare young talent for high-level competition, specifically the Paralympics and World Championships.

Given that young players' development may require more time following the onset and rehabilitation of disabilities, the IWBF eventually chose the event's age limit of 23 as opposed to FIBA's (basketball's world governing body) well established Under-19 World Championships.

The first U23 tournament was hosted in 1997 by the Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association under the direction of its then-president, Maureen Orchard, and former executive director, Reg McClellan. Orchard, now IWBF president, cited "the importance of developing young players."

Orchard says uncertainty had set in regarding the tournament's ongoing existence when only six teams competed in 2001 in Brazil. She underscored the importance of the championship's growth to include 12 teams in 2005 and 2009.

"I believe it is safe to say the U23 World Championships are here to stay," says Orchard.


The U.S. team dominated the tournament. Read more in the September S'NS.

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