France to host 2023 Virtus Global Games
Marking 1000 days to go Virtus has announced that the sixth Global Games will be held in Vichy, France, 4-10th June 2023.
Federation Francaise du Sport Adapte FFSA, the French member of Virtus was awarded the quadrennial multi-sport event.
The Virtus Global Games 2023 is the pinnacle of sports achievement for thousands of high performance, elite athletes with intellectual impairment in multiple sports from across the world. It also provides a pathway for some athletes in athletics, swimming and table tennis the opportunity to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Virtus President, Marc Truffaut said “Congratulations to the team at FFSA for winning the bid to host the sixth Global Games. GG2023 is growing in reputation and interest from Virtus members, and from the broader Paralympic movement.”
“This event supports our drive towards sport inclusion on a global stage, where we can challenge perceptions and change attitudes.”
Chair of the 2023 Local Organising Ms Esther Nomme , said “A multi-sport event such as the Global Games is an honour to be part of and I am excited about my new role.”
“Just like the athletes of any high-performance international sporting event, Virtus athletes train and prepare themselves for competing at their best, etching out personal bests and records, to showcase their talents and to break perceptions about intellectual impairment.”
Three-time athletics Paralympic champion, and President of the French Paralympic Committee, Marie-Amelie Le Fur said “ I am sincerely delighted that Vichy will become the next host city of the Global Games in 2023.
“One year before the Paralympic Games in Paris, this world-renowned competition will allow our athletes to prepare themselves for the games in the best conditions, and more generally for the whole of sport for people with intellectual impairment to shine in our territory.”
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive UK Sports Association (UKSA), the Virtus UK member said “Congratulations to our colleagues and friends at FFSA. I am delighted to see such a significant and important event hosted in France and look forward to our British athletes once again returning to France for what will no doubt be a fiercely competitive, well run multi-sport extravaganza.”
“British athletes and their colleagues worldwide, are hugely competitive and work hard to earn their place on the Global Games sporting stage. Our previous successes speak for themselves. The Games are the pinnacle of achievement for many athletes across a number of sports. I hope that we can count on DCMS, UK Sport and others to recognise, support and enable our British athletes’ endeavours to take Britain’s place amongst the worlds best at the 2023 Global Games.”
The Virtus Global Games in France will be the sixth event. Over 1000 athletes are expected to compete in 10 sports. The Global Games takes place every 4 years in the year preceding the Paralympic Games.
British athletes will compete at the Virtus Global Games, through the management and selection process established by the UK Sports Association and its Partners. UKSA is the only recognised UK member of Virtus.
The last Global Games took place in Australia in 2019 at which British athletes competed in athletics, cycling, tennis and cricket. See 2019 successes here.
Watch world class sport highlights from the 2019 Global Games here.
For more information on the Virtus Global Games and British athletes, including selection, eligibility and classification, contact the UK Sports Association