About Us
Learn about INAS SIVUS India, Virtus, the Paralympics, and our affiliations
Vision and Mission
For an individual with intellectual disability to:
Live as per his/her ability in an Inclusive Society
Play a sport (Competitive or Leisure) as per his/her ability
To be recognised as an individual as per his/her ability and NOT disability
Who we are?
INAS SIVUS INDIA is an independent, not for profit, non-government organization working for the welfare of persons with intellectual disability. It has been founded by like-minded professionals with the sole aim of empowering persons with an intellectual disability.
SIVUS is the abbreviation of the Swedish term Social Individ Via Utveckling I Samverkan, which means Socio-Individual Development through co-operation. This is the method for giving support to the Intellectually Challenged so that they can function as independently as possible, both individually and socially. Sports is one of the medium or method which is used to empower persons with intellectual disability to function as Independently as possible and to include them in the main-stream of the society.
“To live according to one’s own conditions and demands, to one’s own idea from one’s needs, interests, desires, demands, through one’s own striving activity, effort to one’s own experiences and results” — to achieve integration and normalization.
Persons with intellectual disability are members of society entitled to the:
- same rights,
- opportunities and
- duties as everyone else.
They are not special, but have specific needs.
In Sports this means that, an individual with intellectual disability has the right, desire and choice to play a sport of his or her choice at the level they desire.
For the Benefit, the Upliftment, the Welfare, and to Empower:
Persons with Intellectual disability (associated conditions), Down Syndrome and Autism
- To promote the welfare of Special Needs Persons regardless of the category of the Disability irrespective of caste, colour, creed, communities or race.
- To develop a better public understanding of the needs of persons with disability.
- To promote sports, recreational activities and games in district, State, National and International Level.
Virtus
Virtus is the brand name of the International federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee.
Renamed in 1986, Virtus (formerly INAS) has grown from 14 members to an organisation of more than 90 nations across the world throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South/Central America and Oceania.
In 2020, the Virtus programme included 15 annual events across both summer and winter sports with more than 7,000 athletes registered.
Virtus is the recognised International Organisation of Sport for people with a Disability (IOSD), governing the eligibility of athletes with an intellectual impairment, elite competition and sport development. Over the next decade to 2030, Virtus is committed to advancing inclusion in sport, and building vital pathways to participation at all levels.
From INAS 1986 — To VIRTUS 2030
INAS-FMH
Established by individuals who want to organise competitive sport for athletes with an intellectual disability.
First General Assembly
The first General Assembly is held. INAS is accepted as a member of the International Co-ordinating Committee, which becomes the International Paralympic Committee.
First Games
The 1st World Games for athletes with an intellectual disability takes place in Madrid, Spain. These Games take place every four years.
First Paralympic appearance
Athletes with an intellectual disability appear at the Paralympic Games for the first time in Atlanta 1996.
Sydney 2000
Athletes compete at the Sydney Paralympic Games.
Suspension
Athletes with intellectual disability are suspended from the Paralympic programme.
Return to Paralympics
Athletes with intellectual disability return to the Paralympic Games in London 2012.
Expansion
New eligibility groups II2 and II3 are introduced to broaden inclusion.
Rebranding
INAS rebrands to Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport.
Virtus Global Games
The quadrennial Virtus Global Games, held in the year prior to each Paralympic Games.
Paralympics
International Paralympic Committee — IPC
The word “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic”. Its meaning is that Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olympics and illustrates how the two movements exist side-by-side.
The IPC’s primary responsibilities are to support its 200 plus members develop Para sport and advocate social inclusion, ensure the successful delivery and organisation of the Paralympic Games and act as the international federation for 10 Para sports.
The membership draws together National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), International Federations (IFs), Regional Organisations and International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSDs).
The four international organisations CPISRA, IBSA, ISMGF and ISOD experienced the need of co-ordinating the Games so they created the “International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World” (ICC) in 1982.
The International Committee of Sport for the Deaf (CISS) and International Sports Federations for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) joined in 1986.
On 22nd September 1989, the International Paralympic Committee was founded as an international non-profit organisation in Dusseldorf, Germany, to act as the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement.
The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) is a non-partisan, non-profit organisation founded in the year 1994. Since then, PCI has been working solely for the promotion of Sports among differently abled persons in India.
PCI is affiliated to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
PCI organises and motivates para-athletes to participate in competitive sporting activities as part of the Global Paralympic Movement.
PCI helps to identify potential Paralympians and assist athletes to prepare for competition by providing funds for coaching, equipment and travel in the lead up to the Paralympic Games.
Affiliations
INAS SIVUS INDIA is the Member Organisation of Virtus in India
Affiliated to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) — Managing Eligibility as per Virtus