At this moment we are expecting 10 – 200 fighters. Why such wide margin?This is the first ever contest for disabled only. Until this time, at the regular WC’s or EC’s, some 100 people participated. Separate world contest and additional categories allow us to suppose that even 200 people may come to Puck – says Paweł Podlewski, one of the organizers.

Preparations have begun at the end of last year.

Chance led us to a meeting with the Foundation of Physical Development in Puck – recalls Podlewski. – During our conversation, and idea was born to run this tournament in that city. There is a disabled – friendly hotel ate the very shore of the sea, and the sports hall of the local Centre for Culture, Sports and Recreation – ideal for this type of event. The city council has helped us as much as they could financially, and we have written a project requesting finances from the National Rehabilitation Fund. We have also spoken to a few sponsors, and thus the event budget is being completed.

Already prepared are the venue arrangement, multimedia, graphic projects are under way, meetings are conducted with subcontractors responsible for lights, TV broadcast, security, etc. The preparations are in full swing, and a team of experienced Mazurenko Armwrestling Promotions people are overseeing the process.

The tournament will run from 7^th – 12^th October, in the seaside city of Puck.

Separate tournament for the disabled is an absolute novelty in the world of armwrestling, and has caused a lot of controversy from the get-go.

Some disabled fighters voiced their dissatisfaction at the International Armsport Federation for Persons with Physical Disabilities’ proposal to separate from the regular tournaments. But the WAF board, with Assen Hadjitorov, has allowed for a separate organization to be formed, with WAF as one of the ruling bodies.

The disabled armwrestlers spoke of feelings of rejection, separation from regular contestants. However, Igor Mazurenko assured that it would not be so.

The disabled person are hard to notice at large events – says the FAP president. Creating a separate event for them is a prestigious move, not a disparaging one. There is nothing to worry about.

Let us recap – disabled tournaments can be fought in a seated position, in three categories: for the hearing-speech impeded, sight impeded and mobility-impeded.

The championships in Puck will be run in accordance with our own program, used for many years at the World and European Championships, says Podlewski. – The program calculates and suggests the adequate number of tables, and simulates the time of a fight. With 200 fighters, we need maximum 4 tables. The final number of tables will be decided after the registration’s been closed. The tables will be the main focal point of the games, and the fighters will fight at a special arena. We’re planning to show the games on telebeams and TV sets all around the venue, and run a free broadcast on the Internet.

Although the competition starts in a month, you can register now. You will find the form at : http://www.waf-armwrestling.com/inva_registration/

To receive the login and password, contact us at : marcin@eaf-armwrestling.com

More details in our calendar: http://pl.armpower.net/calendar/event/i-world-armwrestling-championships-for-disabled-poland-2014-615.html

im