On Friday, November 21 at the headquarters of the Professional Armwrestling League USA (PAL USA) in Las Vegas, took place a meeting between Vice President of the International Armwrestling Federation for Disabled (IAFD) Igor Mazurenko and the President of the American Armwrestling Federation (AAF) Denise Wattles.

The meeting was devoted to discussion of the AAF activities with disabled athletes in the United States in 2015, as well as AAF application for membership in the IAFD.

It is known that two events of global significance for Disabled Armwrestling will take place in 2015. First of all it will be the World Games for the disabled 2015 under the auspices of IWAS, where  armwrestling competitions will be held for the first time in the history of our sport. 

«Participation in the World Games gives us the opportunity to join the Paralympic family in the future" - said Igor Mazurenko.

The second world-class event will be the World Armwrestling Championship for Disabled in Poland.

Igor Mazurenko informed Denise Wattles that the decision to hold the World Armwrestling Championships for the Disabled in Poland was taken at the Congress during the First Worlds for Disabled in October 2014. The championship was postponed to a later period and brought from Malaysia to Poland on the reason that World Championship in Malaysia and the World Games 2015 will be held at the same time. This was done in order to allow athletes to join the Paralympic movement and to have a chance to fight for the Worlds title.

AAF President, on behalf of the federation announced plans to work on the creation and training of the US National Armwrestling team for the disabled. The program includes elimination tournaments in five US cities as well as helping disabled athletes to attract sponsors and raise funds for the preparation and participation in the World Games and the Worlds  2015.

Despite the fact that the AAF application will only be considered at the IAFD Congress during the World Armwrestling Championship for Disabled in November 2015, Igor Mazurenko, on behalf of the IAFD, has promised to provide full assistance and support of AAF efforts in development of armwrestling for disabled people in the United States.

KY