The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation has today celebrated the 70th anniversary of the first International Stoke Mandeville Games ©IWAS

The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) is today celebrating the 70th anniversary since the Opening Ceremony of the first International Stoke Mandeville Games.

The first International Stoke Mandeville Games opened on July 26 1952, and started the journey of IWAS, a founding member of the Paralympic Movement, and the only organisation that provides a full international competition at entry, development and qualifying levels in support of the Movement.

The International Stoke Mandeville Games of 1952 were the first official international competition for disabled athletes and were the forerunner to the first Summer Paralympics in Rome, Italy in 1960.

WheelPower, the national charity that oversees wheelchair sport in Britain, and is based at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, considered the birthplace of the Paralympics, tweeted their congratulations to IWAS saying: “Congratulations from everyone at WheelPower and Stoke Mandeville Stadium to our friends at IWAS.”


IWAS also took to Twitter to encourage people to share their favourite memories of the organisation’s 70 years with them.

IWAS also used the anniversary to unveil plans to promote the organisation through a series of interviews, blogs, features and digital content on social media and through its website.

These are set to feature athletes and other notable individuals who have been involved with or impacted by IWAS.  

IWAS’ heritage advisor Ian Brittain has written a blog for insidethegames about IWAS' history and this can be viewed here.