14th July 2025
The Worldwide Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and Virtus, the Worldwide Federation for athletes with mental impairment, have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their collaboration and promote larger inclusion in winter sports activities.
The MoU marks a major step towards integrating athletes with mental impairments into Alpine and Cross-Nation snowboarding disciplines on the highest ranges of competitors, together with the Paralympic Winter Video games.
By means of this settlement, FIS and Virtus decide to a more in-depth technical partnership, specializing in:
Supporting the inclusion of athletes with mental impairments within the Paralympic Winter Video games, probably as early as 2030.Selling Virtus inside the FIS neighborhood and amongst its member federations.Enhancing technical help for Virtus-endorsed occasions, together with using FIS-homologated programs and FIS Technical Delegates.Collaborating on timing, information administration, and the event of worldwide competitors guidelines.Aiding Virtus in finalizing a strong sports activities classification system for athletes with mental impairments.
To facilitate this cooperation, a joint Virtus–FIS Working Group will likely be established, serving as a technical liaison and reporting to the FIS Para Snow Sports activities Committee.
“We’re actually delighted with this constructive step to signal an MoU between Virtus and FIS, signaling additional collaboration between our two organizations and a pathway for athletes with an mental impairment into FIS occasions and the Winter Paralympics,” mentioned the Secretary Basic of Virtus, Barry Holman.
This partnership underscores a shared dedication to inclusivity, excellence, and the continued evolution of winter sports activities on the worldwide stage.
“This Memorandum of Understanding marks an vital step in our ongoing dedication to inclusion and accessibility in snow sports activities,” mentioned the FIS President, Johan Eliasch.
“By working along with Virtus, we’re proud to help the event of latest pathways for athletes with mental impairments, serving to to make sure that expertise and fervour for winter sport can thrive in any respect ranges.”
Reporting by FIS.
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