About us

In a couple of words:

INAS-FID is the European Sports Federation with the responsibility of representing athletes with intellectual disability. INAS-FID is a member of the International Paralympics Committee (IPC). INAS-FID Europe is the Regional Member of INAS-FID. 30 countries are in membership of INAS-FID Europe.

INAS-FID organises elite sport competition for its members in the following sports:Athletics (indoor and outdoors), Cross Country Running, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cycling, Football, Futsal, Basketball, Judo, Skiing and Sailing.

Our vision is to enable all elite athletes with intellectual disability to access competitions of excellence giving due regard to their rights for equality and equality.
INAS-FID focuses on intellectual disability. However, there are different terminologies within Europe such as: mental handicap, mental deficiency, mental retardation and learning disability.

COMPLETE PRESENTATION
What is INAS-FID Europe?

As the international Sports Federation, INAS FID Europe is a platform for athletes with intellectual disability who wish to perform their sport.

It concerns every person with intellectual disability, that means every terminologies: mental handicap, mental deficiency, mental retardation and (in the United Kingdom) learning disability.


The aim is to connect European federations and develop European meetings.
INAS-FID Europe works with INAS-FID World which is the global international organ.



History
INAS-FID Europe was incorporated on January 26 1999 and is subject to Dutch law.
Currently 30 national organizations (one per country) are members.

Benefits of sports
Sport is a major contributor to good health. In addition it is an invaluable means by which social, physical and psychological skills can be taught and learned. It can transform lives of individuals with intellectual disability by giving a new stimulus, a feeling of success, self-worth, achievement and belonging. It can also transform lives of parents and carers. Ability not disability is the catalyst for change. Athletes with intellectual disability competing at an elite level not only provide role models for others, but also assist in breaking down the prejudice and ignorance which so badly restricts lives of people with intellectual disability.


Show to everybody our athletes and their performances
We have to change the limited perception that people have of the abilities of those with
intellectual disability. Many people feel that persons with intellectual disability are incapable of doing many things, but with encouragement, training and coaching they can do well. That’s why our action is to be known and to show what all the people are doing despite of their handicap.

Our philosophy
The philosophy of INAS-FID Europe is based on the principle of normalization, like INAS-FID. This means that 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, just as the old, the young, the blind and physically impaired have specific needs. In sport this means that individuals with intellectual disability have the right to participate in the sport of their choice at the level of ability they desire and achieve. This may be at local, national, regional or international levels of participation

To participate to INAS FID Europe competitions
To be eligible for participation an athlete must
• meet the criteria for intellectual disability.
Athletics (indoor and outdoors), Cross Country Running, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cycling, Football, Futsal, Basketball, Judo and Skiing.• produce evidence of the effects of her/his intellectual disability in sport;
• be registered with INAS-FID Europe through a national member organization;
• meet the qualifying standards for the relevant competition.

The competition calendar
INAS-FID Europe offers to athletes with intellectual disability participation at INAS-FID Europe and Regional Championships in the individual sports of Athletics (indoor and outdoors), Cross Country Running, Swimming, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cycling, Football, Futsal, Basketball, Judo and Skiing.