Mission
About us
Sport has long been recognised by parents, teachers and coaches to be an activity which people with Down Syndrome can enjoy for recreation. IAADS also recognises that athletics is a sport in which they can be competitive.
In the 1990s athletes with Down Syndrome could be seen competing with other athletes with intellectual disability in many events including the Paralympics. Unfortunately, as sport for people with Intellectual Disabilities developed athletes with Down Syndrome found themselves unable to match the performances being established. This was because athletes with Down Syndrome have additional functional and physical disability due to their condition. In 2008 IAADS was created in initial meeting between people from Italy, Portugal, Mexico, Great Britain and South Africa. IAADS was created to restore equal competitive opportunities for athletes with Down Syndrome who would be able to compete against other athletes with the same abilities.
The opportunity to be competitive enhances so many aspects of the life of an athlete with Down Syndrome. Exercise and the development of skills encourage fitness and well being. In addition, taking part in competitions and being a member of a club or a team gives many opportunities to socialise and develop friendships. Add to this the opportunity to travel to competitions world-wide, such as the first IAADS World Championships in Mexico.