World Dwarf Games

Last updated
Germany - Canada, NetCologne Stadium, Cologne 2023 2023 World Dwarf Games 143.jpg
Germany – Canada, NetCologne Stadium, Cologne 2023

The World Dwarf Games (WDG) are a multi-sport event for athletes of short stature. The WDG have been held every four years since 1993 and are the world's largest sporting event exclusively for athletes with skeletal dysplasia. [1] Many Paralympians with growth disorders start their sports careers here.

Contents

History

In 1986, the first international competition for people of short stature was held. In 1993, 10 organizations united and launched the first World Dwarf Games. These were held in Chicago in the United States of America. The associations of these 10 countries then collectively founded the IDSF (International Dwarf Sport Federation), which has since supported a host association organizing the WDG every four years in its country. The WDG aims to motivate people under 1.50 meters from around the world to participate in sports. [2] Individuals with short stature can participate in the Paralympic Games, but only in events such as athletics, swimming, and weightlifting. During the WDG, athletes have the opportunity to participate in a wider range of sports, including soccer, basketball, floor hockey, volleyball, athletics, swimming, boccia, archery, table tennis, badminton, and weightlifting.

At the most recent event in 2023 on the campus of the German Sport University and in the Müngersdorf Sportpark in Cologne, over 500 people from 25 countries participated, with over 2,000 fans attending the event. This edition was originally planned for 2021 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next event is scheduled for 2027 in Australia.

The event's growth is attributed to the increased visibility of disability sports following the 2012 Paralympics. The event promotes inclusion, recognizing abilities over disabilities, and has inspired athletes like Ellie Simmonds, a gold medal-winning swimmer, Claire Keefer, a Paralympic weightlifter and Jahmani Swanson, a Harlem Globetrotter. The Games provide a platform for aspiring Paralympians.

International Dwarf Sports Federation

The International Dwarf Sports Federation oversees the organization of the World Dwarf Games. Its objective traces the historical development of dwarf participation in sports, spotlighting initial challenges such as exclusion and low self-esteem. Affiliated with the IDSF, Dwarf Sport organizations, including DAAA, DAAUK, IDSF, and their global counterparts, aim to provide Little People with equal opportunities in sports, yielding positive impacts on inclusion, self-esteem, and a sense of achievement. [3]

Editions

YearCityHostNumber of CountriesNumber of Athletes
1993Chicago, Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA)10165
1997 Peterborough, Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Dwarf Sports Association United Kingdom (DSAUK) 683
2001 Toronto, Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Little People of Canada (LPC) 8250
2005 Rambouillet, Flag of France.svg  France France Nano Sports/L' Association des Personnes de Petite Taille14136
2009 Belfast, Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Dwarf Athletic Association Northern Ireland (DAANI)12250
2013 East Lansing, Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA)17395
2017 Guelph, Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Canadian WDG Committee17450
2023 Cologne, Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Bundesverband Kleinwüchsige Menschen und ihre Familien (BKMF)25530
2027 [4] To be determined, Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA)To be determinedTo be determined

2013 World Dwarf Games

Participating nations

16 Countries:

Sports

16 sports: [5]

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States  (USA)158110112380
2Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)726951192
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)44191477
4Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)35191165
5Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)1711937
6Flag of India.svg  India  (IND)108523
7Olympic flag.svg  International Olympic Committee  (IOC)66416
8Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)63110
9Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)4116
10Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)4004
11Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)3115
12Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)2204
13Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka  (SRI)2002
14Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1157
15Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia  (SRB)0202
16Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)0022
17Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria  (BUL)0000
Totals (17 entries)364252216832

2017 World Dwarf Games

Medal table [6]

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States  (USA)1169285293
2Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)805665201
3Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)413925105
4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)3415857
5Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)16151041
6Flag of India.svg  India  (IND)15101237
7Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)1417031
8Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands  (NED)142622
9Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)871126
10Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland  (IRL)48113
11Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand  (NZL)3003
12Flag of Finland.svg  Finland  (FIN)2226
13Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)2114
14Flag of Kazakhstan.svg  Kazakhstan  (KAZ)1214
15Flag of Peru.svg  Peru  (PER)1102
16Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland  (SUI)0101
17Flag of Austria.svg  Austria  (AUT)0011
Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary  (HUN)0011
19Flag of Chile.svg  Chile  (CHI)0000
Totals (19 entries)351268229848

Affiliations

The International Dwarf Sports Federation – IDSF, the organisation responsible for the organisation of the World Dwarf Games maintains affiliations and relationships with the following organizations: [7]

Media

Archery in Cologne (2023) 2023 World Dwarf Games 026.jpg
Archery in Cologne (2023)

The event has attracted international media attention, with various international TV teams reporting and several documentaries produced to raise awareness. This broad media coverage has contributed to increasing awareness and recognition of the World Dwarf Games in the Netherlands and beyond, including:

In the UK, the BBC has widely covered several editions. [10] [11] In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Company has often widely covered the WDG. [12] [13] [14] In Canada, news outlets like the CDC [15] have covered local athletes. In 2023 Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau sent a message of support to Canada's participating athletes. [16] In the Netherlands, there has traditionally been significant media attention devoted to the World Dwarf Games (WDG). Various media channels, including NOS, extensively covered the event in 2013, 2017 [17] as well as 2023. [17] [18] In Belgium, the WDG was covered in Gazet van Antwerpen [19] and Het Nieuwsblad. [20]

The WDG have been featured in a number of episodes on the American television series Little People, Big World on TLC. The show, centered around the dwarf members of the Roloff family, has included a number of episodes where members of the family have participated in WDG events.

References

  1. Seth, Angie (2017-08-12). "World Dwarf Games held in Guelph, Ont. celebrates athletes from around the globe". Global News . Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. Dickson, Julie (2023-11-04). "Feeling more confident, active and happier: What the World Dwarf Games mean to the Australian women's basketball team". Siren Sport. ABC News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  3. https://internationaldwarfsportsfederation.com/
  4. "World Dwarf Games". Deutscher Kleinwuchs-Sport (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  5. http://www.2013worlddwarfgames.org/index.php/sports/sports-grid.html
  6. http://worlddwarfgames2017.org/medal-count-by-country/
  7. "DAAA Affiliations and Relationships". Mobility International USA. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2007.
  8. "Incredibly Small World". National Geographic Abu Dhabi . Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  9. "Glance Up". IMDb . Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  10. Lee, Matt (2014-05-03). "National Dwarf Games is about 'ability not disability'". BBC News . Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  11. "Athletes compete in National Dwarf Games in Wolverhampton". BBC News . 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  12. Dickson, Julie (2023-11-04). "Feeling more confident, active and happier: What the World Dwarf Games mean". ABC News . Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  13. Cansdale, Dominic (2023-08-23). "After the Gold Coast surged behind him, Huddy returns from the World Dwarf Games a champion". ABC News . Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  14. "'Biggest and best yet' athlete Michael Spain looks forward to World Dwarf Games in Australia in 2027". ABC News . 2023-10-25. Archived from the original on 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  15. Verma, Ishita (2023-07-23). "Edmonton twins to represent Alberta at World Dwarf Games". CBC News . Archived from the original on 2023-08-08. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  16. Krause, Laura (2023-07-23). "Edmonton twins competing in World Dwarf Games". CityNewsEverywhere. Archived from the original on 2023-07-25. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  17. 1 2 "Het WK voor kleine mensen is bezig en er doen 12 Nederlanders mee". NOS (in Dutch). 2017-08-10. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  18. "Kleine Max (6) uit Dordt doet mee met de World Dwarf Games". NOS (in Dutch). 2023-07-30. Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  19. Renson, Thibaut; Van Regenmortel, Jesse (2023-05-26). "World Dwarf Games komen eraan, maar België doet niet mee: "Ik zou zelf ook niet willen deelnemen"". GVA (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  20. Renson, Thibaut; Van Regenmortel, Jesse (2023-05-26). "World Dwarf Games komen eraan, maar België doet niet mee: "Ik zou zelf ook niet willen deelnemen"". Niewsblad (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-18.