International actors and events
There are numerous associations and organizations working in the international field of adapted physical activity. On this site we will briefly introduce the most significant and the biggest international organizations and their most important events.
Picture: Lauri Jaakkola, VAU ry.
International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA)
The International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA) was founded in 1973 in Quebec, Canada. IFAPAs’ mission is to promote worldwide collaboration in the field of APA, coordinate scientific research, support and develop education in APA, and to promote inclusion, coaching, recreation and rehabilitation.
IFAPA organizes the International Symposium on Adapted Physical Activity (ISAPA) every other year. The most recent ISAPA congress was held in June 2021 as a virtual event from Jyväskylä, Finland.
The next ISAPA in 2023 will be a hybrid congress hosted by University of Otago, New Zealand.
For more information about IFAPA and ISAPA 2021.
European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (EUFAPA)
The European Federation of Adapted Physical Activity EURAPA was founded in 1987. The Federations purpose is to promote European collaboration in the field of APA, coordinate scientific research, support and develop education in APA, and to promote inclusion, coaching, recreation and rehabilitation.
EUFAPA organizes the EUCAPA Congress (European Congress on Adapted Physical Activity).
every second year. The last congress was a virtual congress hosted from Elche, Spain.
For more information about EUFAPA and EUCAPA 2020.
EUFAPA also publishes an electronic research journal EUJAPA (European Journal of Adapted Physical Activity). You can read the publication from the journals website.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
The International Paralympic Committee is a non-profit organization and the governing actor of the global paralympic movement. IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and works as an international federation for nine different sports. In addition, IPC organizes every second year a VISTA conference for researchers and professionals of para sports.
Visit the International Paralympic Committees' website
Special Olympics
The world’s largest sport organization for persons with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities was founded by President John F. Kennedy’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. The organization has spread to 180 countries around the world.
The Special Olympics hosts widely known sporting activities and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. To participate Special Olympic games and competitions the athlete does not need to have an official diagnosis. According to the international rules of Special Olympics any intellectually disabled athlete over 8 years can take part in the Special Olympic games and competitions.
Special Olympics Finland is part of the International Special Olympics organization that arranges sporting activities throughout the year. In Finland the Finnish Sport Federation for Persons with Disabilities is responsible for the Special Olympics activities.
Visit Special Olympics official website
Nordic Conference in APA and Disability Sport
The Nordic Conference in APA and Disability Sport is organized every second year. It is an educational event targeting for professionals and students in the fields of rehabilitation, education, and sport and health sciences. The seminar was arranged the first time in 2015 in Pajulahti, Finland. Finland got to host the conference the second time in June 2021. The conference was organized alongside with ISAPA 2021.