News

More than 100 blind or visually impaired people have had the chance to get behind the wheel at the Sandown Racetrack, in Melbourne's south-east.
Jason Nakhla, who was born legally blind, drives at more than 100 kilometres an hour around the racetrack.
He takes the turns like a pro, easing off the accelerator and then flooring it as he reaches the straight.

"My vision is six over sixty, so it's about one-tenth of what a regular person sees," he said.
"I can kind of see, but I can't see things like the instrument dash, the writing."
Mr Nakhla is a big car enthusiast, and relishes the chance to drive.
"I love it. Words can't explain it," he said.
The event, called In The Driver's Seat, is an initiative of the Warrandyte Lions Club, which has run the program for 20 years.
Those with a penchant for motorcycles have a chance to do a lap, although only as passengers.
The Ulysses motorcycle club members help out, while qualified driving instructors donate their time and the use of their cars.
Wayne Stagg has been volunteering for years.
From the passenger seat he warns Mr Nakhla of a sharp turn a few hundred metres ahead.
"My little Yaris doesn't work this hard when I do lessons downtown in Bairnsdale," he said.
"It's a bit of an adrenaline rush when you look down the main straight at Sandown.
"The guys that do this are just adrenaline junkies, and they're so appreciative. We do love it."
Bill Gerritsen, the chairman of the program, said the event started thanks to Warrandyte Lions Club member, Peter Watts, who went blind.
"He found out that this is one of the things blind people miss, driving a motorcar," Mr Gerritsen said.
"Since that time we've had old truck drivers, taxi drivers, all sorts of people.
"It's an emotional day, it's a beautiful day."
It costs the Lions Club about $5,000 to host the event, and Mr Gerritsen said it was money well spent.
"It's all very, very positive and it's not just from the VIPs, but from the volunteers too.
"They get an emotional kick out of it and absolutely love it."

BY STEPHANIE ANDERSON
ABC News

video: TF1
http://lci.tf1.fr/monde/amerique/aveugles-ils-prennent-le-volant-le-temps-d-un-stage-de-conduite-8727965.html

Driver and blind, Dominique Douxfils shared his experience with us…

On Wednesday 2nd March 2016, we went to the paddocks of one of the greatest F1 circuits in the world.

Along with my friends of the « Les non-voyants et leurs drôles de machines » (Blind people and their funny machines) association, we immediately took the wheel to discover the track, under the kind supervision of our driving instructors. One by one, we could drive the VW Polo, and then embark on a adventure with Yannick and his Renault Mégane RS (265 horsepower). I would never have imagined that one day in my life someone would tell me : « Put more gas ! » !

Nicole and all her pupils from La Reid school also paid a visit to us. They were all extremely happy to see me achieving my dream… It is indeed thanks to the chilren and their teacher that I am able to drive again. Everyone was moved beyond words. When they started to sing « On écrit sur les murs » (We write on the walls ), no one could hold back their tears.

After an appreciated lunch break away from the cold, we had the pleasant surprise to experience some laps as passengers in the BMW (325 horsepower) of famous rallye driver Grégoire de Mévius.

Then, we took the wheel again, going faster and faster, but always safely and wisely. Wisely ? I reached 130 km/h…But well, let’s stay modest… Feeling the speed was awesome, but it is nothing compared to the driving lesson given by José in his space rocket, a Mégane RS.

At the end of this wonderful day, we all went back home, with sparkles in the eyes, incredibly happy and, above all, ready to start again !

Our next Belgian driving adventure will take us to the circuit of Mettet !

https://youtu.be/gQ3MM9JDqeg

In front of 250 (two hundred and fifty) people gathered at the Two Rives Theater in Charenton on the “Night of Sports in Val de Marne” organized by the Comité départemental olympique et sportif du Val de Marne, Anthony and Samy took up a major challenge.
They tried to break the precision world record of blowpipe.
The objective was to hit the most important number of targets within 3 minutes (10 targets hit minimum). To hit a target, the thrower must throw the blowpipe’s dart in the yellow central part of
the target. Samy first threw its blowpipe’s dart, and hit one by one the ten first targets with a stress-free gesture. He managed to hit 11 targets into 3 minutes and broke the world record.
Then it was Antony’s turn , quite anxious to try after Samy’s success. Stressed by the challenge, hechit 2 targets but leaved the stage amid loud applause of the public. This event will remain a day to remember for both boys.

Departure ont the 26th of december via Sao Paulo and Santiago de chili. I met Diego, my personal guide and taught him the basic rules to guide a blind. We gathered with our group, 2 others guides, Marianno and Gaston and 5 climbers, Fabian from Buenos-aires, Tilak from Orlando, Maude from Montréal, marc from Stuttgart and Claudia from Frankfurt. After 2 days in Confluencia for acclimatization, we climbed up to Plazza de mulas, our base camp, 4300m. Settled on a glacier made with a mix of rocks, earth and ice, 300 people work during the climbing season, porters, mulators, cooks, doctors and rescue patrols. We saw twice the doctor to measure the blood pressure and ocygen saturation. Mules never go higher than the baes camp. We’ll have to carry our own gear for the higher camps, porters carrying tents and stoves.
Unfortunately, the weather turns bad, cold snow and wind replacing the sun.
We make 2 acclimatization walks up to 5000m before reaching the Canada camp in the blizzard, after 6 days at the base camp. At this elevation, the meals are sealed in vacuum-packed bags, heated in boiling water. We drink a lot of hot tea as it’s recommended to drink at least 3 to 4 liters every day to avoid some altitude sickness, headache and nausea.
We stay 2 days in Canada camp, blocked by the snow storm. The first side-effects of high altitude make me a stuffy nose, awaking me in the middle of the night in hypoxia. This trouble will stick to me and, step buy step, make me exhausted due to the lack of sleep.
Eventually, the weather clears up and we climb to nido de conderes camp, 5600m.Such a pleasant walk under the sun and in 20cm of fresh snow!Back to sun glasses and sun cream!The night is still, without a cloud and very cold. My pee bottle freezes inside the tent.
The weather forcast shos the day after tomorrow is possible to make an attempt to the summit. We decide to climb up straight to camp 3, Cholera camp, 6000m.Wind id strong and should soften tomorrow.
Alarm clock is set up on 3:30 am. After a short breakfast and hot tea, we prepare ourselves for the last ascent: 3 layers of pants and gloves, 4 layers on the body, double plastic shoes… we look like astronauts than hikers!
The ascent starts à 5:30 with 14°F and the winds blow around 50-60km/h.
We walk slowly but continuously, breathing hard. After 4 hours, not so far from the place called Independencia (6400m), we sit due to harsch ust of wind. Maude fell down twice. Me, maude and Marc decide to go down, exhausted. None of the 3 had slept the night before. Claudia and Tilak reach the summit after 9 hours of walk. That day, 4 climbers on a total of 32 succeeded in their attempts. We had the luck to be able to make this attempt, no windows having been available the previous week.
Back to Mendoza, our group enjoy a wonderful meal with argentinian grilled steak and red wine malbec!

Marie Amelie Le Fure has just accepted the co- presidency for the Paris town candidate process for the 2024 Olympic and Para-Olympic games.

This athlete amputee below the left knee with multiple medals will co-preside the file with Teddy Riner, an Olympic and world champion.

A very nice recognition for the para-Olympic athletes.

Let us hope that Paris will be the Capital of the Handicapped and Non Handicapped Sport

In football today, winning five championship titles is no big deal – but winning them thanks to a blind coach certainly is. This amazing story takes place in Brazil.

Flavio Aurelio Silva founded the Juventude club (not to be confused with the winners of the Brazilian National Cup), a small local football club in the underprivileged district of Fortaleza, in 1985. Flavio played with the club as a defensive midfielder for four years, until he lost the sight in one of his eyes at the age of 20, following a rather brutal scuffle. One year later, he lost his other eye, an event which obliged him to trade in his football boots for a white stick.

Quote
He can see football better than any other coach
Deone Lopes, striker for the Juventude club
End of quote

Instead of moping over his fate, Flavio took the initiative and continued to help his club, first as treasurer and then as coach.

I’m proud to be the founder, a player, and now the big boss of this club, even though I’m blind (Flavio Aurelio Silva).

At 46, the man who his players call « Little Blind Man » has carried off a string of victories, using his hearing rather than his eyesight to follow the game. During a match, he will stand on the sidelines with his team, and listen to the movements of the ball and of the players. He also takes into account the remarks made by his players and by the spectators.

https://www.pkfoot.com/50314/championnats/autres-championnats/flavio-aurelio-silva

All members of the Ehandicap World Records team wish you a very happy new year – full of challenges and records.
Have a pleasant visit of our Web Site.
“Sportingly yours!”

He won fame by swimming across the Channel, then swimming to and fro the 5 continents.Philippe Croizon, a quadri amputee quitsl the water to launch into a new challenge on dry land: the 2017 Dakar race, a world premiere.

"As for most of my other challenges, 99%of people will say that it is impossible, however...!" After braving the oceans many times, Philippe chooses a new element and prepares to cover himself with sweat and dust in the wild barren stretches of the south american continent in the 2017 Dakar race.
His belief: "each one of us must make one's dream come true , even the most foolish dreams "This sportsman of the extreme, quadri amputated, intends to prove it at the steering wheel of a buggy.

The team Tartarin Croizon
As for each of his most foolish projects, the sportsman knows how to mobilize people around him.Through a single phone call, he managed to convince Yves Tartarin who is credited with 20 Dakar.
"Of course we have less than a year to get ready but I feel he is able to take up his bet.He is a man of exception with a spirit of steel, that is the reason why I have agreed to be his co pilot.

Whether climbing on the Aconcagua mountain isn't likely to give back Patrick's sight, his challenge should provide him of being the highest blind ever climbed on a mountain.
Summit of the cordillera of the Andes, 6962m, that mountain on the Chili-Argentina border, has seemingly never been reached by a blind person.
Patrick has already achieved some beautiful trek: Chamonix-Zermatt by the high road, the Ararat mountain (5300m) and the mythic Kilimandjaro (5895m).
Aconcagua mountain is undoubtedly a far more challenging trek. Further down the Equator Parallel, the atmospheric pressure is lower , making respiration harder. Teempératures may fall down to -30°C with very strong winds.
Nothing must be left aside in the preparation, choice of the gear, physical and mental training. Practise tandem, running and musculation at least 3 times a week is planned. And to add some more difficulties : Patrick will travel alone through Sao Paulo and Santiago, his guide ready to pick him up at Mendoza.
Take off on the 26th of december, the summit will be reached around the 10-11th of january!

IPC World Athletics: GB medal winners & medal table

IPC Athletics World Championships
Venue: Qatar Sports Club, Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha

British medallists :

Gold
Aled Davies (Men's Shot Put F42)
Hannah Cockroft (Women's 100m T34)
Kadeena Cox (Women's 100m T37)
Sophie Hahn (Women's 100m T38)
Joanna Butterfield (Women's Club Throw F51)
Georgie Hermitage (Women's 400m T37)
Paul Blake (Men's 800m T36)
Richard Whitehead (Men's 200m T42)
Hannah Cockroft (Women's 800m T34)
Aled Davies (Men's Discus Throw F42)
Hannah Cockroft (Women's 400m T34)
Hollie Arnold (Women's F46 javelin)
Women's T35-37 4x100m relay team (Olivia Breen, Maria Lyle, Georgie Hermitage, Sophie Hahn)

Silver
Georgie Hermitage (Women's 100m T37)
Paul Blake (Men's 400m T36)
David Weir (Men's 1500m T54)
Maria Lyle (Women's 200m T35)
Daniel Bramall (Men's 100m T33)
Melissa Nicholls (Women's 800m T34)
Sophie Hahn (Women's 200m T38)
Maria Lyle (Women's 100m T35)
Jonathan Broom-Edwards (Men's High Jump T44)

Bronze
Sammi Kinghorn (Women's 200m T53)
Abbie Hunnisett (Women's Club Throw F32)
Moatez Jomni (Men's 200m T53)
Joanna Butterfield (Women's Discus F52)
Toby Gold (Men's 100m T33)
Kare Adenegan (Women's 800m T34)
Kyron Duke (Men's Javelin Throw F41)
Shaun Burrows (Men's T38 400m)
Kare Adenagen (Women's 400m T34)

(BBC.com)