“Promotion of an active lifestyle among people with special needs is one of the most important issues in today’s society. You have managed to prove that courageous and motivated people’s capabilities are truly limitless. We are proud that such competitions are being held in our great city”, Vyacheslav Makarov, Chairman of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, said to the participants in the competition.

This is the third tournament of this kind to be held in St. Petersburg. This year the competition is attended by over 150 athletes from Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, Slovenia and Finland. Russia, a one of the favorites of the competition is represented by dancers from Voronezh, Lipetsk, Moscow, Perm, St. Petersburg, Sevastopol, Sochi and Tyumen. For three days, participants will compete in several programs. For example there will be duets with both partners in wheelchairs and combined ones (where one of the partners will perform on his or her feet) will demonstrate the European, Latin American and optional programmes, whereas men and women without partners will show their skills in the obligatory and free programmes.

Unlike traditional dance competitions, an international judge panel will assess not only the dancer’s technique and artistry, but also his or her skill of operating the wheelchair, which in this event acts as sports equipment that helps the athlete to turn and perform dance elements.

The tournament will also include ensemble competitions, which are still not included in international rating competitions. The points obtained in this program will not apply toward participation in European and World Cups, but organizers are nevertheless hopeful, because the same situation used to apply to duets, in which both dancers are in wheelchairs.

The championship will finish with a world premiere – Champions Show Gala Concert, held at Wheelchair Dance Sport World Cup for the first time. The Gala Concert will present performances by the world’s best dancers.