By Paul Osborne

Wheelchair Dancers from different nationalities will be able to compete with each other with new exemption to the Nationality PolicyOctober 18 - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced Wheelchair Dance Sport has introduced temporary rules which will allow dancers from different nationalities to compete together at smaller competitions.


The exemption from the existing Nationality Policy has been established an effort to develop the sport at a national level.

It comes after feedback from several countries and looks to combat the challenge for some dancers who find it difficult to find partners to practice and train with, as well as gain experience of elite competition.

The new ruling does not include World Championships or regional competitions, where couples will still have to be the same nationality to enter, and they will not be able to compete if neither of them is a national of the National Paralympic Committee that enters them.

The new ruling hopes to allow athletes to develop their skills and technique at a national levelThe new ruling hopes to allow athletes to develop their skills and technique at a national level before moving on to bigger competitions
 

Points or rankings will also be disregarded for qualification to World Championships or regional competitions.

The exemption will allow more athletes to compete at national competitions, giving them much needed experience and allowing them to develop their skills and techniques, it is claimed.

It is hoped that these athletes can then move on to find a partner of the same nationality and use the skills gained from national level to compete worldwide.

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