It was recently announced by the Chairman of the IDAF that the United Sates of America has won the bid to host the 2013 World Dwarf Games.

The sixth World Dwarf Games will be will be held in and around the Michigan State University in East Lansing,  Michigan.

Dates- 3rd to 10th August, 2013

Australia will be working on sending a team

Sporting Events will include;

Track and Field (Athletics)

Basketball

Boccia

Swimming

Table Tennis

Badminton

Soccer

Powerlifting

And more

More information will be provided as it comes to hand.

Tom Carney

SSPA National Sports Coordinator

sspa.sport@gmail.com

The 2010 SSPA National Convention will be held at the Point Walter Recreation and Convention Centre,
Fremantle, WA. For those of you who haven’t attended a convention before, the convention week provides a
mix of business, medical, social, sporting, cultural and tourist activities designed at bringing short statured and
average height members closer together in friendship, as well as promoting a better understanding of short
stature and short statured people.

Further details of the week can be found on the SSPA national website at:  www.sspa.org.au/2010convention.htm

For more information contact- Meredith Tripp- tripp.meredith.m@edumail.vic.gov.au

This year will see the SSPA host its 15^th Annual National Sporting Weekend in Albury. This weekend was originally introduced in 1995 to provide opportunities for people with short stature to play competitive sport against others like themselves. It began with the rivalry match between the NSW and Victorian basketball teams and has since progressed into a weekend which provides competitive sporting opportunities for all who attended. Since 1995, Leanne Wegner has coordinated the organisation of this wonderful event and we thank her for all of her time and effort. The weekend has grown from strength to strength and has turned itself into a mini-convention with on average, 80 people in attendance.

2010 will see some new sports on the agenda including boccia and badminton, and it will hopefully see the return of the state rivalry basketball match between Victoria and NSW as they take each other on for the Rosemary Hobbs Trophy.

For more details contact;

Tom Canrey- sspa.sport@gmail.com

Vigorella, in conjunction with the Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA) are holding their inaugural fashion fundraiser.

Vigorella’s 2010 winter collection will be modelled.

Vigorella’s unique style of layering will be on display, with lessons on layering to achieve a flattering look by designer Jenny Zeuschner, with expert consultants available for advice.
All items ordered on the day will receive a 20% discount, with 30% of proceeds being directly donated to the SSPA*.

Date: Saturday 24th April

Time: 2-5pm

Venue: Mulgrave Country Club Wellington Rd, Mulgrave
RSVP: 16th April 2010

Megan Lilly
mlilly@aigroup.asn.au

Cost: $25 per head(includes a glass of champagne, fingerfood and a gift bag, including Vigorella top (value $50). Payment in advance please).

All welcome!

Before the warmer weather disappears, we’re organising a bbq/picnic day at Albert Park prior to the Sspitfires basketball match on Saturday 17 April. There will be a range of games organised for the afternoon followed by the Sspitfires basketball match. The team would love you to stay on to watch!

Time: BBQ will begin at 12.00pm

Venue: Albert Park Lake picnic area (opposite Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre)

BYO: Please BYO your own lunch.

I would like to introduce myself to those members who don’t know me yet. My name is Tom Carney. I have the privilege of being both national and Victoria sports Co-ordinator.

My involvement in the SSPA came through the Sspitfires, the Melbourne based basketball team. I also had the honour of being the assistant coach of the Australian World Dwarf Games basketball team that went to Northern Ireland in July this year. I now have the privilege of being the newly appointed National Sports Coordinator for the SSPA and I hope to be able to provide information and opportunities for people with short stature to be involved in a range of sports.

One of the first things I would like to create is a national database of short statured people interested in participating in such sporting opportunities. If you are one of these individuals, please can you e-mail me the following information about yourself:

Full name:
State and City:
Date of Birth:
Sports you are currently playing:
Sports you are interested in playing:
Email address:

This information will help me gather what sports should be targeted at SSPA sporting events and will help me stay in touch with you.

On a National level, I would like to update you on the plans for the Australian Paralympic Team. The Committee will shortly be conducting sporting tests to assist in identifying future Paralympic Talent as they head towards the London Paralympic Games in 2012 and beyond.

For more information about the Australian Paralympic team, this link will be helpful: http://www.sspa.org.au/ParalympicTS.htm

Other Talent Search days and more information can be found at http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/TalentSearch.aspx

If you are interested in attending any of the Talent Search days, please go to the above website to fill out a registration form.

If anyone has any sporting interests or ideas for the SSPA please feel free to contact me.

Cheers,

Tom Carney (sspa.sport@gmail.com)