Madrid to host European Powerchair Hockey Championships in 2016

Spanish capital Madrid will host the historic powerchair hockey event ©AFP/Getty Images

Madrid will play host to the European Powerchair Hockey Championships next year, set to be the first major event since the sport changed its name from electric wheelchair hockey last August.

Following a positive report to accompany a second site visit, the event will be organised by the Madrid Sports Federation for People with Physical Disabilitas, it has been announced by the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS).

Action is scheduled to take place from July 10 to 17 in 2016.

Under its former name, powerchair hockey was one of nine new sports or disciplines to apply for inclusion at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, only to fail to make it through to the final stage, being eliminated along with powerchair football, 3-on-3 intellectually impaired basketball, amputee football, one person multi-hull sailing, blind match racing sailing and 3-on-3 wheelchair basketball.

Only Para-versions of badminton and taekwondo were ultimately approved by the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board.

Changing the name of the sport was another way to signify progress for a sport which has an ultimate aim of Paralympic inclusion ©IWAS/Facebook

It is therefore hoped the European Championships will help to further promote powerchair hockey, as well as adaptive sport in general in Spain, with it also an opportunity for the sport to project itself positively with an eye to another Paralympic inclusion tilt.

“The Organising Committee from Spain has shown a great effort and enthusiasm towards their bid from the beginning and have been open to change where required,” said Niels ten Hagen, competition, events and development officer for the sport Executive Committee for Powerchair Hockey, who formed part of the inspection team.

“It is also very good that a country that is very much still in its development stages for the sport has picked up the glove to hold this event.

"They have proved they are dedicated to promoting and developing powerchair hockey in Spain.”