Decision set to be made over Inas Global Games athletics and table tennis venues after volcano erupts

The venues for athletics and table tennis at the INAS Global Games could be in doubt due to the Cotopaxi volcano ©Getty Images

Final preparations are ongoing with just a month to go until the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (Inas) Global Games are due to start in Ecuador, although an announcement is expected soon over the athletics and table tennis venues.

Both sports have been scheduled to take place in the town of Latacunga, located close to the Cotopaxi volcano, which recently erupted and is still experiencing activity, hampering preparations.

Although the volcanic activity has made created problems ahead of the fourth edition of the Games, the event is still set to take part, with Ibarra, Pujili and Quito among also set to stage sporting competition.

“Despite the complications of the past few days, I believe we can look forward to an exceptional event in Quito next month, and it will be an exciting preview to some of those athletes seeing qualification to the Rio Paralympics just a year from now,” said Inas President Amaury Russo.

With registrations now closed the Inas have revealed that 35 countries are set to compete at the Games, from global powers such as the United States and Germany, to smaller nations such as Taiwan and Macau.

Hartmut Freund is currently receiving support from fellow German Dimitrij Ovtcharov, pictured, to compete at the Inas Global Games in Ecuador ©Getty Images

Among the athletes set to take part in the Games, due to take place from September 20 to 27, is Hartmut Freund.

He will be Germany’s only competitor in Ecuador.

The reigning national champion in the Class 11 intellectual disability table tennis event and his guardian and coach Norbert Freund revealed he is receiving the support of one of Germany’s top athletes to compete.

“Table tennis is his life and the Global Games is a great adventure for him,” he said.

“Due to no financial support he is largely dependent on sponsors, family and his idol - German table tennis star Dimitrij Ovtcharov - who has kindly supported his international competitions.”

Table tennis is one of nine events on the programme along ith athletics, basketball, cycling, futsal, swimming, rowing, tennis and taekwondo, with around 700 athletes set to vie for podium positions.

The Opening Ceremony is currently scheduled to take place on September 20 and has the aim of drawing people in of all ages to celebrate the Games, being held in South American for the first time.