August 3-10, 2013
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
Hosted by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America

The largest sporting event in history exclusively for athletes with dwarfism

days until the Games. Are you ready?

International Dwarf Athletic Federation

IDAF Board of Directors

  • Arthur Dean, Great Britain (Chairperson)
  • Graham Minett, Great Britain (Treasurer)
  • Steve Scott, Great Britain
  • April Barrett, Great Britain
  • Alain Dajean, France
  • Karen Mueller, Germany
  • Meredith Tripp, Australia
  • Amy Andrews, United States

IDAF Contact

Tim Shephard
Development Officer
Dwarf Sports Association UK
PO Box 4269
Dronfield, Great Britain
S18 9BG
 
Phone: 07889 922 736, or 01246 296 485
Email: Contact can be made online from www.dsauk.org  

About IDAF

IDAF is the worldwide governing body for dwarf sports. IDAF goals are to: (a) encourage international sporting competition amongst dwarf athletes; (b) represent the needs of dwarf athletes amongst other international sporting organizations; (c) set and maintain standard rules for sports used in international competition; (d) establish eligibility and profiling rules for participating athletes; and (e) support a World Games every four years.

The genesis of IDAF was the participation of 117 athletes from 5 nations (Canada, El Salvador, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States) at the First International Dwarf Games held in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, in 1986. Athletes competed in basketball, golf, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, and track and field.

The first international competition with the title of World Dwarf Games was held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1993. These games featured 165 athletes from 10 countries who participated in basketball, boccia, powerlifting, swimming, table tennis, track and field, and volleyball. The countries were Australia, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and United States.

Towards the end of the seven days of competition at the 1993 World Dwarf Games, the international representatives from all 10 countries came together to form IDAF. The new federation would be governed by a steering committee, made up of representatives from four countries that would establish bylaws and a charter, as well as enable countries to prepare for national and international competition in the future. IDAF was chartered as an organization just two years later (1995) in the United Kingdom.