Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs.

The International Wheelchair

Basketball Federation (IWBF) is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by
the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the sole competent authority in wheelchair
basketball worldwide. FIBA has recognized IWBF under Article 53 of its General Statutes.[1]
The IWBF has 82 National Organizations for Wheelchair Basketball (NOWBs) actively participating
in wheelchair basketball throughout the world, with this number increasing each year. It is estimated
that more than 100,000 people play wheelchair basketball from recreation to club play and as elite
national team members.[2] Wheelchair basketball is played by boys, girls, men and women.
Wheelchair basketball is included in the Paralympic Games. TheWheelchair Basketball World
Championship is played two years after every Paralympic Games. Major competition in wheelchair
basketball comes from Canada, Australia, the United States, Great Britain, theNetherlands,
and Japan.
Contents
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1History
o

1.11940s to 1960s

1.21970s to the present

1.3Wheelchair Basketball World Championship

2Rules
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2.1Classifications

2.2Wheelchair design

3See also

4References

5External links

History[edit]
1940s to 1960s[edit]
In 1944, Ludwig Guttmann, through the rehabilitation program at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital,
in Aylesbury,Buckinghamshire, England, adapted existing sports to use wheelchairs. It was known
as wheelchair netball.
At around the same times, starting from 1946, wheelchair basketball games were played primarily
betweenAmerican World War II disabled veterans. Since then, the sport has spread throughout the
world.
The Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games, held in