The APO serves as the governing body for powerchair football in the Asia, Pacific, and Oceania regions.
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Role and Responsibilities:
- Promotion: A primary role of the APO is to promote the sport of powerchair football throughout the region, advocating for its growth and widespread adoption.
- Regulation: Ensuring that the sport is played according to standardised rules and maintaining the integrity of the game in the region.
- Development: Offering training, resources, and support to develop the sport at grassroots levels, especially in countries where the sport is newly introduced.
- Tournaments & Championships: Organising regional tournaments and championships, acting as a stepping stone for teams in the region to qualify for world championships and other international tournaments.
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Membership:
- The APO comprises member nations from the Asia, Pacific, and Oceania regions. Each member nation typically has its national association or body for powerchair football which aligns its activities with the APO.
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Relationship with FIPFA:
- As a regional governing body, the APO operates under the umbrella of FIPFA, aligning its rules, regulations, and activities with the global standards set by FIPFA.
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Challenges and Opportunities:
- The diverse nature of the region, with countries at different stages of powerchair football development, means the APO has to adopt a flexible approach. There are challenges related to infrastructure, funding, and awareness in some countries. However, there’s also a vast potential for growth given the region’s population and increasing interest in adaptive sports.
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Future Prospects:
- With increased awareness and the rising popularity of powerchair football, the APO zone has the potential to produce top-tier talent and competitive teams. The emphasis is likely to be on strengthening the sport’s foundations, increasing participation, and enhancing performance levels across member nations.
Full members of APFC:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Korea
- Japan
