Clemence de Limburg

Dwarf World Games

The Dwarf World Games, now held every four years, originated in Chicago in 1993, and was organized by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities to people of short stature. Since then, the Dwarf World Games have been hosted in England, Canada. France, and Northern Ireland with the support of volunteers and philanthropic contributors.

World Games for Little People provides a setting with a realistic opportunity for persons of restricted growth to compete in sport on equal footing. Anyone is encouraged to participate, even if it is his or her first Games experience. Featured sports include Basketball, Football, Track and Field, Swimming, Boccia, Badminton, Table Tennis, Powerlifting, Kurling and Unihoc. The classification system is based on body proportion and height, allowing fair competition based on technique and ability.

Although the ambition of some of the athletes is to qualify for the Paralympics, the Games are foremost a wonderful occasion to experience the thrill of competition and camaraderie while making new memories. “Even for me it is amazing. I am not used to being surrounded by so many Little People,” says French football player Christophe Fluder. Such meetings show Little People that they are not alone, and that there is a place for them to succeed in the world.

These images were taken at the Dwarf National Games in New York and at the 5th Dwarf World Games in Belfast, where I met a hundred seventy athletes from countries including India, Poland, Sri Lanka, Iran, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and Germany. Wondering how their lives might vary from one country to another, I started visiting some of the athletes at home in India, as part of an ongoing project about Little People around the world.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK- JULY 2009: Swimmer competing at the Dwarf National Games at St. Francis College on July 6, 2009 in Brooklyn, New York. The National Dwarf Games are held every year by the Dwarf Athletic Association of America, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.
  
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND- JULY 2009: Kids playing Badminton while adult athletes compete at the Badminton tournaments of 5th the Dwarf World Games at UUJ Sports Center on July 29, 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Dwarf World Games are held every four years by the Dwarf Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.
   
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND- JULY 2009: Physiotherapist Kim Dean treating French athlete Julien Pellat at the 5th Dwarf World Games at Mary Peters Track on July 26, 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Dwarf World Games are held every four years by the Dwarf Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.
     
  
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND- JULY 2009: British Athlete Roxanne Luckock during the powerlifting competition at the 5th Dwarf World Games, at the UUJ Sports Center on July 30, 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Dwarf World Games are held every four years by the Dwarf Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.
   
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND- JULY 2009: American and Northern Ireland football team competing during the 5th Dwarf World Games at the UUJ Sports Center on July 30, 2009 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Dwarf World Games are held every four years by the Dwarf Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.
   
KARNATAKA-INDIA, MARCH 2010: Indian Athlete Devappa Morey runs every morning at 6am for an hour in his village in Karnataka to train for the games. Devappa won several medals and participated at the fifth Dwarf World Games in Belfast. The Dwarf World Games are held every four years by the Dwarf Athletic Association, a non-profit organization that provides athletic opportunities for people of short stature.