At the end of July, forty Dutch athletes will participate in the World Games for Small People in Cologne, Germany, a kind of Olympic Games for people who are less than one and a half meters in adulthood. This also includes Ivana Maas from Molenschot, who has a growth disorder and is very good at table tennis. For her, it’s more than just a sporting event: “Everyone is suddenly the same and you don’t have to explain why you look different.”
In a sports wheelchair and with the table tennis bat in a special glove, Ivana Maas (21) spins and smashes merrily. She trains with coach Stefan at TTV Tios ’51 in Tilburg in preparation for the World Dwarf Games 2023, the World Games for Little People.
“At a high level, I’ve never played against people with a growth disorder and I’m curious to see how I perform,” says Ivana. “I don’t know how good my opponents are and what my chances are. I also participate in athletics, football and badminton at the games, but I’m the best in table tennis. I’ve been doing that all my life.”
“We play more tactically and more on each other’s handicap.”
So she expects quite something from herself and the sportswoman in her immediately emerges. Ivana smells her chances. “I am always 1-0 behind against regular players because of my height. I can still play the ball sharply, but it always comes back. The ball often falls short behind the net so that I cannot reach it. Now I can I’m going to tease my opponents a bit myself.”
“The game is very different for athletes with a disability,” she continues. “Regular table tennis is more offensive and faster, but we play more tactically and more on each other’s handicap.”
To participate in the World Games for Little People, an adult must not be taller than one meter and fifty five centimeters. Since the difference in length differs a lot, there are multiple classes. “There are many different genetic growth disorders,” says Ivana. “For example, I have dystrophic dysplasia, which means that my bone structure is different and muscles work differently than most participants. It cannot be compared and that is why it is fairer.”
“Everyone is suddenly the same and you don’t have to explain why you look different.”
“The World Games are not necessarily about the championship,” continues the athlete from Molenschot. “It has more of a non-committal character. There are athletes from all over the world, such as America, Australia, China and African countries. Of course you get a medal if you win, but it’s more about the honour.”
And it’s about emancipation and self-awareness of little people. As well as combating stigmatization and discrimination. “We are all in the same hotels and that’s how you make friends. There is more understanding for each other and you never have to explain why you look different. Everyone is suddenly the same and that’s nice.”
The World Games for Little People will be held in Cologne from July 28 to August 5. Debbie Coolen from Maarheeze and Anouk Hartwijk from Eindhoven also participate from Brabant.
