Sport Excel UK is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with Karate Scotland, who have become the first National Governing Body in karate to sign up as an Affiliate Member of Sport Excel UK.
Please see their website - https://sportexceluk.org
The agreement marks an important milestone for both organisations and represents a bold step forward in strengthening, connecting, and championing the pathway for athletes with intellectual impairment across the UK.
The new Affiliate Member programme, formally launched this autumn is designed to bring National Governing Bodies (NGBs) into closer alignment with Sport Excel UK, supporting shared values around collaboration, inclusion, athlete voice, and excellence at every level of the pathway.
Karate Scotland’s leadership in becoming the first karate organisation to formalise this status places them firmly at the forefront of progress, demonstrating both ambition and commitment to developing meaningful opportunities for Scottish athletes with intellectual impairment at grassroots, national, and international level.
Through the Memorandum of Understanding, the partnership will enable:
- Enhanced alignment of pathways from club level through to international competition
- Access for Scottish athletes to the national and international eligibility and classification system
- Increased visibility and inclusion of karate athletes with intellectual impairment
- Collaborative work to build a long-term performance pathway towards events such as the Virtus Global Games and other international championships
- Shared expertise, communication, and good practice across both organisations
- Strengthened representation and a clearer athlete voice within the UK system
This is the first in a series of new affiliate partnerships Sport Excel UK will be announcing, as part of a wider strategy to build a stronger, more connected, and more visible system for athletes with intellectual impairment.
Tracey McCillen, Chief Executive, Sport Excel UK, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Karate Scotland as our first Karate Affiliate Member. This partnership reflects everything Sport Excel UK stands for, collaboration, shared values, and strengthening the pathway so that athletes with intellectual impairment are supported, recognised, and able to excel.
Karate Scotland’s commitment to leading from the front sends a powerful message across the sector, and we are excited to work side-by-side to develop opportunities that truly make a difference. We are thrilled to end 2025 on a high.”
Paul Giannandrea, Chairman, Karate Scotland, said:
‘Karate Scotland and Sport Excel UK are proud and excited to formally confirm an Affiliate Partnership, effective immediately. This strategic affiliation unites two organizations dedicated to excellence, performance, and the promotion of a dynamic and active lifestyle within the sporting community.
This partnership is built on shared values of integrity, innovation, and a commitment to delivering world-class resources and opportunities to our impaired athletes.’
Gavin MacLeod, Chief Executive, Scottish Disability Sport, said:
‘Scottish Disability Sport would like to congratulate Sport Excel UK and Scottish Karate on the establishment of this innovative memorandum of understanding.
This partnership will support the development of athletes with intellectual impairment in Scotland and open up access to competition opportunities at a national and international level. It will also act as an example of best practice that will hopefully inspire other sports organisations to seriously consider the needs of athletes and players with disabilities. Congratulations to both organisations once again.’
The affiliate programme is open to National Governing Bodies of Sport, Sports Organisations and other bodies who wish to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and enabling athletes with intellectual disability, down syndrome and autism to excel.
For more information contact Sport Excel UK or Karate Scotland
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About Sport Excel UK
Sport Excel UK is the national charity responsible for promoting, supporting, and enabling talented athletes with intellectual impairment across the UK. Sport Excel UK manages the eligibility and classification system, are recognised by UK Sport, are a member of Paralympics GB, and are the official Great Britain member of Virtus. Intellectual impairment is a term that includes athletes with intellectual disability (class II1), down syndrome (class II2) and autism (class II3), all three of whom are recognised classes in Sport Excel UK, Virtus and now Karate Scotland pathways.
About Karate Scotland
Karate Scotland is the Scottish Governing Body for karate, committed to promoting participation, developing performance, and strengthening pathways for athletes across Scotland at every level of the sport.
About Scottish Disability Sport
Scottish Disability Sport (SDS) is the Scottish governing body for participants and athletes with physical, sensory and learning disabilities of all ages.
About Intellectual Impairment
Intellectual Impairment is the term used by Sport Excel UK and others in sport and includes intellectual disability, down syndrome and autism.
Other terms used include, learning disability which is used in the UK, with intellectual disability and intellectual impairment being used internationally in sport. Learning disability/intellectual disability is an “invisible disability”. It inhibits how a person learns and performs everyday functions that others take for granted. It also reduces communication, understanding, social, and living skills. In elite performance sport learning disability is defined as an IQ of 75 or less; significant limitations in adaptive behaviour and age of onset of the learning disability being in the development years, i.e. 0 -22 years. This definition adopted by Virtus is from the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of learning disability (mental handicap) and is in line with other internationally recognised definitions.
Different criteria exist for Virtus class II2 (Additional Significant Impairment, including Down syndrome) and class II3 (Autism) which requires a formal diagnosis of autism. Criteria for all three classes have been set by Virtus. More information is available under ‘classification’ .
