FAQs

The Games are being held 5-11 November 2022.

The Games are being held in Brisbane, Australia with two venues hosting sports on the Gold Coast. The following venues are part of the OA Games 2022:

• Gold Coast Performance Centre, Runaway Bay
• Hollywell Southport Yacht Club, Southport
• Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, Nathan
• RACQ Mobility Centre, Mount Cotton
• Queensland State Rowing Centre, Wyaralong Dam
• Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson
• Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler

The following sports are on the OA Games 2022 sport competition program:

• Athletics
• Badminton (Demonstration sport)
• Basketball
• Cycling
• Judo
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Table Tennis
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Triathlon (Demonstration sport)

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments.

Intellectual impairment is characterised by significant limitations, both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behaviour as expressed in conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills. ​

This impairment originates within the developmental period (before adulthood) and has a lasting effect on development.

Eligibility is the criteria that define the minimum impairment necessary to compete in a Virtus event. 

Virtus uses evidence-based classification and medical evidence to verify an athlete’s eligibility into one of three Virtus eligibility groups known as II-1, II-2, and II-3.

II-1 (Intellectual Disability) 

• IQ less than or equal to 75,
• Deficits in adaptive behaviour
• Onset of disability prior to the age of 22

II-2 (Intellectual Disability with Significant Additional Impairments)

• Athletes with intellectual disability and significant additional impairment, 
• Trisome 21 (Down syndrome)
• Translocation (Down syndrome) 

II-3 (Autism)

• IQ greater than 75
• Diagnosis of Autism

Classification is not a Virtus requirement, it is an international sport-specific classification for the Paralympics. 

Classification is governed by the IPC Athlete Classification Code and Standards and determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a Paralympic sport and how athletes are grouped together, by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment, for Paralympic competition. 

Classification is sport-specific because an impairment affects the ability to perform in different sports to a different extent. Having an impairment is not enough to compete as an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport but may not meet the criteria in another sport.

At the OA Games 2022, athlete classification is available for the sports of Athletics, Swimming, and Table Tennis which is the first step to pursuing a pathway to the Paralympics.  

These are the only three sports that offer athletes with intellectual impairment competition in the Paralympics and are sanctioned by international sport federations:

• Athletics: World Para Athletics
• Swimming: World Para Swimming
• Table Tennis: International Table Tennis Federation – Para

Within each sport, classification opportunities are only available for events for athletes with intellectual impairment in Paralympic competition:

• Athletics: T20 and F20 events for men’s & women’s:
  • 400m, 1500m, shot put and long jump.

• Swimming: S14, SB14 & SM14 events for men’s & women’s: 
  •  100m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley and 4x100m freestyle relay

• Table Tennis: C11  events for men’s & women’s
  • Singles

Click here to visit the International Paralympic Committee website and learn more about classification.

Demonstration sports are held with the purpose of showcasing the possibility of including the sport in an elite competition for athletes with intellectual impairment and for the purpose of becoming an official sport on the Virtus Sport Program. 

They provide the platform to grow and develop a sport to include elite and international competitions for athletes with intellectual impairment.

The OA Games 2022 offers two demonstrations sports: badminton and triathlon. 

In addition, Virtus is developing II-3 eligibility group for athletes with Autism who do not have intellectual disabilities.

OA Games 2022 offers II-3 competition in the following sports: Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Judo, Rowing, Swimming, Table Tennis and Tennis. 

This new group has been developed by Virtus to provide life-changing opportunities to enable those people with autism and no intellectual disabilities to compete at the highest levels. 

To compete in Virtus Games, a nation must be a Virtus member, submit an expression of interest to take part in the event, and then complete registration with the Oceania Asia Games 2022 Organising Committee. 

To compete in the OA Games 2022, countries must be part of the geographical Oceania Asia region unless invited to an open event. 

All athletes must apply for, and successfully meet the Virtus eligibility criteria to compete in any Virtus Games. Click here to find out more about the eligibility criteria.

Athletes will need to register with their national Virtus member organisation to be considered for joining their national team. All Virtus member organisation contact details can be found on the Virtus website by clicking here.

If you are an athlete in the sports of Swimming and Athletics you will need to meet the minimum qualifying standards (MQS) for these sports.

Click here to view the MQS for Athletics.

Click here to view the MQS for Swimming.

Minimum qualifying standards (MQS) are a set of sport performance standards that athletes must meet to compete in a specific sport.

They only apply to two sports on the OA Games 2022 competition program: Athletics and Swimming.

Click here to view the MQS for Athletics.

Click here to view the MQS for Swimming.

Applications for volunteer positions are open! We encourage everyone to get their applications in before 16 August 2022.

Click here to apply

We will have over 300 volunteers join the team to help deliver the OA Games 2022 this November!

There are various roles on offer, including opportunities to work in the following areas:

• Accreditation
• Ceremonies
• Logistics & Signage
• Media & Communications
• Transport (Drivers)
• Event Operations
• Workforce

Click here to download the information about available volunteer roles.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application. 

We are looking for people who are friendly and passionate with a positive attitude, and who are great team players. Most importantly, volunteers must be committed to helping make a difference in the lives of our athletes. Additionally, we require that volunteers are: 

• are available between the 5-11 November 2022 
• are able to commit to a minimum of five shifts
• are able to attend a day of training in Brisbane in late October 2022 (this session will include picking up your accreditation and uniform).
• have valid and acceptable photo identification documents to apply to be an OA Games 2022 Volunteer

No! While past event or Games experience can certainly be valuable, Volunteers are not required to have past volunteering experience to work on the Games. 

Absolutely! Provisions will be made to ensure people with accessibility needs or other adjustments are given every opportunity to volunteer at the event in the best and safest way.  We are committed to providing equal opportunity for everyone. 

Volunteers should be available for several shifts across the Games-time period of 5-11 November 2022. 

There will also be some volunteer shifts in the lead up to Games-time.

Volunteers will receive an event uniform, meals (depending on shift length) and event training. 

You will build networks, gain and develop skills, and grow friendships, all whilst being part of a major international sporting event and making an invaluable contribution in the lives of our athletes.

We reserve the right to conduct or request any criminal history checks, Working With Children Checks or other background checks for all or certain volunteer roles.

The Volunteer Portal is our central online location where you can access everything you need regarding your volunteer journey.  

This is where you apply to be a Volunteer, see the status of your application, read key updates, access online training modules, and view your roster. 

The Portal will be available when applications open.

You will be required to attend face-to-face training in October 2022.  We will also have online training modules available to supplement the face-to-face training

Training will include event induction covering safety protocols and other event policies and procedures. 

Specific skills training will depend on the role you are assigned to. 

We will provide rosters from mid-September onwards. These will be available on the Volunteer Portal.

No, Volunteers will not be paid. We are extremely grateful for the support provided by all of our Volunteers. 

Yes, our insurance covers all Volunteers who are Australian citizens or permanent residents.

Accommodation or travel won’t be provided for OA Games 2022 Volunteers.

Shifts will be from 5 – 9 hours with some shifts being slightly shorter, or longer, due to competition schedules.

It is important for us to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our Volunteers.

Breaks will be arranged based on the length of your shift, but you should speak to your supervisor if you are fatigued or need a break.

Some roles will be required to stand and/or walk for a large part of their shift. If you have any accessibility or mobility requirements, please Ie these in the relevant section of the Volunteer Application Form. 

More information will be provided during training – if you have any questions or concerns, please discuss them with your supervisor or the workforce team. 

It is important for us to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our Volunteers. 

Breaks will be arranged based on the length of your shift, but you should speak to your supervisor if you are fatigued or need a break.

Depending on the length of your shift, a meal and beverages /refreshments may be provided.

We’ll do our best to deliver diverse menu choices that address the standard dietary requirements options such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten and dairy free. If we cannot accommodate a specific dietary requirement due to operational reasons, you may need to arrange your own solution.

Being amongst the action is one of the best parts of volunteering at a major event! 

Volunteers must be focused on their duties first and foremost, as well as consider the safety of others and themselves. You are welcome to watch the competition when it does not interfere with your tasks.