Official Magazine of the International Paralympic Committee

Alpine Skiers in Korea

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Wheelchair Initiative Tanzania

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More Beijing 2008 Statistics

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ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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Our goal is that every citizen becomes aware of what the IPC is, and the great work that is done from here in Bonn.

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2010

The Road to Vancouver Begins

Athletes Contend to Qualify for the Paralympic Winter Games

This winter season for Paralympic Sport provided athletes with a playing field of opportunity to demonstrate their welltrained performances in front of international audiences. More importantly, it marked the beginning of the final year before the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. For IPC Alpine Skiing, the journey started in December 2008 and continued on through March 2009. Athletes in this high-powered sport raced to victory throughout the Alpine Skiing competitions. The IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup in La Molina, Spain, for example brought out over 100 athletes from 16 different countries. The World Cup in Sestriere, Italy, also had a strong showing, proving that athletes were ready to push through and qualify for Vancouver. Many of these athletes continued their run in Alpine Skiing, going to the High 1 Ski Resort in Korea for the World Championships and halfway around the world to Canada for the World Cup Finals, not allowing jet lag to bring down their spirits. The IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals also served as a test event for the Vancouver Games. With many months in the making, athletes have had the opportunity to acquire IPC Alpine Skiing points for ranking at the three World Cups. Alpine Skiing athletes joined competitors in other Paralympic Winter sports at the first Paralympic Winter World Cup in Solleftea, Sweden in February. The Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing athletes saw the snow as an ally in shooting to win in the central Swedish town. It is important to note that many of the athletes in the Paralympic Winter Sport were competing, just days prior, in Vuokatti, Finland, at the 2009 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships. This journey continued with the IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Cup, the official Vancouver 2010 test event in Canada. The World Cup Finals for Biathlon and Cross-Country

IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals in Whistler

Skiing were held in Mt. Washington, finishing with incredible athletic performances. For Ice Sledge Hockey, qualification continued with the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships (B) in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, with teams getting even closer to Vancouver. Athletes in Ice Sledge Hockey also had the chance to refine their skills at the Paralympic Winter World Cup in Solleftea, and at the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup in Vancouver, which was an official test event. The IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships (A) will take place in May in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The fifth and final sport, Wheelchair Curling, allows for a total of ten teams to qualify for the Games. Many athletes brought their best performances to the World Curling Federation (WCF) World Wheelchair Curling Championships (WWhCC) in Vancouver at the end of February, officially ending qualification for the sport. The top ten ranked countries which competed in the WCF 2007, 2008 and 2009 WWhCC were awarded the final points in Vancouver according to their placing. The following countries are ranked in the top ten, in order from first to tenth: Norway, Canada, United States, Korea, Scotland/Great Britain, Swe-

den, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Japan. Canada as the host country has an automatic qualification slot, and points for Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales) were gained by Scotland at the WWhCC. With the winter season finishing, athletes will have a better idea where they stand in terms of qualification for the upcoming Games. And although the process is complicated, the goal of fair play remains a pillar to each and every competition. For more information about qualification, please visit www.paralympic. org.

See footage from La Molina, Korea and Vuokatti on www.ParalympicSport.TV. IPC anniversary

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Ten Years in Bonn Interviews with Lord Mayor of Bonn Baerbel Dieckmann, IPC Vice President Miguel Sagarra and IPC Governing Board Executive Assistant Leen Coudenys reflect the significance of ten years in Bonn, the 20-year anniversary of the IPC, and the prosperous future that it will bring to the Paralympic Movement.

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| 2009 ISSUE TEN YEARS No. 1 IN BONN ISSUEBeijing No. 1 | 2008 2009

Lord Mayor Denotes Effect of Annual Partnership Recent Interview Details Bonn’s Strong Commitment to the IPC and the Paralympic Movement

The IPC marks the year 2009 by celebrating the annual partnership with the City of Bonn. Joining the ranks of past partnerships of the City of Bonn, including with UNICEF in 2000, and with the United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV) in 2001, the IPC will be in the spotlight this year, inevitably leading to further growth of the Paralympic Movement and education within the immediate community.

Bonn, the capital of Germany from 1949-1990, has a population of over 300,000

the president's Message

This year is already off to a solid start! As this is the final winter season before the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, athletes have taken the opportunity to accurately warm their skills, and qualify for the big event.

voice their ideas in February at the first Athletics Summit. The Summit, which I had the pleasure of attending, provided an exceptional opportunity for those involved in the sport, including athletes, to contribute toward a luminous future.

“… the landmark

I had the pleasure of beIn the months ahead events of 2008 this year, we will have ing in Vuokatti, Finland, propelled the IPC to witness this amazing and the Paralympic our General Assembly spectacle which is Parain Kuala Lumpur, where Movement onto lympic Winter Sport. The the world’s stage.” we will have an election 2009 IPC Biathlon and marking the end of my second term as IPC President. Cross-Country Skiing World Championships filled my mind with lung-bursting We are also proud to have the Anmoments that can only come from these nual Partnership in 2009 between winter sports. The speed, endurance, skill and elegance that I saw in central the City of Bonn and the IPC. It comes at a time of two major mileFinland will remain with me. They leave me in great anticipation for the Vancoustones, namely the 10-year anniversary of the Headquarters in ver Paralympic Winter Games. Bonn, and the 20-year anniversary of the IPC. In this issue, as well Early in the year I also attended the annual IPC Reception, which was held as throughout the year, information in the Old City Hall in Bonn, Germany. about the IPC’s history will be inThis is an annual event to celebrate the cluded for our readers. It has been quite a decade at the headquarters, previous year, as well as look forward to the next. The evening was full of reaand the experiences will continue to sons to recognize the past 12 months, be written here this year. which had their concentration around the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Additionally, this issue has an overview of the World Cups and World But moreover, the landmark events of Championships which have taken 2008 propelled the IPC and the Paraplace over the past few months. We lympic Movement onto the world’s also included a special “Q & A” with Dr. Peter Van de Vliet, IPC’s Medstage. The Paralympic Movement took ical and Scientific Director, on the on a whole new role in China, selling a classification system in the Medirecord 1.82 million tickets to spectators cal and Scientific section. who had before not known about Paralympic Sport. More than 3.8 billion This issue will most certainly bring people around the world watched athletes compete, totalling an unprecreaders swiftly into the New Year, edented 1,800 hours broadcasted. and prepare each one of us for the next Paralympic Winter Games! Audiences around the world were inspired and excited by what they saw from the athletes, just as we always have been. This year, many of the players in the Paralympic Sport Athletics had a chance to

Sir Philip Craven, MBE IPC President

The Lord Mayor of Bonn Baerbel Dieckmann said the annual partnership with the City of Bonn is generally determined based on the following criteria: the organization chosen has its headquarters in Bonn, the work is internationally oriented, and there is a special anniversary in the respective year.

The IPC follows the criteria, with the special anniversary being not only ten years at the headquarters in Bonn, but 20 years as an organization. Lord Mayor Dieckmann said that various steps are being implemented to make sure that by the end of 2009, the majority of Bonn’s citizens are aware that the IPC is working from Bonn. “To reach this goal, we will have a logo pointing out the annual partnership on all letters the City Administration will send out in 2009,” Lord Mayor Dieckmann said. “This will amount to approximately 1.4 million letters throughout the year. Our website will reference the partnership and our press office will feature the latest news on our joint activities.”

Some of these aforementioned activities include an exhibition on the Paralympic Movement at the Old City Hall in Bonn in the summer, a forum on the Paralympic Movement in September, and the 2009 IPC Powerlifting European Championships taking place at the end of the year. Lord Mayor Dieckmann said the City of Bonn is proud to have the IPC in Bonn, and with all its achievements and rapid growth with every Paralympic Games, the fans and participants in the Paralympic Movement continues to increase. With that, the scope of international organizations in general gives the city a perfect international touch to its culture.

The Headquarters Fit For IPC Vice President Miguel Sagarra and Governing Board Executive Assistant Leen Coudenys Remember Bonn History

From bidding to successful operations, the IPC Headquarters have had a tenyear history which has pushed the organization to higher levels. On the one hand it was quite the dramatic change in operations, moving from a more volunteer-based organization to the current daily working administration and Management Team. But on the other hand, the evolution to a higher tier of organizations was natural, and it provided for a Movement that quickly welcomed the change in location with open arms.

“The Executive Committee had endorsed the selection of Bonn, which they felt was the best fit for the IPC Headquarters,” Coudenys said. “When the General Assembly was asked to endorse the selection made by the Executive Committee, there was some uncertainty, and members had requested to be given more details about the criteria used and the level of compliance the three cities on the short list had.”

“I will never forget the first time that, together with Leen Coudenys, who is now the Governing Board Executive Assistant, I met the representatives from the City of Bonn at the building where the IPC Headquarters are located today,” IPC Vice President Miguel Sagarra said when recalling the whole encounter. “I remember something like, ‘nice to meet you, this is your building … and here you have the keys’, which was quite an experience!”

The opening of the IPC Headquarters in Bonn took place on 3 September 1999. The founding of the IPC in Dusseldorf, Germany, was in September 1989.

This was back in 1998, 11 years ago after the bid for the IPC Headquarters was won by Bonn. The IPC Executive Committee in January 1997 originally endorsed the call for bids to be sent to all IPC member nations and to a couple of cities that had already expressed initial interest. Bids were submitted by six cities, including Bonn, Germany; Colorado Springs, USA; Ferney-Voltaire, France; Madrid, Spain; Oslo, Norway; Paris France. Three of the cities, Bonn, Madrid and Paris, eventually were seen as being able to accommodate the IPC Headquarters the best. Ms. Leen Coudenys remembers the time of decision, during the General Assembly in Sydney, Australia, from 6-7 November 1997.

The final decision was taken on the second day of the General Assembly, with the winning city being Bonn, Germany. The IPC had before been located in the space of two rented apartments in Brugge, Belgium. And because the rental term of the apartments ended 31 December 1997, the Management Committee had decided not to renew the contract. The plan was to immediately relocate everything to Bonn. “I had to continue managing the key priorities of the IPC administration from my home office during that period before the Headquarters in Bonn was fully operational,” Coudenys said. “It was unclear at the time when the previous tenants, who were still in 214 Adenauerallee during that interim period, would actually move out. However, with provisional renovation in the building next door (212 Adenauerallee), it would provide sufficient space for the first year.”

Though the steps to renovate the buildings, which included connecting 212 and 214 Adenauerallee and to reorganize took longer than expected, the relocation ultimately did some catapulting for the organization. Sagarra saw the move to Bonn as a chance for the IPC to gain visibility as well as credibility. “For the first time the IPC had the opportunity to hire a handful of people who would be extremely committed, envisioning the development of their careers by working in a ‘human’ environment and serving Paralympic athletes,” Sagarra said. “For most of them it was a real new experience and a challenge at the same time.” With a building big enough, and funding provided by the Regional and Federal Government in Germany, the IPC had the opportunity to grow from the originally volunteer-only organization.

TEN YEARS IN BONN ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

“We take pride in having become host to such a great number of international organizations and we would like to be more than a mere seat to them – we would like them to feel at home,” Lord Mayor Dieckmann said. “Therefore we try to pick up the work of these organizations at our local level and to communicate their issues to our citizens.” The Lord Mayor became very familiar with the IPC move to Bonn ten years ago, giving her a strong and unique relationship with the organization. “Of course I still remember very well the official inauguration of the headquarters in Bonn, and before that the negotiations with former IPC President Dr. Robert Steadward,” the Lord Mayor said. She also enjoyed attending the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, where she got to know IPC President Sir Philip Craven, CEO Xavier Gonzalez and members of the IPC Management Team.

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“We take pride in having become host to such a great number of international organizations like the IPC, and we would like to be more than a mere seat to them – we would like them to feel at home.”

Other events, like the IPC Annual Reception for example, have become a regular event in her schedule at the beginning of the year. The annual partnership this year will foster and strengthen the already close contacts between the IPC and the City of Bonn. She said that by the end of the year, hopefully every citizen in Bonn will not only be aware of what the IPC is, as well as awareness for the Paralympic Movement and the athletes, but also of the exceptional work that is done from the headquarters in the city.

Left Baerbel Dieckmann became the Lord Mayor of Bonn in 1995 Right The Old City Hall of Bonn, built from 1737-1738, housed the IPC Reception in January

IPC Reception Kicks Off 2009 An Evening Celebrating Year’s Achievements Brings Together Paralympic Community

A

thletes, representatives from sport, the German government, partners, sponsors and media were brought together for the annual IPC Reception inside the Old City Hall in Bonn, Germany, at the end of January for a celebration of achievement, and a look into 2009. IPC President Sir Philip Craven, the Lord Mayor of Bonn, Baerbel Dieckmann, Parlamentary State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of the Interior Dr. Christoph Bergner, and IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez were among the 100 guests and speakers to celebrate the beginning of the New Year 2009.

Bonn’s application to become the home for the IPC included the city’s offer, application brochure, and a packet of information about Bonn

German athletes also were in attendance, representing the Federal Republic and offering their own support and anticipation for the various events in 2009. The athletes included Edina Mueller and Annika Zeyen, who were on the silver medal winning Wheelchair

Basketball Team in Beijing in 2008, Andrea Eskau, who won a gold medal in Beijing in Cycling, and Holger Nikelis, who won a gold medal in Athens 2004 for Table Tennis. In his welcoming speech, IPC President Sir Philip Craven looked back at the past year, highlighting the incredibly successful and inspiring Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. He explained that standards had been raised after the Games, and the enormous impact on the world as a result. Continuing, he mentioned how the Movement took on a whole new role in China with the record-setting sales of tickets, and that a whole new audience was seeing Paralympic Sport. Looking ahead, he emphasized the significant annual partnership between the City of Bonn and the IPC for 2009. The Lord Mayor of Bonn, Baerbel Dieckmann also spoke at the

reception, reiterating the words of Sir Philip and expressing Bonn’s continuing commitment to the IPC. The Lord Mayor had many positive discussions with the guests throughout the evening, and will not forget the speech and gift presented by Sir Philip. “The two replicas of the terracotta warriors presented by Sir Philip will remind me of this evening,” the Lord Mayor said. “They will be displayed along with the presents of state guests in our small exhibition.” A video from the Beijing Games which highlighted the events in China enriched the evening and inspired the guests. Following the presentation, the celebration became a more social gathering inside the Old City Hall. Sponsors and athletes alike had the opportunity to meet one another, and exchange stories from Beijing, as well as plan for a prosperous future.

Guests at the IPC Reception had the opportunity to socialize following formal presentations

After successful renovation, the IPC Headquarters have become fully accessible, additionally offering two apartments for guests. “I want to express my deepest gratitude and recognition to the volunteers who, with their amazing job and outstanding commitment during that time, moved the IPC forward to an incredible level,” Sagarra said. The opening of the IPC Headquarters in Bonn took place on 3 September 1999, with an official inauguration ceremony in the former plenary of the German Parliament just across the street. The event also coincided with the ten-year anniversary at the time of the founding of the IPC in Dusseldorf, Germany in September 1989.

Dr. Bergner, Sir Philip Craven, Lord Mayor Dieckmann and Xavier Gonzalez at the IPC Reception

The Lord Mayor was presented with Terracotta Warriors from Beijing

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FUTURE GAMES ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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Vancouver 2010

London 2012

Sustainability Report Covers Year

Paralympic Planning Update at

Performance of VANOC

Project Review

reduction, social inclusion and responsibility, Aboriginal participation and collaboration, economic benefits and sport for sustainable living. It also discusses the Organizing Committee’s challenges and future plans on sustainability issues.

The third annual corporate sustainability report by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) was released early this year, detailing the organization’s performance measured in its sustainability commitments between 1 August 2007 and 31 July 2008. Some examples of how this will affect the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games include improved working standards at factories, and additionally, eco-friendly sporting centres built for both the enjoyment of world-class athletes and the local community. This Vancouver 2010 Sustainability Report from 2007-2008 examines six performance areas under VANOC’s direct control, namely accountability, environmental stewardship and impact

The report reflects input from the general public, and from non-governmental organizations specializing in inner city, environment, sustainability, persons with a disability, labour and human rights issues, and VANOC’s own staff. While developing the report, VANOC also consulted with its government partners, corporate sponsors and its multi-stakeholder advisory committee. VANOC’s sustainability team conducted 144 engagements ranging from public consultations, information sharing, advice seeking and shared decisionmaking sessions. The outlook for the year is quite positive, with the One-Year-Out Celebration in Ottawa and several test events taking place in Vancouver and Whistler. For more information about the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, please visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Sochi 2014 Master Schedule Outlined

The IPC visited the future host of the Paralympic Winter Games at the end of the year, carrying out a series of sessions and meetings that focused on the upcoming year, and the Paralympic Winter Games in general. Two of the highlights in 2009 will be the Knowledge Workshop and a Project Review between the IPC and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee in April. The President of the Organizing Committee Dmitry Chernyshenko and other top executives from Sochi were in attendance, as well as IPC Management Team members including Thanos Kostopoulos, Arno Wolter and Apostolos Rigas. Over the course of the meetings, the IPC took into account that there are various levels of integration and understanding of the Paralympic Winter Games between different departments. As a result, the IPC recommended bringing all departments to an optimum level. The IPC and the Organizing Committee also went over the Paralympic Winter Games Master Schedule. The Planning and Programme Management Depart-

The arched bridge under construction will link the Paralympic Park and the Stratford City retail and leisure development in London

The IPC travelled to London at the end of January to meet with the London Organizing Committee for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) for an official Project Review. A full day was spent in the British capital meeting with several LOCOG Departments to discuss the current preparations for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The day included parallel working group sessions, wherein the IPC received a detailed update on the groundwork and its progress from LOCOG. Several topics were covered throughout the sessions, most significantly the ceremonies, media and communication, broadcasting, commercial, transport, Paralympic villages and the venues. The future planning process followed the discussions of outcomes from all attendees. The IPC CEO, Xavier Gonzalez,

said that the day was an excellent opportunity to discuss current planning and further steps for the upcoming months. “In continuing to work together with LOCOG, we are very confident that the Paralympic Games in London will be delivered in an excellent and unique manner,” Gonzalez said. A debrief session on the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games was additionally part of the programme in London, occurring on the next day, 30 January. The Games in Beijing served as a tool to discuss important and relevant issues which had been learned, and thus used to plan for a successful future. For more information about the London 2012 Paralympic Games, please visit www.london2012.com.

Candidate Cities 2016

ment and the Paralympic Games Inte gration and Co-ordination Department will be providing the Paralympic specific input into the master schedule, as well as expertise, knowledge and more detailed reviews and reports on Paralympic specific elements. The Games Foundation Plan was also reviewed. A continued collaboration working toward the common objective in successfully hosting the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games was assured between the IPC and the Organizing Committee. For more information about the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games, please visit www.sochi2014.com

The vision, delivery and legacy of each city include a substantial Paralympic element that has become an evolution of the bidding process in general. The official visits of the 2016 Candidate Cities to the IPC Headquarters which have already taken place this year stand out as the most notable of examples supporting the unique relationship between the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games. Arno Wolter, who is in charge of co-ordinating the Bid Process for the IPC, emphasizes that all four cities, Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, have personally presented their projects to the IPC in detailed meetings, all of which have occurred over the past few months. “This trend to have increasing attention to Paralympic plans and details became apparent during the first applicant phase which ended in June 2008,” Wolter said. The bids do have detailed information about the Paralympic Games which will be thoroughly reviewed after the 12 February deadline.

Chicago for example plans compact Games in a city  with a tradition of high accessibility standards. This is one of the priorities expressed by the mayor and the city authorities. The Games in Madrid would be focused on people and  used as a model for the social and physical development of the city, in particular with regards to people with a disability. For Rio de Janeiro, the Games would boost the city’s  regional development and overall renovation, and essentially be a catalyst to accelerate long term goals in accessibility for infrastructure and sporting development. T okyo has underlined building the required services in

addition to its excellent city infrastructure that would be best suited for the Paralympic Games in 2016. Further assessment visits to each of the four cities will occur in April and May by the Evaluation Commission, which will include IPC representative Greg Hartung. Mr. Hartung is a Governing Board member of the IPC and also the President of Australia’s National Paralympic Committee.

THE IPC AS A GOVERNING BODY ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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IPC Swimming Championships Dates and Facts 2009 2009 IPC Swimming European Championships

2009 IPC Swimming World Championships 25m

15  - 25 October Reykjavik, Iceland

25 November to 7 December Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

All European NPCs are expected in Iceland, with a total of around 600 athletes competing.

Around 600 athletes from around the world are expected in Brazil. This will be the first time for the IPC to have a Short Course World Championships in Swimming.

Official website: www.ifsport.is

Wheelchair Dance Hannover Offers First Hosting In the hopes of hosting a Wheelchair Dance competition for the first time, the local bidding authority of Hannover, Germany aimed to thoroughly present their plan for the 2010 IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships.

Venue site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sport Operations Teamwork With Sport Technical Committees The IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Technical Committee made it clear that the events this year for the sport would be right on track and planned accordingly. At the end of January, members of the committee met in Bonn, Germany to discuss the competition calendar and the activity plan for this year. Some of the notable topics included the World and European Championships to take place in 2009 and 2010. The middle of February had the IPC Powerlifting Sport Technical Committee in Bonn as well, with the purpose of offering recommendations for the year. This year begins the business plan for IPC Powerlifting which ranges from 2009-2014.

The successful weekend in Bonn saw the members of the Technical Committee and the Management Team focus on the new business plan, and discuss the competitions for this year. More specifically, the upcoming 2009 IPC Powerlifting European Championships were centred upon. The Championships will take place in Bonn from 12-20 December. Timelines were also set for all Regional Championships in 2009, and the bid process for the 2010 IPC Powerlifting World Championships remains in progress.

The site inspection visit took place at the beginning of February, with IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport Manager Athena Charitaki leading discussions focused on how to properly change Hannover from a bid city to an official host city. The Championships would take place at the Convention Centre in Hannover which is located at the Deutsche Messe. The Deutsche Messe is the biggest Exhibition Centre in the world, offering a total of 496,000 square metres

Convention Centre at the Deutsche Messe in Hannover

of covered indoor space, 58,000 square metres of open air space, and 27 halls and pavilions. Apart from the distinct architecture of the Exhibition Centre’s halls, it has a number of other features, among them its afore-mentioned Convention Centre with 35 functions rooms.

The previous IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships occurred last year in Minsk, Belarus. The World Championships in Hannover, like in Minsk, would also include an Opening Ceremony that appropriately begins the various events in the central German city.

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IPC ATHLETICS SUMMIT ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

Broad Thinking Realized at IPC Athletics Summit Athlete Heinz Frei and Coach Peter Eriksson Anticipate Event’s Outcome, Find Resolution

With three days scheduled over the final weekend in February, the IPC Athletics Summit set out to discuss big challenges, exercise broad thinking, and determine the direction for a bright future in the sport of IPC Athletics. Recently elected to the Athletes’ Council, Heinz Frei from Switzerland was no exception to this preparatory mindset. Frei, a Paralympian who has competed in Athletics since the Paralympic Games in 1984, had a great deal of experience and insight to contribute among his peers.

Paralympian Athlete Heinz Frei (left) and Peter Eriksson (right), Athletics Coach of the Year in Canada for 2008

In coming to the Summit, Frei was hopeful and confident that the views from the athletes, as well as the positive and negative developments of the Paralympic Sport would be constructively brought out. He saw the goal as also dealing with the spirit and purpose of Paralympic Sport as a whole. “I want to engage myself objectively, and I expect the same from the other participants,” Frei said. “Each person’s own private interest should be left at the door; the view should be focused on the actual sport rather than on personal goals.” Peter Eriksson agreed with Frei, seeing the focus on the sport during the IPC Athletics Summit as paramount in achieving any success. Eriksson, head coach and performance director at UK Athletics, is responsible for the national team regarding development and talent, and identification activities. He saw the Summit as a great initiative which was very much needed. “What we want to see is that now someone is listening to what the different countries have concerns for and the adjustment we need to make for that,” Eriksson said. “We can share the best practices from those who have been successful. A long time needs to be taken for recruitment and development, and that is why we can share with those countries that have successfully implemented recruitment methods.” This exchange of information was shared by Heinz Frei, as he was looking forward to the various discussions, ideas and visions of his peers during the IPC Athletics Summit. “I want to see the different experiences to be brought in, but also the organization and structure inside the IPC,” Frei said.

IPC Athletics Sport Manager Helen Murphy at the Market Place wall

The Summit Delivers As the participants made themselves comfortable at the conference hall in Bad Honnef, a town located just a few kilometres outside of Bonn, IPC Athletics Sport Manager Helen Murphy welcomed the delegates, and introduced some of the moderators and organizers. The floor was then handed over to John Stuart, the external facilitator for the Athletics Summit.

The Market Place wall brought many ideas together for all attendees

“In a good atmosphere, many solutions are possible”

“The delegates were asked to consult with their home teams, colleagues, athletes and coach communities to ensure that the broadest thinking and opinions were considered at the Summit,” she said. From the numerous topic areas posted on the Market Place wall by consensus of the 80 delegates, the topic areas were transferred into an agenda matrix. Divided into eight groups and a total of six sessions, the unique format allowed for a maximum of 48 topic areas to be discussed. It also allowed flexibility in the agenda, which could be changed at any time. The underpinning principles were that whoever came to the discussion group was the right person to be there. Furthermore, the overriding law of OST was the “Law of Two Feet”, meaning if a delegate felt they were no longer contributing or learning from the discussion, they should use their two feet and move on to another discussion group. “The participants looked at the agenda and made their own decision where they wanted to go, with each station having a computer and a person self-selected to electronically record the discussions, issues and considerations for future planning,” Murphy said. Murphy said that on the surface it may sound chaotic, and it in fact was, but only for the first session. The environment however, and the sense of community born from within this opening created a sense of self-responsibility with open and honest discussions. The third and final day was used to interpret the electronic record of conversations, which were put into one of three categories: 1 IPC

Stuart explained in detail the “Open Space Technology” (OST) process before inviting delegates to write their topic areas on paper, and then place them on the wall known as the “Market Place”. “We were receiving discussion papers six weeks prior to the Summit, which were posted on a dedicated Summit webpage. This enabled pre-thinking and allowed other delegates to read other viewpoints in advance of the Summit itself,” Murphy said.

The Athletics community was able to exchange ideas between experts in various topic areas

With many ideas being shared over the weeks prior, delegates were ready to exchange them to the group. Murphy said the process and format was significantly different from anything adopted by the IPC in the past. Whilst the schedule of the Summit was set, the agenda was crafted by delegates in the first session.

Athletics will take responsibility to take initiatives forward in a defined timeline.

2 Wider

input from the IPC Athletics community such as a working group or advisory group is needed.

3 Future

endeavours, which require resources or time that are not immediately available, are waiting further development.

The categorizing allowed for the final session to be conducted in the most efficient manner, and kept to time. As the processing of what was determined continues, and because proposals came from within its own community, Murphy said that after the Summit, IPC Athletics will undoubtedly grow effectively and outwardly towards a bright future.

SPORT PROFILE: CYCLING ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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UCI Brings Para-Cycling to Higher Level Philip Craven and UCI President Pat McQuaid. To ensure the best possible growth of Para-Cycling on the international scene, the UCI dedicated a full time staff in June 2008 to ParaCycling and created a Para-Cycling Commission to oversee the overall development of the sport. Can you explain what UCI is doing to focus on the integration of Cycling on the National level?

Para-Cycling Co-ordinator Chantale Philie

Chantale Philie is the Para-Cycling Co-ordinator for the International Cycling Union (UCI), which is based in Aigle, Switzerland. Her studies in communication and human relations, with an additional degree in the organization of sports and leisure activities field, lead her to work in the world of sport today. Ms. Philie has had countless contact with athletes, organizational structures dealing with people with a disability and Cycling Federations at both provincial and national levels. This has provided extensive knowledge in better understanding the reality and needs of Para-Cycling. Previously managing the Canadian Para-Cycling Team in major events, the current Para-Cycling Co-ordinator is looking after the structure and development of the sport, starting with the integration into the National Cycling Federations and the supervision of professional and high-quality competitions. What is the history with UCI and ParaCycling? The UCI has been involved with ParaCycling for some time now. In 2001, the UCI assigned one Board and one staff member to the IPC Cycling Committee meetings to help the development of Para-Cycling. In 2002, the IPC and UCI signed an agreement of co-operation which resulted in many initiatives taken by UCI, such as the training of UCI international commissaries, integration of the Para-Cycling rules into the UCI rules, and the promotion of Para-Cycling to Cycling nations. In 2006, the UCI organized the IPC Cycling World Championships in Aigle. During the Championships, nations voted almost unanimously on a motion to transfer the governance of ParaCycling from the IPC to the UCI. This transfer was officially finalized in February 2007 at the UCI headquarters with the signature of IPC President Sir

A presentation has been made at the UCI Congress to all the members to inform all nations of the integration of Para-Cycling. Letters have also been sent to both the National Cycling Federations and the National Paralympic Committees with topics to discuss around the full integration or the partnership. There have also been one-on-one discussions with several nations in order to help them in this transition process. To assist in this process, we have also developed an agreement model that lays out how the integration can and should be achieved. When possible, we also try to link countries that have completed the integration with countries that have not in order for them to share information about the process. Finally, as part of this integration process, every UCI sanctioned event now needs to be approved by the National Cycling Federation.

National commissaries and classifiers are also crucial in developing ParaCycling. These are a few examples that will help enhancing the development of this new discipline. But the most crucial component to any success will depend on how the national federations embraces Para-Cycling, regardless of the initiatives taken by the UCI. This being said, with the enthusiasm and growth we have witnessed over the last few years, we are very confident that Para-Cycling will not only build into one of the strongest and most exciting Paralympic sports, but one of the most exciting disciplines within the UCI. What competitions are taking place this year? The ranking system and qualification criteria have been developed in order to build five types of events: P1 (gives UCI points for the rankings), P2 (provides racing opportunities), National

Championships, next year’s ParaCycling World Cup Series, and the World Championships. As a result, there will be 20 P1 events in 2009, with events held in each one of the five regions, three P2 events, and the UCI Para-Cycling World Championships in Seville, Spain from 3-13 September 2009. What is the outlook for London 2012? London should bring Para-Cycling to the next level. We have already witnessed great things happening in the last decade. Certain nations, who are relatively new in Para-Cycling, will arise and most certainly become very competitive. Keep in mind that this will be the first complete cycle of ParaCycling under UCI’s governance, which should have a huge impact over the development of the sport in the next four years!

“… Para-Cycling will not only build into one of the strongest and most exciting Paralympic sports, but one of the most exciting disciplines within the UCI.”

How did Cycling in Beijing show this integration? Great Britain is a great example of integration at the moment and you could see in Beijing the impact their integration within their National Cycling Federation had in their overall results. They literally dominated the Games, just like during the Olympics, with 23 gold and three silver medals. In all their preparation for the Games they benefited from the same training facilities, training equipment, high level coaches, and the athletes had the same financial support. Para-Cycling in Beijing also benefited from the fact that it is now part of the UCI Cycling structure. From a technical standpoint, the expertise and the links between the Olympics and Paralympics helped a lot in order to achieve a higher standard of event. What is the strategy for UCI for the National/Regional level? There are several ways to ensure development of Para-Cycling both regionally and nationally. Obviously, the UCI cannot achieve this without the National Cycling Federations. One of the key elements is having a strong international calendar with events in all regions and countries. For example, as of 2010, the UCI will be introducing a Para-Cycling World Cup. Para-Cycling in Beijing

UCI Headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland

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NEWS IN SPORTS ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

Wheelchair Curling World Champs and Ice Sledge Hockey Test Event Hoist Up Canada Team

Korea Delivers First-Class World Championships to Alpine Skiers

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he host country of the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games pushed itself to the top of the podium in the coastal city at both the 2009 World Curling Federation (WCF) World Wheelchair Curling Championships and the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup after several days of intense competition. Ten countries came to Vancouver to compete at the WCF Wheelchair Curling World Championships, with Team Canada facing off against Sweden in the gold-medal match on 28 February, and winning 9:2. Canada’s performance was lead by athletes Jim Armstrong, Darryl Neighbour, Chris Sobkowicz, Sonja Gaudet and Ina Forrest. The fight for the bronze was between Germany and USA, with Team Germany winning 6:4. With the conclusion of the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, which were a test event for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, three years of qualifying competition for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games has come to an end.

“With the conclusion of the 2009 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, which were a test event for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, three years of qualifying competition for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games has come to an end.”

nine places will be offered to the nine National Paralympic Committees of the member associations of the World Curling Federation who have gained the most qualifying points from the World Wheelchair Curling Championships held in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

powerful performance from three German athletes gave their home country the number one position in the Team Competition, which officially ended the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Korea in early March.

At the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, Canada’s Ice Sledge Hockey Team took the gold, winning 2:1 against USA. Graeme Murray (CAN) scored the single goal in regulation for his team, making their record three wins out of three competitions. Jimmy Connelly (USA) tied the game in the third period, scoring against the Canadians. Canadian Adam Dixon scored the goal in the fifth round of the shootout, with Paul Rosen stopping all five of the Americans that he faced.

Andrea Rothfuss, Martin Braxenthaler and Ralf Frummet comprised the German Team, with a winning total time of 7:20.36. The German Team was followed by Austria’s Danja Haslacher, Harald Eder and Hubert Mandl with a second place time of 7:25.37. Coming in third position was Switzerland’s Karin Fasel, Thomas Pfyl and Michael Bruegger at 7:32.32. A total of 55 athletes competed at the Apollo 4 venue, which is located at the High 1 Ski Resort in Gangwon-Do, Korea. The start elevation of 1,220m sent the athletes down a vertical drop of 355m, to a finishing 865m.

The final day of the Canada Cup on 1 March, saw a tough bronze medal match between Germany and Japan. Japanese athletes Takayuki Endo and Satoru Sudo scored one goal each in the final three minutes of the third period, and teammate Daisuke Uehara scored in the shootout giving Team Japan the win 3:2. The 2009 Hockey Canada Cup took place at the UBC Thunderbird Arena in Vancouver, and was also an official Test Event for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. The four teams competing were the top ranked teams in the Paralympic Sport. The event Ice Sledge will take place in the same venue during the Games next year. For more information about the 2009 Hockey Canada Cup, please visit www. hockeycanada.ca.

The 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships ran from 19 February – 1 March, and were organized by the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled (KOSAD), the Korea Adaptive Ski Association (KASA) and the High 1 Ski Resort. The Championships brought in a total of 160 athletes from 25 different countries to the slopes in Korea. The programme at High 1 Ski Resort included competitions in Slalom, Giant Slalom, SuperG, Super Combined and Downhill. Supporters to the event included the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Korean Paralympic Committee, the Seoul Olympic Sports Promotion Foundation, GangwonDo, the Korea Ski Association, Taebaek-si and Jeongseon-gun.

Alpine skiers compete in three categories, including Sitting, Standing and Visually Impaired

The World Championships began with the Slalom race, with Canada’s Lauren Woolstencroft taking the top position in the Women’s Standing category. Woolstencroft also took first in the SuperG and Downhill race. Impressive performances also came from Germany’s Gerd Schoenfelder, who took first in the Giant Slalom, Super Combined and Downhill race in the Men’s Standing Category. Sabine Gasteiger from Austria, with guide Emil Gasteiger took first in the Slalom and Giant Slalom race in the Visually Impaired category. For more information about the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, please visit www.09wchkorea. com. Watch video highlights at www.ParalympicSport.TV.

Complete results of the 2009 WCF Wheelchair Curling World Championships are available on the official event website at www.wwhcc2009.com.

Canada, as host nation, will receive an automatic entry. The remaining

Around 160 athletes from 25 different countries competed at the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships in Korea

The Wheelchair Curling test event in Vancouver gave spectators a taste of the Games next year.

NEWS IN SPORTS ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

First Paralympic Winter World Cup in Solleftea

World Championships in Vuokatti Bring Together Experience and Success

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fter five days of strong competition, the 2009 Paralympic Winter World Cup came to a close in Solleftea, Sweden. From 3-7 February, around 350 athletes and team leaders from 26 different countries were in the central Swedish ski resort competing in Paralympic Winter Sport, and hoping to get closer to Vancouver. Sanctioned by the IPC, four Paralympic Winter sports were showcased in Solleftea, including Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross-Country Skiing and Ice Sledge Hockey. The Paralympic Winter World Cup brought together elite winter sport athletes with a disability for one of the biggest international biannual multi-sport competitions outside of the Paralympic Winter Games. On 7 February, Aliaksandr Davidovich from Belarus took the first position in the Cross-Country Skiing 15 km race (Sitting category) with a result time of 55:26.4. Closely following Davidovich was compatriot Dzmitry Loban just 12 seconds behind, and Chris Klebl (USA) in third. In the Men’s Standing competition, Japan’s Yoshihiro finished in first at 1:02:25.3, followed by Norway’s Svein Lilleberg and Vegard Dahle. The Women’s Cross-Country Skiing 15 km race (Standing category) had Larisa Varona from Belarus in first with a result time of 57:45.9. Poland’s Katarzyna Rogowiec finished in second and Canada’s Jody Barber finished in third. The Final Ice Sledge Hockey competition was a heated battle between teams from Korea and Poland. Korea eventually took the game, winning 2:1 against Poland.

The Giant Slalom competition from 5 February showed a mix of countries having athletes in top positions. In the Men’s Standing race, Cedri AmafroiBroisat from France took the top position, finishing with a time of 2:26.83. Following Amafro-Broisat were compatriot Romain Riboud and Bart Verbruggen (NED). Riboud finished less than a minute after Amafro-Broisat. The Men’s Sitting competition saw Christoph Kunz from Switzerland several seconds ahead in first, with Andreas Kapfinger (AUT) and Markus Pfisterer (SUI) in second and third, respectively. The Women’s Sitting race of the Giant Slalom had Sweden’s Linnea Ranudd take first, and Jane Sowerby from Great Britain in second. The Standing race had Alyda Norbruis (NED) in first, followed by Ursula Pueyo (ESP) and Anna Jochemsen (NED) respectively. In the Women’s Visually Impaired race on 4 February and for much of the competition, Spain’s Anna Cohi took the top position with guide Raquel Garcia, followed by Andorra’s Franc Ramirez Capitan and guide Manuel Fernandez. The Women’s Standing competition saw the Netherlands’ Alyda Norbruis and Anna Jochemsen finish in first and second respectively. The first Solleftea Winter Games were held in 1995, with successive Games continuing every two years thereafter. The 2009 IPC Paralympic Winter World Cup essentially replaced the Solleftea Winter Games.

fter six days of competitions and a full 11-day programme, the 2009 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Championships in Vuokatti, Finland, came to a close. This was the third time that the Finnish ski resort held an IPC event, with the first two being World Cups in 2007 and 2008. The Paralympic Winter Sporting event this year featured over 100 athletes from 26 countries around the world starting on 23 January in the central Finnish city, with an Opening Ceremony as the first act of the show. Sir Philip Craven was also in attendance, where he wished all of the athletes the best of luck and strong performances. The last Biathlon competition took place on Saturday, 31 January. In both the Men and Women’s events, as with much of the World Championships, Russia and Ukraine held many of the top positions. In the Women’s Sitting 10km race, Olena Iurkovska (UKR) finished first with a time of 47:12.3. Irina Polyakova (RUS) and Lyudmyla Pavlenko (UKR) followed in second and third respectively. The Men’s Sitting 12.5km race saw Vladimir Kiselev (RUS) taking first with a time of 44:40.8. Sergiy Khyzhnyak (UKR) and Roman Petushkov (RUS) followed in second and third place respectively. Power brothers Brian and Robin McKeever (guide) from Canada took second in the Men’s Visually Impaired 12.5km competition, finishing less than a minute after Russia’s Irek Mannanov and Salavat Gumerov (guide). The Women’s Visually

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Impaired 12.5km competition saw a Russian sweep, with Polina Kameneva and Pavel Saxin (guide) in first position. Elvira Ibragimova and Salavat Gumerov (guide), and pair Liubov Vasileva and Natalie Yakimova (guide) came in second and third positions respectively. The athletes representing Russia held their ground in many competitions, taking over a total of eight places in the top three positions in Cross-Country alone on 29 January. The closest competitor to Russia was Belarus and Ukraine, each tallying up multiple top three positions.

Vuokatti events in Biathlon included the 10km, 12.5km and pursuit.

In the Men’s Sitting 10 km competition, Russian athletes Roman Petushkov and Irek Zaripov took the first and second positions with times of 33:09.7 and 33:14.5 respectively. Belarusian Allaksandr Davidovich followed in third with a time of 33:42.2. The Women’s Standing 5 km race saw the three top countries in the top positions, with Anna Burmistrova (RUS) leading the way. Yuliya Batenkova (UKR) and Larisa Varona (BLR) took the next two positions. The Closing Ceremony took place on 1 February, along with an awards ceremony and a final banquet. For more information about the 2009 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country World Championships, please visit www.ipcvuokatti2009.net. Watch video highlights at www.ParalympicSport.TV.

For more information about the 2009 Paralympic Winter World Cup, please visit www.pwwc.se.

In the Men’s Visually Impaired category of the Alpine Skiing Giant Slalom race on 6 February, Slovakian athletes Norbert Holik with guide Lubos Bosela and Michal Beladic with guide Martin Pavlak took the first and second positions.

Both Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing are governed by the IPC through the IPC Nordic Skiing Sport Technical Committee

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NPC PROFILE: KENYA ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

Focus on Kenya NPC Kenya Vice President Jairus Mogalo Steers Towards Provinces and NPC Networking

With a team of athletes totalling fewer than 20, the group from Kenya finished the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games with an impressive nine medals in various events. This high ratio of wins to participants has given the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) of Kenya a centre stage position where other NPCs are looking to learn from and implement in their own Committees. Jairus Mogalo, the Vice President of NPC Kenya, has stressed the importance of working on programmes in provinces outside of Nairobi. The significance he says in reaching out in the more rural areas cannot be overstated. The Ministry of Education has therefore made it a point to have effective sport programmes in the calendar of events which include these areas, allowing athletes with a disability on all levels to compete in National Championships. Mr. Mogalo was elected Vice President of NPC Kenya four years ago, three years after becoming a member of the Committee. As he looks back at his work, and that of the Committee, he unflinchingly says that he has no regrets.

Pictured back row are the athletes in Kenya who participated at the Beijing Games Front row from left to right: Jairus Mogalo; Douglas Sidialo, NPC Kenya President; His Excellency Honourable Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya; Honourable Professor Hellen Sambili, Minister Youth Affairs and Sports; Honourable Wavinya Ndeti, Assistant Minister Youth Affairs and Sports

Describe the experience of NPC Kenya at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

+++ NPC Ticker +++

Beijing was an eye-opener in the sense that our government and everyone involved could see that hard work and consistency can in fact produce results. Going by the experience of our performance in Beijing, it has helped us now to sell disability sport. The government has actually appreciated that Paralympians can and will always be ambassadors, just like Olympians. And Paralympians have done our country even more proud than Olympians.

Antti Heikkinen is the new Secretary General of NPC Finland. Mr. Heikkinen replaced Maria Laakso officially on 1 February. Chutinant Bhirompakdi is the new President of NPC Thailand, and Col. Osoth Bhavilai is the new Secretary General. The term of the new administration is from 2009-2013. Riad Redwan is the new Secretary General of NPC Syria, replacing Musah Jaafar.

It was a launch pad to the next level of not only participating in the Paralympics, but creating programmes that can help athletes with a disability. The results of the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games told Kenyans that yes, we do not know much about disability sport, but Paralympians also have the inspiration in their performance. Then came Beijing, and that was like a confirmation. Now the word “Paralympics” is in the everyday vocabulary of Kenyans. What was the reaction of the team’s performance from James Voga, one of the coaches for Kenya at the Games? His coming to Kenya and being able to achieve what we were able to achieve, he could not believe it. It was like reaching the pinnacle of his coaching career. I know he was happy with what we were able to do. After the Games were over, he said that one thing we can and need to do is to work on programmes that can take us to the next level.

Andrew Parsons is the new President of NPC Brazil. Mr. Parsons was formally the Secretary General of NPC Brazil. NPC Kenya Vice President Jairus Mogalo at IPC Headquarters in Bonn

How are the athletes in Kenya preparing for success in 2009? One thing that Beijing has done is to create a lot of awareness because of our performance. Right now at the provincial level, in the area of Athletics, so many athletes have come up and said they can do it. As part of the government programme, some of the Paralympians are going to these provinces and encouraging young athletes to become involved in disability sport on a national level. Are you in a partnership with any other NPCs? Yes, many of the other NPCs in the region have asked us about our success. They want to know what we did to progress over the past years. Now we

have Committees like NPC Netherlands and NPC Turkey, who are partners with other NPCs like NPC Germany and NPC USA. Their relationship will help in the networking of our working with other NPCs on the continent. The more we help other NPCs to do well the way Kenya has done, we not only help our country, but we help to create an awareness to enable more athletes in other countries to compete in Paralympic Sport. What are some of the challenges that are a reality with your NPC? Challenges are there, and will always be there. The question is how do you face them and how do you come up with programmes to help you to surmount them. The main challenge is to bring more IPC-sanctioned competi-

tions to the continent here, for a more central location. This way, more NPCs in Africa can compete. Other challenges that we may have are equipment, facilities, and signing sponsorship agreements with major sporting companies like Nike, Adidas, etc. What are your goals for 2009? At the end of last year, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports did form a task force which brought in athletes with and without a disability. They were given the task to come up with a strategic plan to bring more sports to Kenya and deliver more results. This calls for a concerted effort from all the stakeholders to come up with the ideal strategic plan which can be ideally implemented.

One of the goals for the strategic plan is to work on having more team sports for major events like the London 2012 Paralympic Games. We hope to see a team in the Paralympic Sport of Wheelchair Basketball for example. Another goal is to go out into the provinces of Kenya and identify new talent. We believe that the future of Paralympic Sport is investing in young athletes, so they can continue the tradition of success that we are working to build in Kenya.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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Paralympian Ambassador Brings Wheelchair Initiative to Tanzania What began as a day of routine mountain climbing for Paralympian Ambassador Chris Waddell, ended up jumpstarting a project that would lead him to the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The project “One Revolution” is not however just about climbing the 5,882m mountain, rather it is an initiative that will positively affect the people of Tanzania.

The goal of the project is to provide a push in opportunity, focusing on mobility, and working with a local manufacturer to provide custom fit wheelchairs for people who may not otherwise venture out on their own. Waddell said that in most developing countries, wheelchairs are almost useless as a result of the dirt roads that often look more like dried riverbeds than actual roads.

Chris Waddell is a highly accomplished Paralympian in Alpine Skiing who has won multiple medals in four consecutive Paralympic Winter Games, starting with Tignes-Albertville in 1992. The decorated athlete has a total of 12 medals to his name, including four gold medals won at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games. The ambition to start a foundation in Tanzania is fuelled by his desire to provide to the world a picture of what it means to have a disability.

“With the wheelchairs and the handcycles we want to increase individuals’ mobility range in the hopes that added mobility will lead to a more fulfilling life,” Waddell said.

Waddell and a team of experienced colleagues chose the country Tanzania because of the mountain’s location. They are continually being supported by the people along the way, and Waddell has described Tanzanians as “kind, generous and proud”.

“With the climb I want to force people to revisit their assumptions,” Waddell said. “I want them to question what they think is impossible and I want to stretch their imaginations.”

The climb, he said, represents the impossible, or assumed impossible. This assumption of impossible for another person has the potential to rule the respective lives of people with a disability. The focus is not just related to Tanzania, but the world in general.

year, he became calm and confident, yet maintaining his youthful enthusiasm.” The first trip to Tanzania by Waddell and his team of colleagues was in June 2008, and the Mount Kilimanjaro climb will occur in summer 2009. This will represent the first major step in the wheelchair donation initiative, with the project continuing thereafter. The plan is to set up a fund that will subsidize wheelchairs, along with handcycles and replacement parts. The team will maintain a presence in the community hopefully with a fund that subsidizes and maintains the vehicles. The other hope is for similar projects initiated from within the community to continue.

Waddell wants the story of Tanzania, the climb and the positively affected community to continue in the form of a documentary film. Throughout the project and climb, a camera crew will accompany the team and eventually produce a film that will be used as an educational tool that inevitably will inspire viewers, and prove that indeed anything is possible when you seize life by the throat. For more information about “One Revolution”, please visit the project website at www.one-revolution.com. Watch video highlights of Chris Waddell’s climb preparation on www.ParalympicSport.TV.

“With the wheelchairs and the handcycles we want to increase individuals’ mobility range in the hopes that added mobility will lead to a more fulfilling life.”

The hoped-for result in the country is not only mobility, but the creation of an open forum in the world that facilitates dreaming. Waddell wants to increase the size of each person’s world and their belief that they can become significant players. “In short, I want the forgotten to be noticed,” he said. “Once noticed, I hope they change their worlds.” Waddell said Tanzanians have already begun to dream as a result. These are people who, before, might not have had the chance or even the idea that it was something for them to be part of and experience.

Waddell hopes people will question their assumptions and what is impossible

“In a particular case, we have watched a boy turn into a man,” he said. “In June 2008, he could not make eye contact. But by November of the same

Chris Waddell and his team are also preparing a feature length documentary on the project

Waddell plans to take this model of development and implement at other locations around the world

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PARTNERS AND PATRONS ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

IPC Launches Sport Data Management System Supported by Atos Origin

Deutsche Telekom Supports Volcano Climb saw ascending to the peak of Mount Teide, from the sea’s altitude of zero, as achievable with professional preparation, including arranging the team, securing every piece of necessary equipment, the exact route, and carefully organized training.

tion and result management, and an automatic rankings and records calculation. All 161 NPCs can apply for one primary account, where it has the ability to register new athletes from its country, monitor and update data, as well as upload passport information and signed eligibility code forms and photographs.

Screenshot of Sport Data Management System

A new innovative method of locating and entering information about athletes and IPC-related competitions launched on 12 January 2009, providing NPCs with a more interactive way of updating data. The IPC Sport Data Management System (SDMS) is a web-based, password protected application based on a Microsoft SQL Database. Designed by Atos Origin, Worldwide Partner of the IPC, the idea of the application and first contract with the international IT service provider occurred at the Barcelona office in 2007. Local

installation of the system began in November 2008, with subsequent training sessions to assure a quick delivery. By the end of December 2008, the “testing and migration” phase reached an upload of over 5,400 athletes and 20,000 results. The system aims to combine all IPC sports into one application, with an emphasis on simplified execution processes and user-friendliness. The functionalities of the SDMS include athlete management, classification information, license management, competi-

Rankings and records for the SDMS can only be considered from licensed athletes in an IPC approved competition. At the moment, Swimming and Athletics have been fully implemented into the system. The remaining IPC sports will be incorporated as well in the coming future. Daniel Torres, Director of Major Events Barcelona at Atos Origin, said the system provides the Paralympic community with links to information that will be sure to help organize and promote further growth. “Atos Origin recognizes the many possibilities the Sport Data Management System has in progressing the Paralympic Movement, and looks forward to seeing how the many functions will be utilized by the NPCs,” Mr. Torres said.

Otto Bock Celebrates 90 Years A milestone for IPC Worldwide Partner Otto Bock HealthCare was reached this year, as the company celebrated a strong 90 years of operation. On 13 January, Otto Bock held a ceremony with many distinguished guests attending to recognize the achievements of the standard-setting company. This was 90 years to the day after the Orthopädische Industrie GmbH was founded by luminary Otto Bock. The Premier of Lower Saxony, Christian Wulff was among the 300 guests at the ceremony in the historical Duderstadt City Hall. Minister Gerold Wucherpfennig was also in attendance, representing the premier of Thuringia, Dieter Althaus. One of the key topics addressed during the event was the company’s commitment to the Paralympic Movement. Paralympians Heinrich Popow and Mathias Mester were also present, speaking to the audience about sports and the connection between performance and acceptance in life with a disability in general. The two athletes both brought back to Germany silver medals from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games; Popow in the

Men’s 100m (T42) and Mester in the Men’s Shot Put (F40).

Otto Bock is in the midst of returning to their roots in Berlin, where they will inaugurate the Otto Bock Science Centre for Medical Technology in June. The centre will illustrate the performance of modern high-end products, and include interactive exhibits allowing for constant discoveries by each new

Gold medal athlete and Paralympian Ambassador Michael Teuber already achieved his New Year’s resolution by successfully climbing and cycling to the top of the highest mountain in Spain, Mount Teide, in Tenerife. The project was supported by IPC Gold Patron Deutsche Telekom, and generated a donation for the German “Sporthilfe” which in turn supports the next generation of German Paralympians. “At the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, during the visit from German President Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler, I met the Vice President of Deutsche Telekom, Dr. Karl-Gerhard Eick, and told him about the project,” Teuber said. “He was very interested in the whole idea.” Dr. Karl-Gerhard Eick said that Teuber did show great ambition, professionalism, and a strong team for his project. “These characteristics are also always applicable to a solid commercial enterprise,” Dr. Eick said. “That is why we also see athletes such as Michael Teuber as an example that we enjoy supporting in the long term."

The company Otto Bock has been committed to professional disability sports since the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games, where it was the official service provider, sending an international team of technicians to the Korean capital. The team performed a recordbreaking 2,500 individual service and repair jobs at the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games. In Beijing, IPC Worldwide Partner Otto Bock set up a workshop inside the Paralympic Village that gave athletes the opportunity to have wheelchairs and prosthetics repaired free of charge. The company had trained technicians offering services, ranging from pumping tires, to anything else that may have been needed. A total of 12 satellite workshops were in or close to the venues during the Games, as well as in Hong Kong and Qingdao.

In what started at 6:00 with complete darkness, ended at the pinnacle of sunshine

The main goal was for Teuber to push his own limits as an athlete, and demonstrate the tremendous abilities and determination of a Paralympian. He

A major setback turned into merely a minor obstacle for Teuber, when just four days before the planned ascent, he broke his collarbone in a Cycling competition in Munich. Teuber found that a serious operation and a reparatory 17cm long titanium nail in him were not enough to stop his pursuit of success. “I was released from hospital on Monday, and on Tuesday morning we were on an airplane with Tenerife as the destination,” he said. “The first few days however, I was not confident in being able to reach the peak due to pain and bad form.” But seven days later, and after a string of good weather, Teuber became determined to ascend the peak of the volcano. His plan and hope was to reach the top in just one day. That plan became an immediate reality, with a near 4,000m altitude being towered in less than ten hours. The climb included hiking and biking, coupled with thinning air and worsening roads at every subsequent move. “I could not believe what I had achieved and was totally happy,” Teuber said. “After the long preparation, the cancellation, the difficulties with my injury and the enormous physical strain when combined with being an athlete with a disability, I was standing at the peak and enjoying the view down 60km away from the starting point of El Medano.” For more information about Paralympian Ambassador Michael Teuber, please visit www.michael-teuber.de. Watch video highlights of Michael Teuber’s climb on www.ParalympicSport.TV.

Otto Bock workshop at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games and at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games (from the top)

visitor. The technology showcase will be on three exhibition levels and provide an in-depth glimpse into the world through experiences with biomechanical phenomena. For more information about Otto Bock, please visit www.ottobock. com.

The Volcano, El Teide, is currently dormant, with the last eruption occurring in 1909

MEDICAL AND SCIENTIFIC NEWS ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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Frequently Asked Questions About Classification In the midst of a competition, normally the spectator is involved enough in the game to enjoy the performances of the athletes and team. However at times, there are questions that inevitably form in a person’s mind concerning the foundation of the game and players itself. Competitions within the Paralympian Movement bring together a variety of athletes with diverse backgrounds. This lead to a system allocating each athlete in a ‘sport class’ which allows for an organizational strategy aimed at fairness. This system is called Classification. The new IPC Classification Code has its aim of achieving full implementation by March 2010. This implementation is for a sport-specific Classification system with evidencebased criteria for eligibility and sport class allocation. Evidence-based specifically covers measureable, objective and standardized criteria, with reference to scientific evidence if available. The purpose of a code compliant Classification system is to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition, so that the athletes who succeed in competition are those who have the most favourable combination of anthropometry, physiology and psychology, and who have enhanced them to best effect by legitimate means such as effective training, diet, event technique and legal technical aids (e.g., strapping, prosthetics and equipment design).

In order to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition, the classification system … describes eligibility criteria in terms of type of  impairment and severity of impairment describes methods that aim to group athletes ac  cording to extent of activity limitation resulting from impairment.

Furthermore, code compliance also means any upgrade concerning rules, regulations, processes, procedures, policies and operations. But all questions are likely to not end with these few paragraphs. IPC Medical and Scientific Director Dr. Peter Van de Vliet therefore is taking this opportunity to answer a few frequently asked questions that continue to come up along the Paralympic way. Why are there so many classes, and should Classification drive a sport’s competition format? Athletes need to be grouped according to how much their impairment affect core determinants of performance in a particular sport. This is a balanced exercise between the number of classes to be as small as possible in order to ensure the largest possible competitive fields and the spread of athletes, each with an individual (different) activity limitation, within a given class. The balance is found when athletes within one class can compete without the unduly disadvantage against each other. When the number of classes has been determined, it is the role of the governing federation to put in place an effective and efficient (promotion) strategy to maximize participation and ensure large competitive fields. The number of classes should not be driven by the number of athletes competing in that sport.

What is the future of the Classification of athletes with an Intellectual Disability (ID)?

“The new IPC Classification Code has its aim of achieving full implementation by March 2010.”

The IPC and INAS-FID released a joint statement last year to stress their efforts towards re-inclusion of ID athletes. The Classification of athletes with ID is bound by the same Code of principles that apply to any other athlete in the Paralympic Movement. The athlete needs to be eligible (‘approved’ Intellectual Disability under international standardized measures) but also meet the requirement that the impairment impacts the sport to be competed in. Different to athletes with physical impairment where physical testing takes place, this implies an assessment of cognitive factors (e.g., reasoning, reaction time, visuo-spatial abilities and working memory) in relationship to the sport. The IPC, together with INAS-FID and sports-technical experts in different sports, currently develop this kind of testing material to be used for Classification of ID athletes. Consequently and no different to any other athlete, an ID athlete may be eligible to compete in one sport but not in another. When does Classification take place for athletes who have never been classified, and for those athletes who need to be re-classified? There is a difference between national and international Classification. As early as possible in athletes’ careers, they should have a good indication of the sport class that they are likely to be allocated to. This falls under the responsibility of the national classifier. As soon as athletes enter the international sports arena, every athlete will have to present for Classification in front of a panel of international classifiers. These persons are certified officials from the International Federation to assess the athlete and allocate the sport class in accordance with the IF rules. Up to the moment athletes present for international Classification they are allocated a ‘NEW’ sport class status. After being assessed by the international classifier panel, athletes are allocated their international sport class and a sport class status ‘REVIEW’ or ‘CONFIRMED’. This sport class allocation overrules the call from the national classifier, if different.

‘REVIEW STATUS’ means that athletes have to present at the next competition where international Classification is foreseen. They will then be seen by another panel to have a second opinion or to have the initial sport class allocation confirmed. ‘CONFIRMED STATUS’ means that athletes do not have to present for future Classification unless their condition changes or when exceptional circumstances arise.

How is an athlete with two disabilities classified (e.g., blind and amputee)? Can this athlete compete under both classes? An athlete is always allocated to one single sport class. The Classification panel will deliberate in complex cases carefully, and consider consultation with the other sport officials as well as check the sport rules prior to the decision made. For example, amputee events may not plan in the provisions for guide runners to participate, and participant safety needs to be guaranteed at all times. It is important to be reminded that ‘ineligibility to compete’ is a sport class.

Visual examination by Dr. Axel Bolsinger for Classification

If I am watching a Paralympic sporting event on TV and the presenter says an athlete is in class “X”, how do I find out what “X” is? Each International Federation has the responsibility to implement Classification Education and Awareness programmes. Those should include the availability of an introduction to the Classification system to a broad audience which applies to the sports under their governance. This information should, at a minimum, be posted on the IF website. Information on IPC sports can be found on the IPC website. Why does an athlete have to go through Classification for every sport? Can one class be good for everything? The Paralympic Movement adopted the principle that Classification is undertaken to ensure that an athlete’s impairment is relevant to sport performance and to ensure that the athlete competes equitably with other athletes. As a consequence, an athlete may meet the criteria for one sport but may not be eligible to compete in another sport. However, once eligible, a single sport class will be allocated for that particular sport. What do evidence-based Classification systems mean? Are the systems already evidence-based? When Classification tuned into a functional system, this exercise was made under time constraints when the IPC and the Barcelona Organizing Committee signed an agreement which stipulated that all Paralympic sports contested at the Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games had to use sport-specific functional Classification systems. Given the short time frame and the absence of relevant scientific evidence, the systems developed largely depended on expert opinion. Today’s needs are clear descriptions of the extent to which impairments of varying type, severity and distribution impact on performance in Paralympic Sport. This requires the development of objective, reliable methods for measuring impairment, conducted in a similar way with the same tools and equipment by certified experts.

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BEIJING EXTRA ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

More Beijing 2008 Statistics Report Card on Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Reflects Universal Targets

Following the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games last year, the IPC conducted a review of statistics that communicate the actual results of the Games, versus the targets set by the organization. In this review, the conclusion was one of achievement, as several milestones were reached and growth was experienced. The comprehensive targets of the IPC preserve a Paralympic Sports Programme which holds Universality as one of its core characteristics. Two guiding principles of Universality are to ensure that equitable and global targets are in fact met through the Games. Equitable targets ensure that gender representation and the type and extent of disabilities represented at the Games are taken as a fundamental factor in establishing the Games framework. And global targets establish a framework that strives to ensure regional representation and the global nature of the Games. Represented here in graphs and figures, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games targets are shown next to the Beijing 2008 Games actual numbers. As demonstrated, the actual results reached or came close to the targets set. And although the 25% target was not met for athletes with High Support Needs, the IPC created a platform for doing so with over 24% of the total medal events having opportunities for athletes in the relevant sport classes. In comparison with the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games, the IPC achieved unprecedented results, with an increase in the total number of athletes, the number of female athletes, the number of competing NPCs, and the number of athletes with High Support Needs.

“Transcendence, Equality and Integration” was the Paralympic theme at the Games

The IPC will continue to work with the Paralympic Sports Programme to ensure that the Games strive to uphold the core characteristics of Quality, Quantity and Universality, and adhere to their important guiding principles. If you want to relive the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, please watch www.ParalympicSport.TV.

The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games had a total of 472 medal events

Comparison Graph

Numbers Toward Equality And Universality

Total Athletes with High Support Needs All other Athletes

4000

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

4000

3806 3130

3951 3000

3000

3243

2000

1000

0

1000 708

676

Athens 2004 Actual

Beijing 2008 Target

Beijing 2008 Actual

Gender Male Female Total Disability Category Spinal Injury/Amputee/Les Autres Visually Impaired Cerebral Palsy Total Global Africa Americas Asia Europe Oceania Total

Beijing 2008 Target

Beijing 2008 Actual

2609 1391 4000

65% 35%

2584 1367 3951

65% 35%

2560 760 680 4000

64% 19% 17%

2699 723 529 3951

68,3% 18,3% 13,4%

320 800 1000 1640 240 4000

8% 20% 25% 41% 6%

237 751 869 1896 198 3951

6% 19% 22% 48% 5%

The medal tally was topped by the host country, China, winning 89 gold medals



PICKING THE VAULT ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

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Sport and Disability Exhibition Comes to Cologne The Paralympic Torch in Beijing

The German Sports & Olympia Museum in Cologne is preparing to house for the first time an exhibition highlighting the world of sport for people with a disability. This big event in the sport museum world comes on the heels of an incredibly successful year 2008 in Paralympic Sport. The exhibit, titled “Yes, we can! Sport & disability”, will be part of the museum’s daily offerings starting on 28 November this year, and ending on 11 April 2010. Visitors will have the opportunity during these months at the museum to recognize the history and achievement of athletes with a disability who have competed over the years, and the amount of progress that has taken place. “Yes, we can! Sport & disability” will additionally display information about the IPC, and how it has been a strong force in the continuing growth of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC is a key partner in this exhibition and sees this as an opportunity to display items from the Paralympic collection, which will be coming to Cologne from Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain, as well as from the IPC Documentation Centre at the headquarters in Bonn.

Ansgar Molzberger, Curator at the German Sports & Olympia Museum, explained how sport for people with a disability had been for decades merely a niche in the world of sport in terms of audience and media attention, until now.

“An area of about 500 square metres will be devoted to the ‘Yes, we can! Sport & disability’ exhibition.”

“This has changed in the last years,” Mr. Molzberger said. “More and more international competitions and events have taken place, most especially the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, which have put a stronger focus into the public. Impressive top performances, exciting competitions and professional athletes, together with talent and a strong will are what the Paralympics are about.” An area of about 500 square metres will be devoted to the “Yes, we can! Sport & disability” exhibition. Molzberger said that the space will be multifaceted, with incorporated themes on the history of elite sport for athletes with a disability, starting from after the Second World War, and leading up to today. Additionally, there will be an activity station that allows visitors to experience some of the sports just like the athletes. A smaller version of the exhibition ranging from 100-150 square metres will be put together and used as an “international version” that will ultimately tour museums around the world. The IPC also will receive its “promotional version” of the exhibition in Septem-

Cologne’s German Sports & Olympia Museum

ber, in time for the 20 year anniversary celebration. The German Sports & Olympia Museum is located at the Rhine River, just south of the Cologne Cathedral. It is housed inside a former nineteenth century bonded warehouse. The entire space covers 2,000 square metres on two floors. The permanent exhibition on the first floor of the museum

takes the visitor through more than 2,500 years of sporting history up to the present day. For more information about the German Sports & Olympia Museum, please visit www.sportmuseum.info.

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Crash Course: The Movement

Do you know… 1

Where can the Anti-Doping Code be found on the website?

2

What is the vision of the IPC?

3

What is the official language of the IPC?

4

When and where was the first Constitution of the IPC approved? What is the name of the official gathering of all IPC Members, and how often does it occur?

4 At the inaugural General Assembly in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1989 3 English 2 To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and Inspire and Excite the World 1 The PDF link on the page: http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/Anti_Doping

5

Founder of the IPC, Sir Ludwig Guttmann

5 General Assembly, every two years



Sir Ludwig Guttmann, Prince Philip and archer at the Opening of the Stoke Mandeville Stadium (1969)

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NEWS IN BRIEF ISSUE No. 1 | 2009

New Athletes’ Council Chairperson Elected

Alpine Skiing Sport Forum Rounds Off in Korea

New Governing Board to be Elected This Year

R

T

T

obert Balk (USA) was elected as Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council in mid February. An Election Task Force for the Vancouver 2010 Athletes’ Council Elections was also appointed, which included Teresa Perales (ESP), Yu Chui Yee (HKG), and David Smetanine (FRA) as Chairperson. The first meeting of the year for the Athletes’ Council saw two days of intensive work and co-operation held at the IPC Headquarters and the Gustav Stresemann Institute (GSI) on 13-14 February. The new Council also elected Teresa Perales as the new Athlete Representative to the European Paralympic Committee. Attendees at the Athletes’ Council meeting included Ljiljana Ljubisic (CAN), Robert Balk (USA), Teresa Perales (ESP), David Smetanine (FRA), Marketa Sidkova (CZE), Eskil Hagen (NOR), Heinz Frei (SUI), Katarzyna Rogowiec (POL), Yu Chui Yee (HKG) and Rania Elwani (IOC Representative).

he 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Forum took place at the High 1 Hotel – Kangwonland in Korea, bringing delegates and observers together for the betterment of the Paralympic Sport. A new point system was passed as a result of the forum in February, with its implementation being from 1 July 2010, pending approval from the Governing Board. A total of 35 delegates, representing 20 different countries attended the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing Sport Forum, which occurred simultaneously with the 2009 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships at the High 1 Resort. The forum was an all day event which included a report from the Chairperson. Other relevant reports came on classification, equipment, the factor system and IPC Management.

he election for a new Governing Board will occur at the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this year from 19-22 November. The General Assembly is appropriately hosted by the National Paralympic Committee of Malaysia and will also include a Paralympic Awards Ceremony. The IPC Conference will happen the first two days, with the actual General Assembly taking place on 21-22 November. Highlighting the event will be the elections of the new IPC Governing Board on the final day. Meetings will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Being once every two years, the previous General Assembly was held in Seoul, Korea, in 2007.

Imprint

Paralympic Values Inside the Movement

Editor: Steffi Klein Assistant Editor: Jeff Wolfshohl Graphic Design: Clever + Klug GmbH Printing: welzel+hardt GmbH

The Question: With the IPC Headquarters celebrating its ten-year anniversary, where have you seen the Paralympic Values in Bonn?

All rights reserved © 2009 International Paralympic Committee ISSN 1609-1329 For subscriptions please visit www.paralympic.org

Courage

Inspiration

“The IPC does not only bridge the gap between Bonn as an international city and Bonn as the city of sports. More importantly, the IPC stands for the successful integration of people with a disability. Paralympic sports show the enormous capabilities of people with a disability in a very impressive manner and, at the same time, open our eyes to the hurdles that they have to struggle with in their everyday lives.”

“I am from Greece and have worked the past ten years for several different Games Organizing Committees, including Sydney, Athens and Doha. Coming to Bonn and working for the IPC however was a new situation for me, and really I think it has been even more inspirational because of a combination of the location and atmosphere. This city has given me a different perspective!”

Baerbel Dieckmann Lord Mayor of Bonn

Thanos Kostopoulos IPC Paralympic Games Senior Manager

International Paralympic Committee Adenauerallee 212-214 D-53113 Bonn, Germany Tel. +49 228 2097 200 Fax. +49 228 2097 209 E-mail. [email protected] Web. www.paralympic.org Correction: On Page 5 of the last issue of The Paralympian, under the section for Volleyball (Sitting), the sentence “And in the bronze medal match between the Netherlands and Slovakia, the Dutch also had a shutout, winning 3:0”, should have read, “And in the bronze medal match between the Netherlands and Slovenia, the Dutch also had a shutout, winning 3:0”. The editors of The Paralympian apologize for this mistake. The views expressed in The Paralympian are not necessarily those of the IPC. In case of republication of any part of The Paralympian, please send a copy to the IPC. The publisher reserves the right to edit submitted articles.

Worldwide Partners:

Determination

Equality

“The IPC has grown so much over the past ten years and so has the dynamic of the building and the people who make up the organization. Perhaps it was the determination in continuing with the Movement that led to this success. Our next challenge is to find a way to keep the balance of the professional organization in Bonn and the volunteer work all over the world!”

“I think the equality with which Bonn has supported the IPC, especially this year with the Annual Partnership is fantastic. There is a lot happening this year connected to the IPC and the city because of the Annual Partnership, and it’s the same treatment I believe as any other organization in the past. I think the awareness will benefit both parties for sure!”

Rita van Driel Secretary General of NPC Netherlands

Gerd Schoenfelder German Paralympian in Alpine Skiing

© Photo Credits: IPC (p. 1/3/5/6/10/12/16), KPC (p. 1), City of Bonn (p. 1/2/3), Mike Stoner (p. 1/11), Lieven Coudenys (p. 1/2/14), London 2012 (p. 4), Peter Rommers (p. 5), Deutsche Messe (p. 5), Getty Images (p. 5/7/14), UCI Yuko Sato (p. 7), Kim Young Kil (p. 8), WCF (p. 8), Matti Knuutinen (p. 9), Michael Teuber (p. 12), Otto Bock (p. 12), Dr. Axel Bolsinger (p. 13), Rob Prezioso (p. 14), BOCOG (p. 15), WheelPower (p. 15), Guttmann (p. 15), Deutsches Sport and Olympia Museum (p. 15)

Gold Patrons:

The International Paralympic Committee endeavours to be as current and accurate as possible with this publication, aiming to treat all readers with courtesy and respect. We can not guarantee however that the information contained in this publication is complete and accurate in all respects and readers are taken to understand and agree to this disclaimer upon reading any part of The Paralympian. Articles, pictures and other written or graphic devices published in The Paralympian may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of the International Paralympic Committee.