ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC)
Vision: Make for an inclusive world through Para sport.
Mission: To lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.
Founded on 22 September 1989 as an international non-profit organisation, the IPC is an athlete-centred organisation composed of an elected Governing Board, a management team and various Standing Committees and Councils. Since 1999 the headquarters have been based in Bonn, Germany.
The IPC’s primary responsibilities is to support 200+ members to develop Para sport and advocate social inclusion, ensure the successful delivery and organisation of the Paralympic Games and act as the international federation for six Para sports.
IPC's membership includes: National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), International Federations (IFs), Regional Organisations and International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSDs).
Since the first Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960 the Paralympics have grown exponentially in size and scale. Today, the event provides a platform for Para athletes with a diverse range of impairments to showcase their outstanding abilities to millions of spectators and billions of TV viewers.
PARALYMPIC VALUES
The Paralympic Movement has adopted and follows athlete-focused values, which act as the underlying reference for all those involved in Para sport.
COURAGE: Para athletes through their performances showcase to the world what can be achieved when testing your body to its absolute limits
DETERMINATION: Para athletes have a unique strength of character that combines mental toughness, physical ability and outstanding agility to produce sporting performances that regularly redefine the boundaries of possibility
INSPIRATION: As role models, Para athletes maximise their abilities, empowering and exciting others to be active and participate in sport
EQUALITY: Through sport, Para athletes celebrate diversity and show that difference is a strength. As pioneers for inclusion, they challenge stereotypes, transform attitudes and break down social barriers and discrimination towards persons with disabilities.
