Top 50 Moments of 2017: No. 29 – I’mPOSSIBLE goes global

After successful pilots in Japan, Armenia and Colombia, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and its development arm the Agitos Foundation launched globally I’mPOSSIBLE, the Paralympic Movement’s pioneering education programme which aims to change perceptions about people with an impairment and inspire the next generation through the Paralympic values. The I’mPOSSIBLE launch on 3 December enters at No. 29 on the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Top 50 Moments of 2017.

The programme offers teaching resources, lessons plans, worksheets and inspirational videos to teachers and learners, targeting children aged between 6-8 years and 9-12 years. Its materials feature information on different Para sports and the inspirational achievements of Para athletes that showcase their abilities.

A pilot version of the programme was launched earlier this year in Japan in the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. With support from the Japanese Paralympic Committee and the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Centre, I’mPOSSIBLE was distributed in spring to 20,000 elementary schools throughout Japan. The National Paralympic Committees of Colombia and Armenia have also piloted local versions of the programme while the National Paralympic Committee of Serbia will revamp its current education project with I’mPOSSIBLE materials.

One day before the launch, on Saturday 2 December, IPC President Andrew Parsons and the IPC’s Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez signed a partnership agreement between FC Barcelona Foundation, the IPC and the Agitos Foundation in a ceremony in Barcelona. The collaboration will has as first step the adoption of the I’mPOSSIBLE materials as a core component of the FC Barcelona Foundation’s global education programme FutbolNet.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “We are delighted that youngsters around the globe will learn more about the wonders of the Paralympic Movement. Through engaging, educational activities, I’mPOSSIBLE will help continue changing society’s perceptions toward people with impairment across the globe and will support National Paralympic Committees in their mission to promote the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality."

Samples of the I’mPOSSIBLE materials can be downloaded at the programme’s newly launched website www.paralympic.org/imPOSSIBLE.

National Paralympic Committees, Organising Committees of Para sport events as well as non-governmental organisations and other entities working to promote inclusion through sport are encouraged to contact the Agitos Foundation at i-am-possible@agitosfoundation.org for more information about the programme.

The countdown of the Top 50 Moments will continue until 31 December.