The Future of the Paralympic Movement

Culminating several years of hard work and planning, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) took huge steps toward a new future at a historic 10th IPC General Assembly (GA), which took place from 21 to 22 November 2003, in Torino, Italy. Several new structures were adopted, with respect to the Strategic Review, and several decisions were made that will affect the future of the IPC and the Paralympic Movement.

In April 2001, at a strategic planning conference in Kuala Lumpur, there was an unprecedented call for change in the direction and structure of the IPC. The conclusions of the conference were corroborated by the passage of Motion 3 at the 2001 General Assembly in Athens. The Motion called for a fundamental review of the strategy that should be implemented to allow the Paralympic Movement to flourish well into the 21st century.

The IPC conducted an assessment of activities and structures, and developed a series of recommendations and actions to be implemented to achieve success as an organization. This year, the strategic plan was approved, implying new principles for the organization’s governance and structure, as well as sports independence, which are key to the future of the organization.

Over the next year, a Constitutional Commission will develop a new constitution for the IPC. An extraordinary GA will be held in 2004 to approve the new IPC Constitution as well as approve the bylaws outlining the new electoral system.

The framework of the new governance structures was accepted by the IPC membership by an overwhelming majority. This implies that an IPC Governing Board will, at the next GA in 2005, replace the present IPC Executive Committee. The Governing Board will be composed of 14 members, 12 of which will be elected by the GA: a President, a Vice-President and ten board members. An Athletes’ Representative, elected by the Athletes’ Council and the IPC Headquarters CEO will also be ex-officio members of the Governing Board.

As a basis for the new structure of IPC, the GA decided to adhere to the democratic values of the IPC, separate the governance and management, equalize the ownership and joint responsibility of the IPC, simplify the decision making process and ensure universality.

Special emphasis was given to the importance of development by the creation of a Development Committee, as a Standing Committee of the IPC. It will be chaired by the IPC President, or his/her designee, and have representation of the International Organization of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD), regions, sports, athletes and other relevant partners.

Four Councils will be created to represent the different groups of stakeholders with common interest (sports, IOSDs, regions, and athletes). This provides them with a forum to share their objectives and develop common strategies that will facilitate their development and co-ordinate their activities. Through the work of the Councils each of the different particular interest groups will have a distinctive input in the IPC. The detailed roles and responsibilities will be decided by each of the respective Councils.

Another big change for the future is that the 13 sports that are currently governed by the IPC can begin a process towards independence. This will only occur when democratically agreed by the respective Sports Assembly and when in accordance with IPC regulations. It was further clarified that this could only happen if the respective sport chose to obtain independence from the IPC.

The GA formally adopted the World Anti-Doping Code and agreed to add a clause to the IPC Constitution indicating that as a condition of IPC membership, the member must agree to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code.

Sixty-three National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) participated at this GA along with the five disability specific sports federations (IOSDs) and 25 Paralympic or IPC sports. The Organizing Committee of the Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, TOROC, hosted this event at the Fiat Centro Storico, with approximately 250 attendees.