The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) and the United Nations (UN) Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace, are proud to release a collaborative edition of ICSSPE’s Perspectives series on the theme of ‘Sport for Persons with a Disability’. This book highlights a number of topics concerned with sport for people with a disability and the Paralympic Movement.

The articles selected for the publication were chosen for the range of topics, sports, regions and fields of study that they represent. Each research article highlights a current and topical issue in the world of sport for persons with a disability, allowing a number of voices to be heard and providing an opportunity to share top quality research on an international platform.

The publication contains a variety of studies conducted in sport for persons with a disability utilizing many different tools, approaches and perspectives. Several articles, Perez (2004), Frossard (2004) and Torralba (2004), examine Paralympic sport from a sport science perspective, using a variety of approaches such as physiology, classification and biomechanics. At a more practical level, the studies by Salvary (2005) and Allen (2004), examine the conduct of sport, athlete training and performance development.

While many articles focus on elite athletes with a disability, those by Stocchino (2004) and Burgess (2004) examine the sporting experiences of young people with a disability in the contexts of the school and community. The article by Blauwet (2004), takes the concept a step further by discussing the global opportunities for athletes with a disability and the impact that sport participation can have at both the individual and social levels.

One priority of selection for the publication was the practical implication that each study could have on the development of sport for persons with a disability. It is hoped that the research included in this publication will inspire coaches, trainers and therapists around the world and trigger the practical application of their investigations. The IPC also encourages the submission of applications to conduct research at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games where the IPC will once again co-ordinate an active research programme designed to benefit all athletes.

The idea for this publication stemmed from discussions between the IPC and ICSSPE on how to best celebrate and recognise the International Year of Sport and Physical Education (IYSPE) in 2005. This initiative allowed the two organizations to come together and work collaboratively with the Special Advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace to promote the benefits of sport and physical education. The publication is one step in an ongoing partnership between the three organizations and also the continuation of a high quality, long-term research programme for the Paralympic Movement.

For more information about research in the Paralympic Movement, please visit www.paralympic.org. To learn more about ICSSPE's involvement in Sport, Sport Science and Physical Education and its publications programme, please visit www.icsspe.org. To purchase the Perspectives Volume 7, Sports for Persons with a Disability, edited by Colin Higgs and Yves Vanlandewijck (EURO 15,95, US$19.95) online, visit the ’Publications and Shop' section on ICSSPE's website.

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Notes to the Editor:

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for 12 sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international non-profit organization formed and run by 162 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international sports federations (IOSDs). The IPC Headquarters and its management team are located in Bonn, Germany.

For further information, please contact Steffi Klein, IPC Communication Manager, on tel: +49-228-2097-230, e-mail: steffi.klein@paralympic.org or go to www.paralympic.org.

The International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) is an umbrella organization with a diverse range of over 300 member organizations worldwide. The Council promotes and disseminates a wide range of scientific information and has a co-ordinating function with national and international organizations, as well as a close relationship with UNESCO and the IOC. In addition to facilitating communication and exchange of information worldwide in all aspects related to sport science and physical education, ICSSPE promotes an atmosphere where multidisciplinary issues related to sport science have a forum for communication. Sport, Sport Science and Physical Education is a continually expanding and evolving area and it is essential for all persons, institutes and organisations involved in sport and sport science to keep up to date with the latest tools and developments in sport.

For further information, please contact Detlef Dumon, ICSSPE Communications Manager, on tel: +49 30 364188 50, e-mail: ddumon@icsspe.org or go to www.icsspe.org.

The Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on Sport for Development and Peace was appointed in 2001 to assist the Secretary-General in his efforts to reach out to the world of sport in order to promote understanding and support for the work and ideals of the United Nations. The International Year of Sport and Physical Education (IYSPE 2005) was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 58/5 and aimed to raise awareness among the general public and encourage communities, organizations and individuals to share their knowledge about the values of sport. It also sought to create the right conditions for more sport-based development programmes and projects. The Special Adviser continues to promote the coherent and systematic use of sport as a low-cost, high-impact instrument to achieve education, health, development and peace objectives.

For further information, please contact +41 22-917-1276 or sport@unog.ch or go to www.un.org/sport2005.