Beijing, China - Thérèse Rein, the wife of Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, met with Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) during the Olympic Games in Beijing.

During this meeting Ms. Rein, who is also the founder of an Australian employment agency, expressed her desire to promote Paralympic Sport and the Paralympic Movement. Moreover, she officially accepted IPC’s invitation in becoming a member of the IPC Honorary Board.

Thérèse Rein will join existing members, including HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxemburg, HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, Soprano Maria Guleghina, former World Bank President James Wolfensohn and HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan as an ambassador for the Paralympic Movement. She will be effectively helping the IPC to disseminate the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality to an ever-expanding audience.

Said Ms. Rein: “The Paralympians inspire us. They are about boundless courage and human achievement - discovering your individual greatness and through dedication, grit, persistence and discipline - and being the best you can be.”

Sir Philip expressed his positive reception of Ms. Rein’s ambassadorship, and described the influence she is likely to have on the Paralympic Movement. “I am delighted that Ms. Rein has agreed to join the IPC Honorary Board”, he said. “As daughter of a true Paralympic athlete who competed in the historical Stoke Mandeville Games, she understands the value and potential of sports as being a catalyst for positive change.”

The IPC, as the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement, decided in 2003 to create an Honorary Board to allow leaders of society an opportunity to support the vision of the Paralympic Movement. The goal is to strive in keeping the issue of Paralympic Sport high on the agenda of the global community. Honorary Board Members assist the IPC in creating opportunities for raising awareness and funding, through the Member’s network of contacts and sphere of influence.

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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 nine 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 Media and Communications Senior Manager, on e-mail: steffi.klein@paralympic.org or go to www.paralympic.org and www.ParalympicSport.TV.