No. 2 / 2001

Strategic Planning Congress Sets the Tone for IPC’s Future

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) needs a clear vision and mission to guide its future activities, and this will be based on a strategic review of the Paralympic Movement to be conducted in the coming months. This was the main outcome of the IPC Strategic Planning Congress held from 25 to 30 April 2001 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

About 250 delegates from 75 countries attended the Congress to discuss themes related to the governance, roles and responsibilities, and structure of the IPC. Through a series of plenary sessions and breakout discussions, the delegates brought to the table some of the key concerns and challenges facing the Movement. The discussions were fast and lively, sometimes contentious, but all motivated by a common goal—betterment of the core services within the Movement. Congress hosts Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper and Dr. Garry Wheeler, both professors in the area of sports science and adapted physical activity, assisted in providing perspectives, provoking thought, facilitating discussions, and finally, reporting on the key themes.

While bringing together diverse views and proposals, the Congress at the same time provided the starting point for the emerging of consensus. The delegates agreed that the focus of the Paralympic Movement should be on sport rather than on disability. They also agreed that as an athlete-centered organization, the IPC must strengthen the role of Paralympic athletes within its governing structures.

“The IPC’s mission is to create, develop and promote sports opportunities for athletes with a disability,” said Congress Chairman Dr. York Chow, who is also IPC Vice-President (Policy, Planning and Development). “However, the focus is on managing the Paralympic Games, the pinnacle of disability sport.”

The Congress was hosted at the Istana Hotel by the Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC), with the support of the Ministry of National Unity and Social Development and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia. The MPC Deputy President and CEO, Mr. Zainal Abu Zarin, said: “We are very pleased that this Congress was held in Malaysia. It was a great opportunity for us to promote sport for athletes with a disability in our country and to get in close contact with other members of the Paralympic family.”

In his closing address, IPC President Dr. Robert Steadward stressed the inevitability of change and the importance of maintaining unity, trust and integrity within the Paralympic Family. “We must have the vision and exercise the courage to make difficult decisions, if necessary,” said Dr. Steadward. “We are an athlete-centered movement and rapid change is to be expected with our involvement in all aspects of international sport.”