On 23 March, The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI), No Limits Media, Umbrage Editions and Think Films will award His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award during a ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA.

Supported by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace, the Northeastern University Center for Sport and Society, the Hampshire College, the Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and the World Committee on Disability, the event will include the international premiere of a photographic exhibition of Paralympians and an evening reception.

The photo exhibition, called ‘Raising the Bar: New Horizons in Disability Sport’ will show the work of eleven award-winning photographers, including the IPC Official Photographer Lieven Coudenys, and thirty international athletes with a disability in and out of competition.

Based on the companion book ‘Raising The Bar: New Horizons in Disability Sports’ by Artemis Joukowsky and Larry Rothstein, the exhibition is an intimate, visually rich, elegantly produced portrayal of the Paralympic Movement: Athletes with a disability competing in different sports — from Wheelchair Fencing to Boccia, Athletics to Alpine Skiing, Cycling to Equestrian, Swimming and Wheelchair Tennis to Volleyball and Sailing. From the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1952 to today’s high-profile Paralympic events, these athletes strive for excellence and inspire and excite the world with their performances.

The exhibition will be on display at the United Nations Headquarters from 21 March to 28 April 2005 and will tour internationally thereafter.

At the evening reception, guests will also have the possibility to enjoy the IPC ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games Highlights Video and the documentary ‘Murderball’. Directed by Henry-Alex Rubin and Dana Adam Shapiro, this film is about athletes with quadriplegia playing Wheelchair Rugby to overcome unimaginable obstacles and compete in the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece. It was honoured with the American Documentary Audience Award at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, USA.

For more information please see the invitation .