12: IPC/IOC Agreement signed at London 2012

“The Games would not have grown into the event it is today without benefitting from the same venues, infrastructures and levels of detailed planning as the Olympic Games.”

Ahead of the London 2012 Games, the Presidents of the IPC and IOC signed a historic agreement that ensures the Paralympic Games will be held in the same city as the Olympic Games through to 2020.

The agreement also provides greater financial security and brand protection for the Paralympic Movement, and includes further co-operation in a range of other areas.

Signed at the 124th IOC session in London, Great Britain, Presidents Craven and Rogge extended the Co-operation Agreement that was signed in June 2006 and ran through to the 2016 Games.

The agreement now extends the practice of “one bid, one city” to the PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Games.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “Having the Games in the same city as the Olympics brings many advantages to the Paralympic Movement, as shown most recently at London 2012 and Sochi 2014.

“The Games would not have grown into the event it is today without benefitting from the same venues, infrastructures and levels of detailed planning as the Olympic Games.”

The new agreement also gave the IPC far greater financial support that, in turn, brought multiple benefits to the IPC membership.

In addition to a substantial increase in marketing and broadcasting rights fees from organising committees of future Paralympic Games, the IOC will, for the first time, make a financial contribution of USD 8million to the IPC over the next four years.

Of this support, EUR 950,000 each year is going toward the Agitos Foundation – the IPC’s development arm – to help make members stronger and increase participation in para-sport at all levels.

A further EUR 300,000 per annum is going toward classification research, and other sums are also being invested in education and women-in-sport initiatives.

As a result of the agreement, the IPC has increased by 40 per cent the grants it gives to non-IPC sport federations, and doubled its financial support to regional organisations.

During negotiations it was also agreed for the IPC and IOC to jointly register the trademark for the word ‘Paralympic’ – a move that brings substantial benefits.

Having the world’s biggest sporting organisation as a joint partner provides a far greater deterrent to any third party considering using the word commercially or in ambush marketing.

Although the word is jointly registered, the IPC has an agreement in place that says the IOC cannot use or authorise the use of the word Paralympic without the IPC’s prior consent. This ensures the IPC maintains absolute control over its usage.

Overall, the agreement gives the Paralympic Movement greater protection, stability and financial support than ever before, and will help the IPC and all members build on the success of the London 2012 and Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games.