EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE BASE

The IPC and Paralympic Movement’s activities have a tremendous transformational impact around the world. To better articulate and credibly showcase this impact, the IPC will work with IPC members, multilateral organisations, academic researchers, programme implementers, funding bodies and governments to improve data collection, analysis and research of Para sport and advance advocacy for better international and national data infrastructure.

By doing so, the IPC will better inform members, policy and decision-makers on Para sport’s direct and indirect benefits on an individual and community level by gathering and sharing empirical research and data with involvement from academic institutions. Better empirical data will enable the IPC, Paralympic Movement and stakeholders to conduct impact evaluations of national and local interventions. This will facilitate informed decision-making to address prevalent challenges of stigma, barriers to participation as well as low physical activity levels.

Basic data and information on physical activity levels for persons with disabilities will provide evidence and validate effectiveness of programmes, projects and interventions to better inform policy and programme decisions. The IPC aims to provide members and policymakers with evidence that Para sport and physical activity are a cost-effective investment to justify policy changes and resource allocations.