IPC Athletes' Forum 2025 to welcome global athlete representatives

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is set to welcome 75 athlete representatives from 51 countries to the fourth IPC Athletes’ Forum from 24–26 June 2025. The Forum will take place across two locations in Germany — Bonn and Duisburg — and will serve as a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and empowerment within the global Para athlete community.

The first day will be held at the accessible IPC Campus in Bonn and will conclude with the official inauguration of the IPC’s new headquarters. The Forum will then move to Sportschule Wedau in Duisburg, the site of the inaugural IPC Athletes’ Forum in 2017, for the remaining two days.

The Forum will focus on key issues affecting Para athletes, including the Paralympic Games sports programme, classification, anti-doping, mental health and athlete wellbeing, and athlete representation. 

Additionally, the IPC will present on its impact work and Para sport development programmes, the latter of which provide opportunities to members for grants supporting athletes and programmes that support Para athlete leadership development.

A special session with a TikTok team, Building Your Brand on TikTok, will offer athletes practical tools and strategies to enhance their digital presence, connect with fans, and elevate the profile of high-performance Para sport. The Forum will conclude with an open session for athletes to ask questions and engage in discussion with IPC’s President, Andrew Parsons, and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mike Peters PLY. 

To maximise participation, diversity and equitable representation across the Paralympic Movement, the IPC is supporting 21 athlete representatives from eligible National Paralympic Committees through its Solidarity Programme to attend the Forum.

The Athletes’ Forum will also welcome members of the IPC Athletes’ Council, IPC Governing Board, and key IPC departments who look forward to engaging with Para athletes.

This year’s Forum marks the first in-person gathering of athlete representatives with the newly elected IPC Athletes’ Council. Six new members were elected during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, with Vladyslava Kravchenko and Yoomin Won elected as Chair and Second Vice-Chair, respectively, in November 2024. Josh Dueck continues his term as First Vice-Chair.

Dr. Mike Peters PLY, IPC Chief Executive Officer and two-time Paralympian, said: “The IPC Athletes’ Forum is a fantastic opportunity to bring Para athlete representatives from around the world together. During three-days, we’ll share with Para athletes important updates from the IPC and provide a platform for several discussions on topics that matter most to the athlete community.

“As we welcome representatives from around the world to our new headquarters in Bonn, we reaffirm our dedication to listening, learning, and acting in partnership with the athlete community.”

Vladyslava Kravchenko, Chair of the IPC Athletes’ Council, emphasized the importance of the Forum: “The Athletes’ Forum is more than a meeting. It’s where athletes can come together to share experiences and ideas, and build a stronger, more inclusive future for Para sport and the Paralympic Movement. 

“I’m looking forward to welcoming athlete representatives from all around the world and learning first-hand about the opportunities and challenges they experience each day.”

The IPC Athletes’ Forum has previously been held in Duisburg, Germany (2017), Colorado Springs, USA (2019) and Icheon, Republic of Korea (2023). The 2025 edition promises to build on this legacy, fostering athlete leadership, amplifying athlete voices, and shaping the future of the Paralympic Movement.