Agitos Foundation announces 2017 Grant Support Programme recipients

“The Grant Support Programme is one of the most important tools for the development and strengthening of the Paralympic Movement globally. More than one in three IPC members have benefitted from the programme since its launch in 2013."

The Agitos Foundation has announced the Para sport development projects that will receive over EUR 600,000 through the 2017 edition of its Grant Support Programme (GSP).

The fifth edition of the GSP has made available grants of up to EUR 40,000 for 31 projects by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) members for initiatives such as awareness campaigns, athlete development, capacity building, sport technical education and equipment in both summer and winter sports. Sixty-two applications were sent from 1 June - 14 July 2017.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “The Grant Support Programme is one of the most important tools for the development and strengthening of the Paralympic Movement globally. More than one in three IPC members have benefitted from the programme since its launch in 2013.

“The quantity and quality of the applications have had a significant increase this year, and Africa is a good example with almost three times more Para sport projects awarded compared to 2016. As I have said since the day I was elected the IPC President, this is an organisation for all, and the Grant Support Programme shows what we can achieve when we work more closely with our membership.”

Among the 31 projects awarded this year, there are 20 National Paralympic Committees, two Regional Organisations, one International Organisation of Sport for the Disabled, and eight International Federations. Six NPCs will be first-time recipients of the grants – Costa Rica, Cyprus, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of Korea and Suriname – as well as the Asian Paralympic Committee and the International Canoe Federation (ICF).

Para sport projects in Africa are on the rise, with 11 projects being allocated funding this year compared to four in the 2016 edition. GSP will also support other eight projects in Americas, four in Asia, four in Europe, two in Oceania and two global projects. The US Paralympic Committee has been awarded for a project to develop Para swimming in the Americas, reflecting the role that NPCs can take in supporting emerging countries in their region.

Greece and Cyprus NPCs will receive funding to provide training opportunities for refugees with an impairment, following on the success of the GSP 2016 project in Greece. Several initiatives focus specifically on fostering gender equality, such as the British Paralympic Association’s project to enhance women’s participation in Para ice hockey. Additionally, funds have been earmarked to promote female participation in leadership positions in Africa, working together with the African Paralympic Committee and the IPC Women in Sport Committee.

Since its launch in 2013, the GSP has invested over EUR 3 million in supporting 156 Para sport development projects across the world, making a significant impact on the growth of the Paralympic Movement.

List of funded projects

National Paralympic Committees

• Benin - athlete identification in Benin

• Brazil - increasing the number of Para cross-country skiing athletes

• Cape Verde - improving the participation of visually impaired athletes through training of classifiers

• Chile - identification and training of athletes in Para athletics, Para swimming, Para powerlifting and table tennis

• Costa Rica - increasing awareness of the Paralympic Movement

• Cyprus - increasing awareness and participation of refugees and asylum seeking populations in Para sport

• Ecuador - identification and training of athletes in Para swimming and Para powerlifting

• El Salvador - developing boccia in El Salvador organising workshops and regional competition

• Ethiopia - athlete identification and training

• Great Britain - facilitating women’s participation in Para ice hockey

• Greece - increasing awareness and participation of refugees and asylum seeking populations in Para sport

• Kazakhstan - delivering Paralympic education in schools through the I’mPOSSIBLE programme

• Malawi - increasing awareness of the Paralympic Movement

• Morocco - increasing opportunities for African athletes to compete in the 3rd International Meeting of Para-Athletics of Marrakech

• Mozambique - development of sitting volleyball in Mozambique

• Nigeria - improving participation opportunities for African Para athletes by delivering Sport Technical Courses

• Peru - athlete identification and training of technical officials

• Republic of Korea - promoting Paralympic Movement Awareness and knowledge of Para sports

• Suriname - developing boccia in Suriname

• USA - developing Para swimming in the Americas region

Regional Organisations

• Asia - supporting athletes to be ambassadors through the Proud Paralympian programme

• Oceania - developing coach capability and accreditation through mentoring

International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled

• International Federation for Intellectual Disability Sport (INAS) - empowering female athletes and administrators to become champions of the Paralympic Movement

International Federations

• Badminton World Federation (BWF) - developing Para badminton in Africa

• International Canoe Federation (ICF) - developing athletes and technical officials in Para canoe in Asia

• World Para Alpine Skiing - increase knowledge and awareness of Para alpine skiing

• World Para Powerlifting - developing Para powerlifting in Africa

• World Para Swimming - developing Para swimming athletes in Africa

• World ParaVolley - technical education for sitting volleyball in Asia

• World Rowing (FISA) - developing Para rowing globally through a coaching framework and education programme

• World Shooting Para Sport - athlete and technical education for shooting Para sport in Africa