Agitos Foundation launches development activities with support from Toyota

“Toyota have shown a strong commitment to the Paralympic Movement since they became a Worldwide Partner in 2015 and the first partner to support all NPCs.”

The development arm of the International Paralympic Committee, the Agitos Foundation, is delighted to launch the first of its Para sport development activities supported by Worldwide Paralympic Partner, Toyota.

From Friday (17 February), representatives of the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and host country Kazakhstan will gather in Almaty for the start of the latest phase of the Organisational Capacity Programme (OCP).

The OCP is designed to strengthen NPCs in the areas of governance, marketing and athlete development, and enable them to diversify their funding streams.

They are the fifth group of countries to benefit from the OCP since it began in February 2014. So far over 1,000 people from 39 countries all around the world have been involved.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “Toyota have shown a strong commitment to the Paralympic Movement since they became a Worldwide Partner in 2015 and the first partner to support all NPCs.

“They have a particular passion for helping to develop Para sport and their support of the OCP will go a long way towards equipping smaller NPCs with the tools they need to grow.

“We are confident that the impact of their involvement with the Agitos Foundation will be felt for years to come. I would like to thank them, and the host National Paralympic Committee of Kazakhstan, for their contribution to this important programme.”

The aim of the gathering in Almaty is to introduce the OCP and its partners and gain an understanding of Para sport in Central Asia. Each NPC will give a presentation on their current activities, to encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practice.

The detailed structure of the OCP and its intended outcomes will also be presented, before the participants conduct an analysis of their own strengths and weaknesses.

The NPC representatives will return to their countries and nominate a Programme Lead, who will be responsible for delivering national workshops over a two-year period.

The Programme Leads will then attend a training session in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 23-26 May before they begin their work.

The OCP is designed to encourage increased professionalism, more support from governments, corporates and development agencies, new local partnerships and better visibility, with the ultimate aim of creating sustainable pathways for Para athletes of all levels.