APC Conference aims to enhance Asian para-sport

“This is an important Conference for APC was we move forward and prepare ourselves for two major Games – the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games in Malaysia in October and the Asia Para Games in Incheon in October next year.”

The Tashkent International Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) Conference was officially launched in the city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Tuesday (10 September), hoping to chart and embark concrete plans as the Asian Paralympic governing body gears itself towards achieving the Asian Paralympic Movement 2020 (APM2020) vision.

More than 80 delegates and observers from over 20 countries attended the conference, being held at Grand Mir Hotel in downtown Tashkent. Two main Games organisers – the 2014 Incheon Asian Para-Games Organising Committee (IAPGOC) and Malaysia Asian Youth Para-Games Organising Committee (MAYPGOC) – also participated in the conference.

A keynote address by IPC Governing Board Member and APC President Dato Zainal Abu Zarin was discussed at length, touching on the realisation of the APM2020, a broad action plan which focuses on developing Paralympic Movement in Asia in various aspects such as organisation of Games, athletes development, administration.

The 10-year APM2020 plan is aimed at enhancing the status, branding and dignity of

para-sports, athletes and people with an impairment.

The APC is the Asian governing body for the Paralympic Movement and sports, governing 42 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) that span across five sub-regions: East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and Central Asia.

The conference was officially launched by Uzbekistan’s Food Industry Association Chairman Asatilla

Salimov who is also the Chairman of the National Paralympic Association of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan’s top sport officials, including Deputy Sports Minister Jasur Akramov, National Olympic Committee President Mirarbrov Usmanov and APC’s Central Asia representative Umid Ahmatjanov also spoke at the conference.

“Despite being held for the first time, interests and participation from NPCs and delegates has been great,” said Zarin.

“This is an important Conference for APC was we move forward and prepare ourselves for two major Games – the 2013 Asian Youth Para Games in Malaysia in October and the Asia Para Games in Incheon in October next year.”

The framework includes embarking on strategic plans and goals in the next seven years which include strengthening APC’s structure, governance and policies, empowering sports, volunteerism, events and athletes.

Other subjects presented by speakers at the conference included “Rights, Equality and Accessibility for PWDs for Life and Sport, Strategic Partnership,” as well as a presentation of reports by all the five sub-regions.

Earlier, IPC President Sir Philip Craven, in his message, congratulated APC and the NPC of Uzbekistan for organising the conference, saying that Asia plays and important role in pushing the global Paralympic agenda.

The Tashkent Declaration, will be signed by all five regions in Asia at the end of the conference.

In conjunction of the Conference, the inaugural APC Sport Award Gala was also held to honour and recognise athletes who have achieved feats in various categories Games and competitions.