IPC Athletes' Council announces third winter sport representative

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council has elected Declan Farmer (USA, Para ice hockey) as its third winter athlete representative, following a tie for the position during elections held at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Five athletes were up for election to fill the three winter representative positions of the IPC Athletes’ Council. Adam Hall (New Zealand, Para alpine skiing) and Tyler McGregor (Canada, Para ice hockey) were elected with the highest and second-highest number of votes. A final decision for the third slot could not be reached due to a tie between Mia Larsen Sveberg (Norway, wheelchair curling) and Declan Farmer (USA, Para ice hockey).

According to Article 3.6.8 of the Athletes’ Council Terms of Reference, ‘In the event of a tie for the last position, the position will remain vacant until the Athletes’ Council selects a candidate from amongst those tied (ordinarily at the next meeting of the Athletes’ Council).’ Consequently, the IPC Athletes’ Council met on 13 April 2026 and Declan Farmer was elected to the final position of winter representatives.

IPC Athlete’s Council chairperson Vladyslava Kravchenko said: “We are delighted to welcome our third representative for winter sports to the Athletes’ Council. I am confident that Declan will bring a strong and informed voice for winter athletes, along with a deep understanding of the Paralympic Movement. As a representative from the United States, I believe he will also play a key role in strengthening collaboration with our peers from the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee.”

The IPC Athletes’ Council is a group of athlete representatives elected by their peers who act as the voice of the Para athlete community to the IPC. Made up of 12 athletes in total, it includes three winter athletes and six summer athletes, two appointed members, and a representative of the IOC Athletes’ Commission. The Chairperson and first Vice Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council are also members of the IPC Governing Board.

The role of the IPC Athletes’ Council is to provide feedback and advice, and report to the Governing Board on IPC matters from the athletes’ perspective, on behalf of and in the interests of Paralympic athletes, and to engage with the athlete community.

All members must be active Paralympians. This means candidates who stood for elections in Milano Cortina 2026 must have competed either in the current edition of the Paralympic Winter Games or in the previous two editions (PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022).

Adam Hall, Tyler McGregor and Declan Farmer will serve on the Council for the next four years until the French Alps 2030 Paralympic Winter Games.