IPC and American College of Sports Medicine sign Partnership Agreement

Partners since 2006, the two organisations have agreed to work together identifying a number of collaborative areas through to after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics 04 Feb 2015

On the first full day of VISTA2013, IPC Sports Science Committee member Brendan Burkett explored the idea of whether sport equipment is performance enhancing or necessary for performance

On the first full day of VISTA2013, IPC Sports Science Committee member Brendan Burkett holds a speech. At this year's VISTA conference, the American College of Sports Medicine will also deliver a symposium.

ⒸIPC

By IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has extended its Partnership Agreement with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), a leading organisation in the fields of sport medicine and the exercise sciences, for a further five-and-a-half years, taking it beyond the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Under the terms of the new agreement, the two organisations, who have been working in partnership together since 2006, have identified a number of collaborative areas to improve the dissemination of knowledge in health, safety, research and performance of athletes with impairments.

This includes identifying areas of common interest which can benefit both the IPC and American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC’s Medical and Scientific Director, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to extend this partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine through to beyond the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“Over the last eight years we have enjoyed a fruitful partnership and I am confident in the coming years this will continue as we identity how we can both work together to advance in such areas as medical, sports science and anti-doping.”

Walt Thompson, ACSM Vice President and IPC Sports Science Committee member said: “Working together in great synergy, IPC and ACSM will help to drive the research agenda toward answering critical Paralympic Movement questions ranging from medicine to biochemistry and all points in between. This is truly an historic alliance between two global and highly influential organisations.”

Jim Whitehead, Chief Executive Officer of ACSM, said: “Ensuring the health and safety of athletes, including those with impairments, is a major priority for the American College of Sports Medicine.

“This partnership allows us to complement IPC’s already strong leadership by providing our scientific and clinical expertise in the areas of sports medicine and exercise science. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the IPC in addressing critical issues in medicine and science, anti-doping, classification, and more. Working together, we’ll push knowledge, understanding, and innovation to new and important levels.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the American College of Sports Medicine will also deliver a symposium at October’s VISTA conference in Girona, Spain. This year’s theme is "Securing the future for young para-athletes".