IPC Athletes’ Council Updated in Paris

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council was updated in various areas in Paris, France during their two-day meeting from 5-6 November.

IPC Medical & Scientific Director Dr. Peter Van de Vliet presented on topics that included Classification and Anti-Doping, which led to a general discussion on IPC equipment policy generating feedback from the council.

Attendees at the meeting included Chairperson Robert Balk, Todd Nicholson, Marketa Sidkova, Teresa Perales, Heinz Frei, David Smetanine, Frank Fredericks (International Olympic Committee Athletes’ Council representative), IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez and IPC Events Manager Verena Conrad.

IPC President Sir Philip Craven also attended the meeting in the French capital, where reports were provided on the Adecco Athletes’ Career Programme, IPC Athlete Leadership Summit and previous meetings. A new concept for the Athletes’ Club was also discussed, which would entail launching a new group Facebook.

In addition, International Sports Federation for People with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) Secretary General Karon Nicol was at the meeting, discussing future co-operation and linking ID athletes together with the IPC Athletes’ Council.

Following the meeting the council was invited by the National Paralympic Committee of France at the “Maison du Sport”. The council also had a chance to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Fencing World Championships, which was a joint event from the International Fencing Federation (FEI) International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) at the Grand Palais.

The IPC Athletes’ Council is the collective voice of Paralympic athletes within the IPC and the greater Paralympic Movement. As the liaison between IPC decision-makers and Paralympic athletes, the Council works to provide effective input into decision-making at all levels of the organization. To this end, the Council works to ensure effective athlete representation on all IPC committees and commissions as well as to create other opportunities for athlete representation both within and outside the IPC.