IPC brings Para sport delivery programmes back in-house

To further boost the development activities provided to its members, and to create greater efficiencies, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has from 1 July 2020 brought back in-house the delivery of development programmes previously undertaken by the Agitos Foundation.   

Launched by the IPC at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the Agitos Foundation has acted as the IPC’s development arm and has served as the global leader in delivering sport opportunities for persons with disabilities. Over the last eight years, it invested millions of Euros into Para sport development projects around the world and delivered a range of programmes aimed at strengthening the Paralympic Movement at all levels.

Agitos Foundation programme staff will form a new Membership Programmes division within the IPC, a team headed by Felipe Rodrigues.  The team will continue to deliver a range of successful programmes including the Grant Support Programme, NPC Development Programme, I’mPOSSIBLE, Road to the Games, Proud Paralympian and En sus Marcas, Listos…Inclusión.  The Agitos Foundation will remain active, serving as a fundraising vehicle for IPC development programmes. 

Mike Peters, IPC Chief Executive Officer, said: “Bringing the delivery of Para sport development programmes back in-house from the Agitos Foundation allows the IPC to better focus on key elements of its mission and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.

“The IPC Membership Programmes team will continue to deliver the same range of development programmes that have benefitted our members in recent years, but by having the delivery in-house we aim to increase greater co-operation and efficiencies with other IPC functional units.”

Felipe Rodrigues, IPC Acting Head of Membership Programmes, said: “Since its launch in 2012, the Agitos Foundation has benefitted the whole IPC membership, developing Para sport opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Para athletes, coaches, officials and administrators around the world.

“This fantastic work, making for a more inclusive world through Para sport, will continue for our members, with the only difference for them being that the work is undertaken by the IPC rather than the Agitos Foundation.

“This move will help us provide a better range of joined-up services to the IPC’s 200+ members.  We have seen first-hand the positive impact Para sport development has on Para athletes and with driving social inclusion, and we aim to continue transforming lives in the future.”