IPC holds Regional Sport Training in Mexico to strengthen the Paralympic Movement

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) held a Regional Sport Training (RST) programme in Guadalajara, Mexico, earlier this month to contribute to the growth of the Paralympic Movement in the Americas by supporting athletes, developing coaches and technical officials, and strengthening IPC members in the region to develop their full potential. 

64 participants from 17 countries took part in the event held between 1 and 3 October 2023. The event included classroom-based courses forcoaches and officials, as well as training sessions and workshops for athletes. 

Through the NPC (National Paralympic Committees) Development Programme, supported by the IPC’s worldwide Paralympic partner Toyota, the IPC delivers events in different regions with the aim to close the gap in terms of Para sport participation and development around the world. 

With support from World Para Swimming and the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), the RST in Guadalajara featured training sessions specifically for Para swimming and goalball. 

Supporting athletes 

During the three-day event in the Mexican city, 20 Para swimmers had the chance to learn from the sport’s best. They attended a workshop organised by Proud Paralympians in the morning and took to the pool for training in the afternoon, where leading coaches mentored them on how to improve their skills as athletes. 

Proud Paralympian Leaders, Ariel Quassi of Argentina and Camila Haase of Costa Rica, covered multiple topics including the history and values of the Paralympic Movement, athlete health and wellbeing, and how to work with the media. 

Following the training camp, many of the athletes remained in Guadalajara to compete at the Mexico 2023 World Series, the penultimate stop of this year’s Citi Para Swimming World Series. 

“This camp helped us learn more about the Movement and how we can share about our disabilities,” said Ariana Coto, a 16-year-old participant from Costa Rica.  

“Interacting with people from different countries helped me see how many obstacles we have to overcome, because we know that not all countries have the same resources for people to enjoy Para sports. It was a great experience to see how far people have come.” 

Quassi, who competed at four Paralympic Games, also highlighted the importance of holding the Regional Sport Training programme in different parts of the world. 

“It’s very important to be able to carry out these camps for athletes because many of them are taking their first steps in the Paralympic Movement. What we are trying to do is give the athletes more information and tools so they can grow.” 

Developing leaders 

A key element of RST is increasing the quality and quantity of sport technical personnel required to produce top quality Para athletes. In the last year prior to Guadalajara,  the IPC has helped develop 178 more leaders across Africa and Asia with RST events in   Malawi, Bengaluru, India, and Accra, Ghana. 

The RST programme in the Mexican city offered three courses for coaches and technical officials, who play a key role in the growth of the Paralympic Movement in their regions.  

José Cabo, IPC Membership Programmes Senior Manager, said:   

“Through Regional Sport Training we aim to increase opportunities for athletes, coaches, technical officials and classifiers in their region to develop their full potential and contribute to the growth of the Paralympic Movement,” he said.  

“We want our athletes to be the best possible athletes but not all our members have the resources that bigger members do. Camps like this help improve the performance of athletes so we can close the gaps on Para sport participation across the Paralympic Movement in terms of gender, sport, impairment, and by region. We are running RST camps in the regions that need them and can benefit most. 

“It is important to connect these opportunities with competitions so the coaches and the athletes can stay after the training camp, undergo classification and eventually qualify for Paris 2024, like is the case of the Para swimming World Series Mexico 2023.” 

Strengthening Members 

In addition to supporting athletes, coaches and officials, the Regional Sport Training programme also helps strengthen National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), including the hosts of the event. 

Lilliana Suárez, President of NPC Mexico, wishes for the participants of the programme to share their knowledge with others so the Paralympic Movement continues to grow in the region. 

“It is vital for us to have these events. It opens the door for Mexico and for the region,” she said. “The benefit that participants have in terms of training is going to be very good and we will see it reflected in the work they do because they have the information. 

“We will see an important legacy from hosting the event for the first time here in Mexico and in the Americas. It is something very important, it is something that the region needs and something we need to continue working hard on.”