IPC pledges NPC grants to support European Commission HealthyLifeStyle4All initiative

24 Sep 2021
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Italian wheelchair fencer Bebe Vio poses with her Tokyo Paralympic gold medal
Paralympic superstar Bebe Vio is one of the European #BeActive Ambassadors for the European Week of Sport 2021
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By IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is one of more than 20 organisations backing the European Commission’s new HealthyLifestyle4All (HL4A) initiative, which will promote a healthy lifestyle across generations and social groups. As part of HL4A the IPC is pledging to support different National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) in Europe with financial grants.  

A two-year campaign, HL4A is driven by the knowledge that everyone can benefit from activities that improve health and well-being. The EU Commission initiative was launched on Thursday 23 September by the EU Commissioner for Sport, Mariya Gabriel, in Bled, Slovenia.  

To increase uptake, share ownership and broaden its outreach, the European Commission invited co-creators to help design the HL4A initiative. The IPC is one of the representatives of sport organisations, civil society, international, national, regional and local authorities, who have joined in the co-creation of the initiative to promote healthy lifestyles amongst generations and across social groups. 

As part of the HL4A, the IPC will encourage European NPCs, who have potential for development and are eligible to receive the Direct Financial Support Grant, to use the funding to offer access to Para sport for individuals with disabilities within their territories. The Direct Financial Support Grant is a component of the NPC Development Programme that grants eligible NPCs to access funding to implement programmes within its territory.  

IPC CEO Mike Peters, who signed the pledge on behalf of the IPC, said: “It’s one of the strategic goals of the IPC to have more persons with a disability engaged in Para sport at all levels, from grassroots to elite. Over the next two years our Direct Financial Support Grants will enable many of our European members to actively engage with the European Commission’s new HealthyLifestyle4All initiative. 

“Working closer with the European Union is important to the IPC. In the next five years there will be two Paralympic Games taking place in Europe and without a doubt, there is going to be greater awareness of disability inclusion.  

“We already greatly appreciate the support of the European Commission, and in particular that of President Ursula von der Leyen, for being a stakeholder in the WeThe15 campaign that aims to end discrimination towards persons with disabilities and act as a global movement publicly campaigning for disability visibility, accessibility, and inclusion.” 

EU Commissioner for Sport, Mariya Gabriel, added: “I am glad to welcome the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as one of the first organisations to join the new HealthyLifestyle4all initiative. By supporting several National Paralympic Committees, IPC’s pledge will greatly contribute to our goals of improving access to sport, physical activity and healthy diets for all, including disadvantaged groups. With HealthyLifestyle4All, and together with our partners, we can build a more active and healthier society for all Europeans.”

HL4A also kicks off the opening of 2021 European Week of Sport, which promotes more active, healthier lifestyles to millions of people in Europe and beyond.  

Paralympians Bebe Vio, the Italian double Paralympic gold medallist in wheelchair fencing, and Portuguese marathon runner Jorge Pina, are two of the three European #BeActive Ambassadors for the European Week of Sport 2021.

To find out more about the activities in European countries click here.

The HealthyLifestyle4All initiative is supported by: 

International Sport Bodies and Partners 

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International School Sport Federation (ISF), International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), World Health Organisation (WHO) 

European Sport Movement 

EU Athletes, EuropeActive, European Olympic Committees (EOC), European University Sports Association (EUSA), European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation (ENGSO), European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation Youth (ENGSO Youth), Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)