IPC President attends Special Olympics

IPC President Andrew Parsons said, "The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the Special Olympics and identify where we can potentially work together to complement each other’s activities in the future as we aim to make an inclusive world for all." 20 Jun 2023

A man wearing a blue suit presents a medal to a female athlete.

Parsons presented medals to some of the athletes at the Special Olympics World Games.

ⒸRalf Kuckuck/ Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia

By IPC

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons led a small delegation from his organisation to the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin this weekend (17-19 June 2023).

At Saturday’s Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium, Parsons met with several political leaders, including German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

During the course of the weekend, he also met with Tim Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, attended several sport events, and presented medals to competitors in athletics.

Two men shake hands next to a banner of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023. — Parsons, left, met with Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, in Berlin. @Ralf Kuckuck/ Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia

Kristina Molloy, the IPC’s Chief Membership and Impact Officer, and Craig Spence, Chief Brand and Communication Officer, also met with their Special Olympics counterparts to share knowledge and experience between the two organisations.

Andrew Parsons said: “It was really fantastic to attend the Special Olympics World Games in the German capital and see 7,000 athletes from all over the world enjoying an experience of their lives.

“As an organisation based in Bonn it was also an opportunity to meet with German political leaders, continue dialogue, and thank them for their continued support of the IPC and the Paralympic Movement.

Two men sit at a table. — Parsons, right, met with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Saturday, 17 June. @Bundesregierung/Liesa Johannssen

“Since the launch of WeThe15 in 2021, the IPC has been building closer working relationships with all the major organisations responsible for sport for persons with disabilities outside of the Paralympic Movement.

“The IPC, Special Olympics, Invictus Games Foundation and Deaflympics, all have very distinct visions of what they want to achieve as organisations, but the common thread that unites us all is a desire to use sport as a tool to drive inclusion for the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities.

“The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the Special Olympics and identify where we can potentially work together to complement each other’s activities in the future as we aim to make an inclusive world for all.”

Four female athletes pose for a photo with their medals in front of the banner that reads "Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023" — The Special Olympics World Games are held in the German capital until 25 June 2023. @Ralf Kuckuck/ Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia

Following his visit to Berlin, Parsons will fly to Seoul, Republic of Korea, to chair this week’s IPC Governing Board meeting before attending the IPC Athletes’ Forum in Icheon later in the week.