IPC Presidential candidates speak

Ahead of September’s International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board elections, the IPC has published video interviews with the four candidates looking to replace Sir Philip Craven as President of the Paralympic Movement’s global governing body.

On 8 September in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at the 18th IPC General Assembly, the IPC’s membership will be invited to elect only the IPC’s third ever President.

Standing for election for the role is Canada’s Patrick Jarvis, Brazil’s Andrew Parsons, Denmark’s John Petersson and China’s Haidi Zhang. Jarvis, Parsons and Petersson are current members of the current IPC Governing Board with Parsons the organisation’s Vice President.

During the interviews filmed by BBC Sport, the four candidates answer questions which aim to give a greater insight into who they are and what they will bring to the Paralympic Movement if elected as President.

Links to the interviews can be found below:

• Patrick Jarvis

• Andrew Parsons

• John Petersson

• Haidi Zhang

The interviews have also been published on the IPC website, Facebook and Twitter channels.

Next Wednesday (16 August), the IPC will publish video interviews with New Zealand’s Duane Kale and UAE’s Majid Rashed who, alongside Petersson, are standing for election as IPC Vice President on 8 September.

The IPC Governing Board will consist of one President, one Vice President and 10 Members at Large and all will be elected by the IPC membership which consists of National Paralympic Committees, International Sport Federations, International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSDs) and Regional Organisations. In addition to the elected members, Chelsey Gotell, Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council and Xavier Gonzalez, IPC Chief Executive Officer, are ex-officio members of the Governing Board, although only Gotell has a vote.

Twenty two candidates have been nominated for Member at Large positions.

On 6 September each candidate will have the opportunity to make a presentation on their candidature to the IPC membership attending the IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi.

Media accreditation for the IPC General Assembly can be applied for here.