IPC publishes 2018 Annual Report

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) published its 2018 Annual Report on Thursday (17 October) ahead of the 19th IPC General Assembly which will take place in its home city of Bonn, Germany, next weekend (26-27 October).

The report marks the first full year in office for IPC President Andrew Parsons and key highlights from 2018 included:

•    Signing of a long-term partnership agreement with the IOC which provides greater stability and co-operation.

•    Record breaking PyeongChang2018 Paralympic Winter Games with more athletes, countries, spectators and media than ever before.

•    IPC Membership Gathering in Madrid, Spain, bringing together over 200 stakeholders.

•    Launch of the IPC’s first governance review since 2004

•    Agitos Foundation activities benefiting over 100 IPC members around the world

 “In a year of many highlights, the stand-out has to be signing the new partnership agreement with my IOC counterpart President Bach.  When I was elected IPC President, my number one priority was to strengthen the IPC’s relationship with the IOC and secure the future of the IPC and the Paralympic Movement.  The agreement signed in March 2018 and runs through until at least 2032 does just that,” said Parsons adding that the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games were also an outstanding record-breaking success.  

“Ahead of the Games more commercial partners than ever before undertook promotional activities, while in PyeongChang the athletes’ performances were absolutely mind-blowing and were broadcast to more countries than ever before.

“As an organisation, the IPC started to make several changes in 2018.  We became a more membership-focussed organisation, we launched our first governance review since 2004 and work continued apace on the development of the IPC Strategic Plan 2019-2022 and the first IPC Athletes’ Council strategy.  All such activities aim to maintain the IPC’s position as a world leading sports organisation with strong athlete representation and voice throughout.”

Parsons went on to reveal that Agitos Foundation continued its magnificent efforts to develop Para sport around the world, supporting more than 100 IPC members.  At PyeongChang 2018, 51 athletes from 21 countries at the Games - plus several coaches, sport managers and officials - all benefitted from Agitos Foundation workshops in the lead-up to the event.

“All of our work has a profound transformational societal impact and it is vital that we make more of this in order to drive the human rights agenda and empower the world’s one billion persons with disabilities.

“Going forward, you will see the IPC undertaking more efforts to showcase how we make for a more inclusive world through Para sport by advancing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

“Working together with our members and key stakeholders, I’m confident we can change the stigma around disability by engaging greater audiences and highlighting how we celebrate diversity and transform global attitudes towards disability.”

During 2018, the IPC’s revenues grew to EUR 24,139,534. At the same time expenditure, due to various factors including an increased headcount, a greater spend on classification research and medical and scientific activities, increased to EUR 24,127,189.

There were 29 recipients of the 2018 Agitos Foundation Grant Support Programme and the National Paralympic Committee Development Programme, supported by the IPC’s Worldwide Paralympic Partner Toyota, reached 106 countries.

The IPC’s workforce - covering core departments, World Para Sports and Agitos Foundation – grew from 89 to 118 full and part-time members of staff.

As part of its sustainability efforts, the IPC 2018 Annual Report is published online.