IPC publishes 2022 Annual Report

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has published its 2022 Annual Report. The report details an unprecedented year, which included the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, an Extraordinary General Assembly, the launch of the PARA SPORT grassroots-to-high performance programme, record TV coverage for a Paralympic Winter Games, best-ever digital engagement figures, and the successful implementation of a new governance model. 

Read the complete report here. A screen-readable version is here.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “To stage one Paralympic Games during a pandemic is monumental. However, to accomplish the safe and record-breaking delivery of two Games editions within six months of each other, in the face of the most difficult conditions, is testament to the strength of the IPC, Paralympic Movement and Para athletes everywhere.

“Everyone in the Paralympic Movement, whether an athlete or an administrator, a classifier or a coach, showed immense resilience and courage in pursuit of our vision to make for a more inclusive world through Para sport.

“December 2022 brought to a close the Strategic Plan cycle 2019-2022, a period that will go down as the most challenging in the Paralympic Movement’s history. Despite the unprecedented circumstances faced due to the pandemic, the IPC and Paralympic Movement did not just survive but thrived.

Parsons said that Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 have become the “benchmarks” for how summer and winter editions of the Paralympic Games should be organised and delivered.

“Sporting performance and the depth of talent and competition across all sports have never been better. As a result, global TV audiences continue to grow.

“The IPC heads into the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan in the best shape in its history, with a far greater sense of purpose, and greater desire to be membership-focussed and athlete-centred.”

Record interest

The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games are a key focus of the 2022 Annual Report, and IPC CEO Mike Peters notes that there was record broadcast and digital engagement not only in the Games but after them also.

Peters said: “A testament to the IPC’s growing professionalism was that interest in the Paralympics grew to record levels in 2022. Historically interest peaks at the Paralympic Games and then falls back slightly.

“After Tokyo 2020 however, there was no let-up in the engagement in our social channels which, in 2022, topped one billion video views for the first time helped by a TikTok account that is now regarded as best practice in the sports industry.

“The Beijing 2022 cumulative viewing figures of 2.1 billion were our highest ever for a Winter Games, while Nielson Sport data shows 32 per cent of the global population is now interested in the Paralympics, an all-time high.”

The success of the IPC’s social media channels led to more than one billion video views for the first time, while the number of followers grew by 53 per cent to more than six million.

Beyond the Games 

In 2022, the IPC made key appointments to further professionalise the organisation. To strengthen its ability to engage with its members and stakeholders, Kristina Molloy joined as Chief Membership and Impact Officer. John Lisko, the Principal of LISKO LLC, was also appointed external Managing Director of IPC Global Media Rights.

During the year PARA SPORT, a grassroots-to-high performance programme to grow awareness and participation in Para sports, was launched.

As part of the three-year-long Classification Code Review, a five-month long Phase 2 consultation saw the IPC conduct an open survey and over 20 large scale calls with its members, athletes, classifiers, and other stakeholders to address views on the key changes introduced in the draft Code.

The IPC brand narrative is Change Starts With Sport, and in 2022 there were important legislative changes as a result of our advocacy. European Union members states adopted a resolution that the IPC worked with the Czech Republic Presidency on. It calls for increasing the number of barrier-free accessible sports facilities. The IPC’s Accessibility Guide was a reference document in the resolution.

Following encouragement by the IPC and the French Paralympic and Sports Committee, the French government reduced the VAT from 20 per cent to 5.5 per cent on assistive technologies to make them more affordable for persons with disabilities.

Implementing the new Constitution 

Following approval at the 2021 IPC General Assembly, the IPC also began work delivering and implementing the new Constitution.

To meet the aspiration for all World Para Sports to become independent by the end of 2026, Para alpine skiing, Para cross-country skiing and Para snowboard transferred governance to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), while Para biathlon moved to the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

The IPC welcomed a second IPC Athletes’ Council member to the IPC Governing Board, alongside Chairperson Jitske Visser. Josh Dueck’s addition now means nine of the 14 Board Members are Paralympians or former Para athletes, helping to ensure that all discussions at Board level are athlete-centred.

Robust revenues 

After the increased revenues of Tokyo 2020, helped in part by the one-off broadcasting project for the Games, the IPC financials returned to the more consistent levels of previous years. The total of EUR 24,160,595 was divided into two categories: Organisational Core and Core projects: EUR 21,082,845, and Word Para Sports: EUR 3,077,750.