IPC sends congratulations to Vice President Hartung on Australia Day honour

The IPC has sent its congratulations to its Vice President Greg Hartung after he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours announced on Friday (25 January). 25 Jan 2013

Greg Hartung served as the IPC Vice President.

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By IPC

“What Greg has achieved in the Paralympic Movement and Australia in particular is nothing short of remarkable. Under his leadership Australia has never finished outside the top five in the medals table at a summer Paralympics."

Greg Hartung has been recognised for his outstanding contribution to Australian sport over the last 31 years, including his distinguished service to the Paralympic Movement in Australia and around the world.

Hartung, who has been the President of the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) since 1997, has overseen its transformation from an organisation of less than 10 people and turnover of less than $3 million (AUS) to a dynamic world leading outfit of 60 staff and a turnover of more than $25 million annually.

This additional income has been used to grow the Paralympic Movement in Australia by providing greater opportunities to athletes, coaches and support personnel. This support has helped maintain Australia’s position as a top five Paralympic nation internationally.

Sir Philip Craven, IPC President, said: “On behalf of the IPC Governing Board and the whole Paralympic Movement I would like to congratulate Greg on this tremendous and thoroughly deserved honour.

“What Greg has achieved in the Paralympic Movement and Australia in particular is nothing short of remarkable. Under his leadership Australia has never finished outside the top five in the medals table at a summer Paralympics.

“The Australian Paralympic Committee is now unrecognisable from the organisation he took over in 1997. They are now seen as world leader both on and off the competition field thanks to Greg’s tremendous efforts.

Under Hartung’s leadership, the APC has prepared successful Australian teams for eight Paralympic Games, established successful national programmes in classification and talent identification, introduced a national Paralympic Education Programme, and implemented initiatives to increase the representation of female athletes and athletes with higher levels of impairment on the Australian Paralympic team.

He has also successfully lobbied for a more equitable level of federal sports funding for athletes with a disability and helped to deliver his vision of an organisation at the leading edge of Australian sport.

Hartung’s appointment as Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2013 Australia Day Honours List comes after his Order of Australia Medal (2002), Centenary Medal (2001) and Australian Sports Medal (2000).

Internationally, Hartung was elected an IPC Governing Board Member in 2001 and has been Vice President since 2009.

He has also held positions on several International Olympic Committee (IOC) Commissions including the Coordination Commission for the 2016 Games in Rio (2010-2012), the IOC Evaluation Commission for 2016 (2008-2009), the IOC Press Commission (2011-2012) and the IOC Radio and Television Commission (2005-2012).