IPC pays tribute to David Hadfield OBE

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is deeply saddened at the passing of Paralympic Order recipient David Hadfield OBE, founding President of World Boccia, and has paid tribute to the visionary leader who transformed a sport.

First introduced to the sport of boccia in 2009, Hadfield skillfully negotiated the separation of boccia from the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) and engaged multiple international stakeholders to create a standalone International Sports Federation.

On 3 September 2012, the Boccia International Sport Federation was founded with Hadfield serving as its founding President until March 2023.

Thanks to his outstanding strategic leadership and the support of successive Boards, Hadfield effectively operated as Executive Chair, and dedicated thousands of hours to progressing the sport.

Under his guidance, World Boccia developed in size and stature, enjoying year-on-year growth in terms of its membership, elite athlete base, international competition programme, and player pathways which support emerging athletes and developing countries.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, “David was an incredible human being whose dedication, commitment, and visionary leadership transformed the sport of boccia into the fantastic sport it is today.

“From opening World Boccia’s first bank account with £20 of his own money to spearheading the sport for more than a decade, David took what was a relatively small sport within CPISRA to a thriving independent federation and one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports.

“David was a great person to be around, tremendous company, and it was a real honour for me to present him with the Paralympic Order during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games in the company of the boccia community.

“David will be sorely missed by his family, friends, work colleagues, and the whole Paralympic Movement. He will be remembered as a giant of a man who had a monumental impact on the sport of boccia and beyond.”

World Boccia President Jon Morgan said: “We will remember David not only with great affection as a dear friend, but also with deep respect and gratitude for the role he played in founding our organisation from its very beginning.

“David was instrumental in helping to set up World Boccia. His vision, commitment, and belief in what was possible, helped shape our organisation and the word-wide community we know today.

“During his presidency, he gave unstintingly of his time, wisdom, and leadership, always placing the interests of the sport, its athletes and members at the heart of everything he did. David believed in better and drove the organisation to a place where it is now a globally respected international sports federation.

“Our thoughts remain with his wife, Susan, family and friends.” 

David was awarded an OBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List, of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms, for his services to boccia.

In 2023, Hadfield was named as a Paralympic Order recipient, the highest accolade anyone within the Paralympic Movement can achieve. He was presented with his award during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by the IPC President in a ceremony at the South Paris boccia arena attended by athletes, coaches, and officials from the sport.