Out and about with #TeamAgitos

A busy start to 2017 has seen the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the International Paralympic Committee, deliver and support Para sport development projects around the world.

Check out the headlines from partners, National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and International Federations (IFs) who are helping to drive change and grow sport for people with impairments as part of #TeamAgitos.

Countries and IFs develop

Projects supported by the Agitos Foundation’s 2016 Grant Support Programme (GSP) have been getting underway around the world.

In Benin 127 potential athletes were identified in five municipalities after the NPC ran a talent identification project. Around 400 people were also educated about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Paralympic Movement.

El Salvador’s ´Conquering Dreams´ project concluded with 97 participants between 12-21 years old. The fundamental objective was to identify new talents in swimming, athletics, boccia, table tennis and tennis.

Awareness was also raised, especially amongst women, about the different regions where they can do sport. Three gatherings were held in different regions and countries.

A seminar for powerlifting, and athletics technical officials and referees was held in Panama, whilst two snowboard development camps were held in the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Agitos Foundation delivers snow sport equipment to countries

During January’s 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships more than 30 NPCs received a special boost in their efforts to develop winter Para sports after receiving alpine skiing and snowboarding equipment.

The generous gesture is part of the ‘Actualising the Dream project’ developed by the Organising Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games (POCOG) in partnership with the Agitos Foundation.

Continuing on the winter theme, young skiers from six countries participated in a development camp run by the Slovenian Paralympic Committee in Kranjska Gora, also supported by the Agitos Foundation.

First Toyota-supported development project launches

In February, representatives of the NPCs of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and host country Kazakhstan gathered in Almaty for the start of the latest phase of the Organisational Capacity Programme (OCP).

The OCP is designed to strengthen NPCs in the areas of governance, marketing and athlete development, and enable them to diversify their funding streams.

The OCP is the first Para sport development activities to be supported by Worldwide Paralympic Partner, Toyota.

I’m Possible launched in Japan

The IPC plans to show the next generation of Para sport fans that impossible is just a word through a pioneering new education project – I’m Possible.

Created by the Agitos Foundation, I’m Possible is a toolkit of resources designed to engage young people between 6-12 years old in the Paralympic Movement.

The Japanese version was launched in Tokyo and is supported by the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Centre, the Japanese Paralympic Committee and Tokyo 2020.

I’m Possible will be available in different languages including English, Japanese, French, Spanish and Armenian. Additional language versions will be created as different NPCs commit to implementing the toolkit.

IFs gather

All summer Paralympic sport International Federations were brought together for the first time in Bonn, Germany, in March, for workshops designed to encourage the exchange of ideas and strengthen their collaboration with the Agitos Foundation.

Supported by UK Sport, the sessions focused on sport technical education and competition models with a particular emphasis on planning and developing professional capacity in the build up to Tokyo 2020.

Road to Sao Paulo 2017

With just over one month until the Youth Parapan American Games got underway in Brazil on 20 March, the final edition of the Road to Sao Paulo 2017 trained 30 athletes and coaches in Bogota, Colombia.

Benefitting aspiring swimmers and track and field athletes from the Americas, theoretical and practical sessions on the Paralympic Movement, ethics and training techniques were delivered by experts such as Colombian swimmer Moises Fuentes.

Lots more exciting activities will take place over the coming months. Follow the Agitos Foundation on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

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