2025 Para Sport Awards: Volunteer nominees announced

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has revealed the nominees for the Volunteer category of the 2025 Para Sport Awards, a recognition that honours individuals who have generously given their own time to support the Paralympic Movement. This includes volunteers, classifiers, technical officials, event support personnel, and IPC member support roles.

Held every two years, the Para Sport Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions across the Paralympic Movement. From athletes and coaches to volunteers and administrators, the awards highlight those who have gone above and beyond to promote inclusion, excellence, and the spirit of Para sport. A total of 11 categories are awarded, with the Volunteer Award being the only one decided by a public vote.

Voting for the Volunteer Award will take place via an online poll, open from 30 October to 13 November 2025. The winner will be announced alongside all other category recipients on 14 November 2025.

This year, three exceptional individuals have been nominated for their remarkable contributions:

Sima Limouchi (Iran)

Sima Limouchi has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the Paralympic Movement through academic outreach, technical expertise, and strategic leadership. She has inspired university students through educational workshops, served as a Technical Classifier in Para table tennis, coordinated national events, and successfully advocated for the creation of a Para Table Tennis Committee within the Asian Table Tennis Union.

Betty Mabenza Miangindula (DR Congo)

Professor Betty Mabenza Miangindula has been instrumental in building the Paralympic Movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As President of NPC DR Congo and a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, she has established provincial leagues, founded national federations for wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball, trained technical personnel, and led outreach initiatives focused on athlete empowerment and inclusion.

Anvar Mursakulov (Uzbekistan)

Anvar Mursakulov serves as Executive Director of the Adaptive Sports Association of Uzbekistan. Under his leadership, Para sport participation has grown exponentially, from 360 athletes in 2021 to over 9,000 in 2025. He has launched grassroots campaigns, organised national competitions, introduced coach certification programmes, digitised athlete management systems, and initiated Para sport engagement among university students through the “Student League.” 

To cast a vote for the Volunteer category of the 2025 Para Sport Awards, please visit www.paralympic.org/para-sports-awards.