Paralympic Order presented to three outstanding recipients

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognised the outstanding contributions of three individuals with the prestigious Paralympic Order on the first day of the 2025 IPC General Assembly and Conference in Seoul, Korea on Wednesday (24 September).

The Paralympic Order is the highest accolade within the Paralympic Movement, awarded biennially to those who have made exceptional contributions. In 2025, the award was presented to:

Tim Reddish CBE – former Chair of the British Paralympic Association

Prof. Anne Hart – former Chair of the IPC Classification Committee

Duane Kale – IPC Vice President

IPC President Andrew Parsons presented the awards and said: “On behalf of the entire Paralympic Movement, I send my warmest congratulations and thanks to Tim Reddish CBE, Professor Anne Hart and Duane Kale on receiving the Paralympic Movement’s highest level of recognition, the Paralympic Order.

“From being a Paralympic medallist to a highly respected international sports administrator, Tim Reddish has made a lasting impact on every person and organisation he has been involved in, all for the benefit of the Paralympic Movement. 

“Anne Hart is quite simply the “Queen of Classification”, who has voluntarily dedicated nearly 50 years of her life to advancing classification throughout the Paralympic Movement both domestically and internationally.

“Throughout his life, Duane has proven to be an outstanding champion and leader whether in the pool or in the Boardroom. During his time on the IPC Governing Board, Duane made a tremendous difference, in particular overseeing a transformation of the IPC’s governance structures to ensure they are world leading.”

Tim Reddish CBE

Tim Reddish CBE is a former Para swimmer for Great Britain who earned five Paralympic medals and 43 medals across World and European Championships. After retirement, he became a transformative figure in British and international Para swimming, serving as National Performance Director and Executive Director for British Disability Swimming. His leadership was pivotal during Athens 2004 and in shaping global governance through IPC Swimming (later World Para Swimming). As Chair of the British Paralympic Association and a London 2012 Board Member, Reddish helped deliver game-changing Paralympic Games. Elected to the IPC Governing Board in 2017, he continued to advance governance and professionalism within the Movement. Reddish has been honoured with multiple titles, including Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

On receiving the Paralympic Order, Reddish said: “It’s a huge honour to be awarded the Paralympic Order, IPC’s highest honour in recognition to my Paralympic journey. When I commenced my journey after being told I’d go blind I never set out to seek honours and awards.

“My personal objective was to be the best athlete I could and to be both an advocate and agitator for the Paralympic Movement.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has been part of my personal journey and wish to dedicate the award to my wife, Val who has been by my side during my nearly 40 years involvement within Para Sport at all levels.”

Professor Anne Hart 

Professor Anne Hart has devoted nearly five decades to classification in Para sport. Beginning in 1977 as a national classifier in Para athletics and wheelchair basketball, she later contributed to wheelchair rugby and served as Head of Classification for the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation. Her academic expertise led to the drafting of the IPC’s first classification strategy and the landmark IPC Classification Code in 2007. Hart chaired the IPC Classification Committee for a decade and played a key role in drafting all three iterations of the Classification Code, including the latest 2025 version. Her tireless volunteer work and deep knowledge have shaped classification systems that are now the foundation of the Paralympic Movement.

Professor Hart said: “I could hardly believe it when I learned I was receiving the Paralympic Order. There is no greater honour in the Paralympic Movement, and I am humbled to be recognised. This award honours many more people than me. Those whose shoulders I stood on and the many more who supported me in my over 40 years as a classifier and my 20 years as a member of the IPC Classification Committee. Foremost, classification is about athletes, and that inspires us as classifiers to do our best for them in realising their sporting dreams.

“I am also grateful to the IPC for recognising classification wasn’t an unanswerable question and providing the support and resources to develop the IPC Classification Code. And last but not least, my deepest gratitude and respect to all the classifiers around the world who were and are part of the Code development and are continuing the forward progress to enable athletes to achieve sporting excellence.” 

Duane Kale

Duane Kale is New Zealand’s most successful male Paralympic swimmer. A four-time gold medallist at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, Kale transitioned into leadership roles, including Chef de Mission for Beijing 2008 and London 2012. He also served on the boards of Paralympics New Zealand, Sport New Zealand, and High-Performance Sport New Zealand, where he is now Deputy Chair.

Internationally, Kale was elected to the IPC Governing Board in 2013 and became Vice President in 2017, he was re-elected in 2021 with overwhelming support. He chaired the IPC Governance Review Working Group, leading a comprehensive overhaul of the IPC’s governance structures. As an IOC Coordination Commission member for Paris 2024, Kale contributed to the success of the Games. His leadership across sport and business has left a lasting legacy.

Duane Kale said: "I am incredibly humbled to receive the Paralympic Order. The Paralympic Movement has given me a lifetime of rewarding and fulfilling experiences. I still remember the first time I entered the Paralympic Village as an athlete in 1996 and every time since as a sports administrator. The personal impact on each occasion intensified that drive and sense of purpose.

“Its moments like this, and the people in the Paralympic Movement, that had a massive impact which guided and shaped my journey. I remain deeply grateful to all those people who have I been privileged to meet along the way and to be part of a movement that continues to deliver meaningful impact."