Sports Programme for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games to be decided on 11 December

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board will meet in Guangzhou, China on Saturday 11 December to decide which sports will be included in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

In July this year seven new sports submitted applications to the IPC to be included in the Summer Games programme and will now be considered alongside the 20 sports that will be played at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The seven new sports which have submitted applications to the IPC are:

* Badminton

* Basketball for athletes with Intellectual Disability (ID Basketball)

* Canoe

* Golf

* Powerchair Football

* Taekwondo

* Triathlon

Since the applications were received, the IPC has reviewed and evaluated each of the seven applications, in addition to the 20 existing sports, and will provide the Governing Board with the results of its evaluation at December’s meeting.

In Guangzhou the 14 members of the Governing Board will then discuss the findings of the evaluation before all of them, with the exception of IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez, will vote on which sports should be included in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

The Governing Board is the representative of the IPC Membership and is primarily responsible for the implementation of policies and directions set by the General Assembly, the supreme authority of the IPC.

Chaired by IPC President Sir Philip Craven, the Governing Board meets at least three times a year and the next meeting will take place between 10-12 December in Guangzhou, China prior to the start of the Asian Para Games in the city.

The Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will take place from 7-18 September 2016.

The 20 sports that are currently part of the Summer Games programme include Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling (Road and Track), Equestrian, Football 5-a-Side, Football 7-a-Side, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball (Sitting), Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby and Wheelchair Tennis. Rowing saw its inauguration into the Paralympic Programme at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.