Tokyo 2020 welcomes new IPC President

"It is with great enthusiasm we learnt that a person so familiar with Tokyo and Japan has been appointed as the new IPC President. I am confident Mr Parsons' youth and passion will be great assets during his leadership of the Paralympic Movement."

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Tokyo 2020) has welcomed the election of Andrew Parsons as the new president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Tokyo 2020 Vice President and Japanese Paralympic Committee President Yasushi Yamawaki was also re-elected as a member of the IPC Governing Board at the IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Tokyo 2020 President Yoshiro Mori pledged Tokyo 2020's commitment to broadening and strengthening its cooperation with the new IPC leadership.

Mori commented, “I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Mr Andrew Parsons on his appointment today as President of the International Paralympic Committee at the IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi.

“Mr Parsons has visited Tokyo multiple times as a member of the Coordination Commission for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, and has been paying close attention to preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. He has given us valuable advice derived from his rich experience as IPC Vice President and from his role as Brazilian Paralympic Committee President in delivering the successful Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. It is with great enthusiasm we learnt that a person so familiar with Tokyo and Japan has been appointed as the new IPC President. I am confident Mr Parsons' youth and passion will be great assets during his leadership of the Paralympic Movement.

“We received further good news today. Tokyo 2020 Vice President and Japan Paralympic Committee President Yasushi Yamawaki was re-elected as a member of the IPC Governing Board. He has been key to the success of the Tokyo 2020 Games, having been Vice President of the Organising Committee since it was established in 2014. I am sure he will continue to be supportive of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in his renewed capacity as an IPC Governing Board member.

“Last but not least, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Sir Philip Craven, who has led the Paralympic Movement for the past sixteen years, for his continuous support for Tokyo 2020. In partnership with the new leadership and the other members of the IPC, who will carry Sir Philip's legacy into the future, Tokyo 2020 will continue its work to deliver a successful Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”