Bonn, Germany - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced today that a Moroccan athlete in the sport of Athletics, tested positive for a prohibited substance and a sanction of two years ineligibility was imposed for his first doping offence.

On 10 November, the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Disability Classification and Research Centre (DCRC) in Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize and spearhead joint research and development in disability sports technology and to grow the pool of sports engineering researchers in Singapore and the Asian region.

Bonn, Germany - Last week, during the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and CGF signed a co-operative agreement in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to ensure a formal institutional relationship between the two bodies and secure the future participation of elite athletes with a disability (EAD) in future Commonwealth Games.

Last weekend, the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (BOOCG) celebrated the 300-day-countdown to the Paralympics next year, which will officially open on 6 September 2008.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) would like to offer its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Joan Scruton who passed away on 1 November 2007.

On 10 November, Scuola dello Sport, together with the Italian Paralympic Committee (CIP), will organize a one-day seminar for top coaches and trainers dedicated to sport activities for athletes with a disability. For the first time in Italy, sport for persons with a disability is integrated in a top level programme for coaches, becoming part of the Scuola dello Sport's education calendar.

From 1 to 3 November, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics group met in Bonn, Germany for a Sport Business Planning session and the Sport Technical Committee (STC) Meeting.

Yesterday, the 20th International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Congress was officially opened in Cologne, Germany. Amongst congress participants from all over the world, Fritz Schramma, Lord Mayor of Cologne, Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Dr. Stephan Holthoff-Pförtner, President of IAKS attened the Opening.

For the fourth time, a National Paralympic Day was held on 25 October in Tehran and 29 provinces of Iran with around 17,000 persons with a disability attending. Sport complexes throughout Iran opened their doors to mostly children with a disability, accompanied by their parents, coaches, volunteers and organizing staff.

Last weekend, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Science Committee held its meeting in Bonn, Germany.