PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Jessica Long Receives Juan Antonio Samaranch Award
On 10 May 2008, US Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long received the Juan Antonio Samaranch IOC President’s Disabled Athlete Award. The award was presented to Long during a ceremony at the 2008 Paralympic World Cup in Manchester, Great Britain.

Message to Chinese Earthquake Victims and Families
Message to Chinese Earthquake Victims and Families

IPC Governing Board Discussed Final Beijing Preparations
Bonn, Germany - Yesterday, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board (GB) concluded its 50th official meeting, which was held in Tehran, Iran.

Research Shows Positive Attitude Towards Paralympics
According to a recent survey, 93% of the UK public see Paralympic athletes as good role models for young people. A total of 69% of those polled say that there should be more media coverage of Paralympic Sport.

Spain and China Co-operate for Development of Paralympic Sport
The National Paralympic Committees of Spain and China signed a significant document last week which would allow a free-flow of information exchange about Paralympic sports and events. This will in effect promote the Paralympic Movement, leaving a permanent open pipeline of knowledge and experiences between Spain and China.

Classification First in Bonn
From 26 to 27 April, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Classification Committee met to discuss implementation, education and research related to the approved IPC Classification Code.

Numerous Nations Participating in Leadership Summit in Asia
The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) is organizing a regional summit that is designed to bridge gaps in opportunities for girls and women. Officially titled “Asian Women in Paralympic Sport Leadership Summit”, the event will take place from 1 to 3 May in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

China Adopts Amendment to Law on Protection of the Disabled
Last week, the Chinese government adopted a law amendment to better protect the country's more than 83 million persons with a disability, in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in September.