The 22nd General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee concluded Saturday in Seoul. Several hundred delegates were present for this meeting. What are the key takeaways? First, Andrew Parsons managed to win over South Korean Dong Hyun Bae, securing more than 60% of the vote to retain his seat as president. But other decisions and announcements are worth highlighting.
The family is growing
Three new members officially joined the IPC at this General Assembly: two National Paralympic Committees, from Bolivia and South Sudan, and the International Federation of Climbing (IFSC). The IPC now has 211 members, including 195 National Paralympic Committees and 18 International Federations. A strong representation.
« Climbing has made remarkable progress in just a few years, and IPC recognition marks another important step in this journey., underlines President Marco Scolaris. Our integration into the IPC family reaffirms to the world what our community has long known: climbing is a sport for everyone. We have worked hard to join the Paralympic Movement, and we are deeply grateful to the IPC for its trust and support. »
The two-day conference preceding the Assembly provided an opportunity to review the work accomplished since the last AGM in Bahrain in 2023, and to present the Paralympic Order to Tim Reddish, Anne Hart, and Duane Kale. The organization also presented its impact strategy, as well as a dedicated catalog containing data and best practices. This is a key initiative, as Deputy CEO Kristina Molloy explains: " The launch of the IPC Impact Strategy marks a significant milestone in the history of the Paralympic Movement. It is designed to truly deliver on the IPC's vision of creating an inclusive world through para sport. By being able to better measure and demonstrate the impact of the IPC's activities, we will be able to better support our members and athletes. »
The Delicate Russian Question
The status of the National Paralympic Committees of Russia and Belarus was also at the heart of the debate. Both NPCs were partially suspended at the 2023 General Assembly. On Saturday, members decided to end this suspension. Members largely rejected the idea of completely suspending the Russian committee (111 votes to 55, with 11 abstentions). They then voted more dividedly against continuing a partial suspension (91 to 77, with eight abstentions). The case of Belarus was less divided, with a score of 103-63 against a partial suspension. Both committees will therefore regain all their rights, in accordance with the IPC Constitution.
A strong position, different from that of the IOC. Faced with the prospect of seeing the Russian flag flying at Milan-Cortina in March, Ukrainian Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi accused the IPC of betraying " Olympic values ". Marie-Amélie Le Fur, president of the French Paralympic and Sports Committee (CPSF), expressed her shock and her " total incomprehension " to AFP. " We are going to have a sports and Paralympic movement that is going to be fractured, since the decision no longer belongs to the IPC, it will go back down to the level of the international federations. ", fears the former athlete. The next few weeks will have to clear up the confusion and tell us how hectic the winter will be...
