International Paralympic Committee

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement and the principal organisation responsible for organising the Paralympic Games. Established on 22 September 1989 in Düsseldorf, then part of West Germany, it operates as an international non-profit entity committed to enabling athletes with disabilities to achieve excellence while promoting equality, inspiration and global awareness. The IPC also functions as the international federation for several Para sports and works to expand sporting opportunities for individuals with disabilities at all levels. Its headquarters are located in Bonn, Germany, and it represents 183 National Paralympic Committees, four international disability sport organisations and five regional bodies.

Origins and Institutional Development

The early structure of global disability sport governance was coordinated by the International Coordination Committee of World Sports Organizations for the Disabled (ICC), founded in 1982. Its formation aimed to unify previously separate disability sport bodies and provide a single platform to organise the Paralympic Games more efficiently. As additional organisations joined, nations active in disability sport expressed the need for a more democratic, representative framework. These calls resulted in the establishment of the IPC in 1989 with a clear constitutional structure and an inclusive governance model.
The IPC organised its first edition of the Paralympic Winter Games in 1994 in Norway, representing a significant step towards professionalising and unifying the administration of disability sport. Unlike many international disability sport federations focused on a single impairment group or sport, the IPC serves as an umbrella organisation with broad responsibilities across sports and classification groups. Its structure parallels, but is not identical to, that of the International Olympic Committee.

Governance and Leadership

The IPC is administered by a fifteen-member Governing Board responsible for strategic oversight between meetings of the General Assembly. Twelve members, including the President and Vice President, are elected directly by the General Assembly. In addition, the Chairperson and First Vice Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council hold voting rights, ensuring that athletes’ perspectives are integrated into decision-making.
Since its creation, the IPC has been led by three presidents:

• Robert Steadward (1989–2001), a Canadian disability sport pioneer and founder of the Canadian Sports Fund for the Physically Disabled.
• Sir Philip Craven (2001–2017), a British Paralympian and former President of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation.
• Andrew Parsons (2017–present), a Brazilian sports administrator and former President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee.

The IPC also maintains an Honorary Board comprising distinguished individuals from global public life who use their platforms to support Paralympic values, raise awareness and assist in fundraising activities.

Publications, Media and Promotion

The IPC publishes The Paralympian, a magazine issued three times per year, featuring updates on athletes, competitions and organisational developments. Its communication strategy also includes active engagement across social media platforms, providing global visibility for Para sport.
Broadcasting forms an important component of outreach. ParalympicSportTV, an online television channel launched by the IPC, streams Paralympic Games coverage and related Para sport events. This platform has expanded worldwide access to Para sport, supporting the IPC’s mission to inspire and inform diverse audiences.

Paralympic Marketing and Agreements with the IOC

In June 2001, the IPC and the International Olympic Committee signed an agreement ensuring that all future Olympic Games bids would automatically incorporate the Paralympic Games. This arrangement, first fully implemented at the 2008 Beijing Summer Paralympics and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics, paved the way for integrated Organising Committees responsible for both Games. A series of extensions and adjustments in 2003, 2006, 2012 and 2018 ultimately extended this partnership through to 2032, reinforcing long-term collaboration and ensuring consistency in Games management.
Prior to the formal agreement taking effect, the Salt Lake City Organising Committee had already adopted a unified model for both the 2002 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. This approach was subsequently mirrored in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, further demonstrating the benefits of a single bid and unified operational structure.

National Paralympic Committees and International Federations

National Paralympic Committees operate at country level to support athlete development, team preparation and representation at the Paralympic Games. They receive funding and developmental assistance from the IPC to strengthen pathways for current and future Paralympic athletes.
Internationally, seventeen sport federations and three disability-specific organisations are formally recognised by the IPC, while the IPC itself has historically governed several Para sports. As of 2021, these included:

• Para athletics
• Para swimming
• Para ice hockey
• Paralympic alpine skiing
• Biathlon
• Cross-country skiing
• Powerlifting
• Shooting Para sport
• Snowboarding
• Para dance sport

To create clearer governance structures, reduce perceived conflicts of interest and ensure equitable resource distribution, the IPC introduced the World Para Sports brand in 2016. This branding grouped IPC-governed sports under consistent naming conventions, such as replacing “wheelchair dance sport” with “Para dance sport” and “sledge hockey” with “Para ice hockey”.

Transition Toward Independent Sport Governance

A comprehensive governance review conducted in 2019 highlighted the need to separate the IPC’s dual roles as both a Games organiser and a sport federation. This led to a landmark decision in 2021 mandating the transfer of governance for IPC-managed sports to independent bodies or existing international federations by 2026.
Key developments include:

• 2022: Governance for skiing, snowboarding and biathlon transferred to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the International Biathlon Union (IBU).
• 2023: The British Paralympic Association and UK Sport were tasked with establishing independent federations for Para athletics and Para swimming, headquartered in Manchester.
• 2024: Para dance sport was transferred to World Abilitysport (formerly IWAS).

These structural reforms aim to enhance fairness, transparency and long-term sustainability within the Paralympic Movement.

Recognition and the Paralympic Hall of Fame

The IPC operates the Paralympic Hall of Fame, honouring athletes and coaches who have made exceptional contributions to Para sport. Inductees include celebrated Paralympians such as Connie Hansen, Trischa Zorn-Hudson, Verena Bentele and Chantal Petitclerc, alongside influential coaches and contributors. Inductions occur every two years, reflecting excellence across generations of Paralympic sport.

Evolution of Para Sports under the IPC

The IPC has played a significant role in modernising and standardising the technical, competitive and organisational aspects of many Para sports. As part of the World Para Sports initiative, subcommittees oversee world championships, continental championships and classification standards. Examples include:

• World Para Athletics, responsible for major global competitions in Para track and field.
• World Para Dance Sport, coordinating international championships and expanding participation beyond wheelchair users.
• World Para Ice Hockey, administering world-level competitions under its rebranded identity.