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OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT
THE
ISSUE # 01 | 2018
WHAT A FEELING
Celebrate a record breaking
PyeongChang 2018
FEATURE ATHLETE INTERVIEW: UPCOMING EVENTS
What will PyeongChang Q&A with Japan’s top wheelchair A summer of World
2018’s legacy be? tennis player ahead of Tokyo 2020 Championships!
THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 1
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
“I left PyeongChang with so many happy
memories and in absolute awe at some of
the terrific sport I witnessed.”
62
Rio 2016 bronze medallist
Mohamed Lahna competes under
the International Triathlon Union (ITU)
flag at the World Para Triathlon
Series in Yokohama, Japan.
Dear friends,
elcome to this special edition As part of my commitment to making the IPC
of The Paralympian which an organisation for all and ensuring greater
celebrates the success of transparency, openness and dialogue, the IPC
the P yeongChang 2018 Para announced an extensive governance review
lympic Winter Games. in April. We are fortunate that we start this
review from a position of strength. Our current
March’s Winter Games were an outstanding structures are far from broken but they are
success and underlined the growing strength now 14-years-old. The IPC and Paralympic
of the Paralympic Movement. Movement have grown beyond all recognition
during this period and the sporting environ
Not only did a record 567 athletes from ment has also changed dramatically.
49 delegations take part, but more NPCs than
ever before made the medals table and won I want the IPC to strengthen its position as a
gold. This is testament to the fantastic work world leading organisation and to achieve this
of the participating NPCs and International we must ensure that the IPC is an organisation
Federations and fills me full of excitement with best practice and robust governance at its
as the new Paralympic winter cycle towards core.
Beijing 2022 begins.
The governance review will be one of the many
The Games also attracted record TV and topics on the agenda at September’s IPC
online audiences, as well as more spectators Membership Gathering where I look forward
than any previous edition, as athletes once to seeing and, most importantly, hearing from
again inspired and excited the world with their you all.
performances. I left PyeongChang with so
many happy memories and in absolute awe at Enjoy the magazine.
some of the terrific sport I witnessed.
While in South Korea, the IPC signed a
istoric long-term agreement with the IOC.
h
The IPC and Paralympic Movement would
not be where it is today without the support
of the IOC. That is why building a stronger
relationship with the IOC was one of my Andrew Parsons
priorities when elected IPC President. With
IPC President
this agreement, relations are stronger than
ever, and I am confident we can achieve
tremendous things working together.
2 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 3
CONTENTS
36
06
THE PARALYMPIAN
20
EDITOR
Craig Spence
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Ros Dumlao, Emma Storey,
Rafael Maranhao
CONTRIBUTOR
Hernan Goldzycher
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Designfee – Bianca Werninghaus
ART EDITORS
Yosof Rohesh, Mariel Avalos,
Annika Zeyen
PRINTING
welzel + hardt GmbH
All rights reserved © 2018
International Paralympic Committee
ISSN 1609-1329
CONTACT
International Paralympic Committee
Adenauerallee 212-214
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49 228 2097-200
Fax +49 228 2097-209
info@paralympic.org
www.paralympic.org
IMAGES
© Photo Credits: Getty Images (p.1/4/8/9/10/
14/15/20/21/23/26/28/31/36/37/40/41/42/43/
44/46/47/48/52/55/58/59/60/61/64/68/69/71/
72/73/74); Delly Carr/ITU media (p.2);
OIS (p.2/3/10/29/30/31/32/33/34/38/39/45/
49/50/51/52/53/54/56/57/59/68/69/72);
Lieven Coudenys (p.6); NowThis (p.7);
Andres Valle E/Presidencia de Peru (p.8);
Tokyo 2020 (p.10); Jean-Marie Hervio/Paris 2024
(p.11); Agitos Foundation (p.12/13); 123rf.com
(p.15/46/47); Luc Percival (p.15/17/63);
Antonio Teixeira (p.22); Morten Olsen (p.24);
Brian Mouridsen (p.25); MPIX-CPB (p.27);
Kimmo Rauatmaa (p.62); Andrew Jay (p.63);
Roger Witney (p.62/63); Cheongju 2018 LOC
(p.65); NPC Israel (p. 66); Michael Freidin (p.66);
USOC (p.68); Kurt Wimmer (p.68); Marcelo
06 NEWS 20 ATHLETE INTERVIEW 28 FEATURE 62 WORLD SPORT ROUND-UP 70 THE BIG DEBATE Regual/MPIX CPB (p.68); Mathilde Dusol
(p. 69/74) Marcio Rodrigues/MPIX CPB (p.69);
Marcelo Parada (p.70); Daniela Gimenez
(p.26/27); Liz Gregg (p.73); NP France (p.73);
The latest news around the Paralympic Question-and-answer session with After a Paralympic Winter Games that broke The road to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Does it hurt the image of Para sport that NPC Kazakhstan (p.73); NPC Italy (p.73);
Maria Clarke (p.73); Lima 2019 (p.73)
Movement, including a historic agreement Japan’s Yui Kamiji, who has been playing multiple records and captured the world’s began for cycling track and shooting athletes can be successful at numerous sports
The views expressed in The Paralympian are not
struck between the IPC and IOC, recent the best wheelchair tennis of her career. attention, what will be PyeongChang 2018’s Para sport, which both held their World and even compete in both summer and winter necessarily those of the IPC. In case of republi
cation of any part of The Paralympian, please
award winners; and updates on Tokyo 2020, legacy? Championships. Paralympic Games? send a copy to the IPC. The publisher reserves the
Beijing 2022 and Paris 2024. right to edit submitted articles. The International
Paralympic Committee endeavours to be as cur
rent and accurate as possible with this publica
tion, aiming to treat all readers with courtesy and
respect. We cannot guarantee however, that the
12 AGITOS FOUNDATION NEWS 22 HOW TO … 36 PYEONGCHANG 2018 IN REVIEW 66 MY GAMES EXPERIENCE 74 THE LAST WORD information contained in this publication is com
plete and accurate in all respects and readers are
taken to understand and agree to this disclaimer
upon reading any part of The Paralympian. No
Find out how the IPC’s development arm What makes a successful Para sport Catch up on all the highlights from alpine Fifty years on, Israel’s Baruch Hagai shares Dutch wheelchair tennis legend Esther infringements upon any law, including sport regu
lations, from people within the photographs and/
and the Korean Paralympic Committee are competition? Learn from the Brazilian Cycling skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, Para ice his golden memories from the Tel Aviv 1968 Vergeer shares her view on what it takes or featured in the magazine’s content were known
working on PyeongChang 2018’s legacy, Confederation and Parasport Denmark, who hockey, snowboard and wheelchair curling. Paralympics. to be a leader after her experiences at at the time of publication. Articles, pictures and
other written or graphic devices published in
plus more Agitos Foundation updates. have organised major international events. PyeongChang 2018. The Paralympian may not be reproduced without
the prior written permission of the International
Paralympic Committee.
18 DIGITAL DYNAMICS 26 A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF … 58 CASE STUDY 68 UPCOMING EVENTS
Which stories, social media posts and After winning a world title in 2017, we follow The Paralympic Games are a great A summer of World Championships! Preview
videos were most viewed during the 2018 Argentina’s Daniela Gimenez in her first major opportunity to activate partnerships. what is to come for boccia, sitting volleyball,
Paralympic Winter Games? swim meeting of the year. Find out what six IPC partners did. wheelchair basketball and more!
4 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 5
GENERAL NEWS
+ + NEWS IN-BRIEF + +
IPC partners with video content producer +++ CLASSIFICATION: Out of 14 applications,
the IPC selected seven members to receive
funding for research to further develop their
classification systems. Those selected were:
Cerebral Palsy International Sports and
Recreation Association, International Blind
Sports Federation, International Federation
for CP Football, International Sports Federation
for Persons with Intellectual Disability,
International Wheelchair Rugby Federation,
World Para Athletics and World Para Alpine
Skiing.
+++ PARAGUAY: The Paraguay Paralympic
Committee (PPC) was approved by the IPC
Governing Board as a provisional member.
NowThis Sports, a company that produces sport and capture moments before, during and
news content for the social, mobile generation, after Paralympic competition. +++ IPC: The family of the late Croatian
teamed up with the IPC for a partnership that Paralympian Milka Milinkovic were presented
began with PyeongChang 2018 and will extend The content produced was d istributed across with the IPC’s High Presidential Award.
through to Tokyo 2020. NowThis’ social channels on platforms like The double Paralympic champion was honoured
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. posthumously by former IPC President Sir Philip
The primary goal of the partnership is to NowThis is the world’s number one news brand Craven for her extraordinarycontribution to the
elevate awareness of the Paralympic Movement on social media with over 2.5 billion monthly Paralympics. This type of recognition is given
and shine a light on the incredible athletic video views. only once a year to Paralympic athletes for
accomplishments of Para athletes. their excellent sport results and contribution to
The content created prior to PyeongChang the Para sport community.
Kicking off with PyeongChang 2018, NowThis 2018 was viewed by 43.5 million people,
Sports worked with the IPC before and during
generating nearly 690,000 engagements. +++ PARALYMPIC ORDERS: Canada’s former
the Games, to create athlete profiles, Sixty-two per cent of the viewers were aged IPC Governing Board member Patrick Jarvis
educate audiences on the intricacies of Para 18–34 years-old. received the Paralympic Order in recognition of
his long and excellent service to the Paralym
pic Movement as a sports administrator both
domestically and internationally.
Dr. Khattab receives The highest honour connected with the
Paralympic Movement was also presented to
International Women’s Day award six South Koreans for their roles in the delivery
of PyeongChang 2018. The recipients were:
PyeongChang 2018 Organising Committee
In celebration of International Women’s President Hee-Beom Lee; Gangwon Province
Day, the IPC honoured Dr. Hayat Khattab for Governor Moon-soon Choi; Executive Vice
her efforts and achievements in inspiring President of Games Operations and Secretary
IPC and IOC partner until 2032 women in the Paralympic Movement. General Hyungkoo Yeo; Executive Vice President
of Games Planning and Communications Jooho
Dr. Khattab, President of the NPC of Egypt, Kim; Executive Vice President of International
received the award after a record number
Relations Jaeyoul Kim and Vice President of
Thomas Bach and Andrew Parsons, the ■■ The IOC and IPC will work together to Olympic Agenda 2020. Therefore, the IOC is Dr. Hayat Khattab of nominations that was narrowed to five
Games Planning Kihong Kim.
respective Presidents of the International increase the visibility of the Paralympics pleased to strengthen its substantial support President of the NPC of candidates. T he annual award is distributed
Egypt
Olympic Committee (IOC) and IPC, signed a and enhance the Paralympic brand to the IPC and the entire Paralympic Movement to someone who embodies the spirit of the +++ ANTI-DOPING: The IPC completed a
historic long-term agreement establishing ■■ The two will deepen existing co-operation, because we share so many of the same values Paralympics and serves as a role model w ithin the Movement for all re-analysis programme of athlete anti-dop
a partnership of the two organisations until at specifically on the implementation of and objectives.” females, from athletes to technical officials and committee leaders. ing urine samples from the Vancouver 2010
least 2032. Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic Paralympic Winter Games and found no adverse
roadmap for the future of the Olympic Parsons said: “Strengthening the relationship Dr. Khattab became the first women to be named President o f analytical findings. The Vancouver 2010 samples
The new agreement builds on the current Movement with the IOC and securing the future of the the Egyptian Paralympic Committee in 2015. H er belief in the were re-analysed using improved analytical
partnership and co-operation agreements that ■■ The agreement will give financial stability IPC and the Paralympic Movement was my inclusion of females at all levels and ages in Para sports has
methods, in order to possibly detect prohibited
were signed prior to the London 2012 Olympic to the IPC for at least the next 14 years, number one priority when I was elected as driven her in many ways. She led efforts to form Egypt’s first women’s substances that could not be identified by the
and Paralympic Games. from which in turn the whole Paralympic IPC President last September. Therefore, I sitting volleyball team that went on to claim silver
at the 2017 analysis performed at the time of the Games.
Movement will benefit. am delighted that we have signed a historic African Championships in Rwanda.
As a result of the new partnership: long-term new partnership agreement and can
■■ The IOC will continue to make it o
bligatory Bach said: “Enhancing the co-operation now look forward to an exciting future working In addition to encouraging females to take up sports, she is also working
for any host of the Olympics to organise the between the Olympic and Paralympic Move together.” to encourage retired female athletes to transfer their skills a
s coaches,
Paralympics ment was one of the key recommendations of officials and other p
ositions in committees.
6 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 7
SPORT NEWS
World Para
Athletics
World Para
Ice Hockey
Lima 2019: Greater
progress needed
World
World Para Shooting
Nordic Skiing Para Sport
+ + NEWS IN-BRIEF + +
+++ BLIND FOOTBALL: Female blind football
referees officiated at a competition in India for
the first time at the North-East Blind Football
World Para World Para Tournament in Tura. The event featured eight
Swimming Dance Sport The Americas Paralympic Committee has teams and 75 players.
urged the Lima 2019 Parapan American
Games Organising Committee to speed up its +++ SITTING VOLLEYBALL: Iran’s men and
progress in a number of areas in order for the China’s women were the winners of the World
event to realise its full potential. Super 6, an international competition bringing
together six of world’s best respective men’s and
Speaking after May’s Co-ordination Com women’s teams.
mission,
IPC Chief Executive Officer, Xavier
On home soil Paralympic silver medallists China
Gonzalez, said: “We are generally happy with
defeated Russia for gold in the women’s com
preparations but need to see rapid progress in
petition while also on home soil Rio 2016 gold
a number of key areas.
Ottobock becomes Official Supplier of Marcel Hug wins
medallists Iran defeated Russia to win the men’s
title in front of 1,200 fans.
“By staging this event Lima 2019 is aspiring to
World Para Athletics
make Peru a better country for all; a success
+++ PARA SOUTH AMERICAN GAMES: The
2018 Laureus Award
ful Parapan American Games that realises its
Americas Paralympic Committee has announced
full potential can play a significant role in the
the 2018 Para South American Games will not
Ottobock, the world-leading supplier of is highly professional and individual in the Organising Committee achieving its aim.
take place, after Buenos Aires, Argentina, was
innovative solutions for people with limited
disciplines of Para athletics. We are proud
forced to pull out due to financial reasons in
mobility, has been named an Official to support all Para athletics athletes with “There is still a lot to be done with 15 months Swiss wheelchair racer Marcel Hug won the won World Marathon Majors races in
December 2017. The Para South American
Supplier of World Para Athletics. our technical services and let them show to go but we are confident in Lima 2019’s prestigious 2018 Laureus World Sports Award Tokyo, Boston, Berlin, Chicago and New
Games were due to be a qualification event for
their best performances at the Berlin 2018 ability to deliver a memorable event that will in the category World Sportsperson of the Year York.
the 2019 Parapan American Games in Peru. The
The partnership agreement includes the World Para Athletics European Champion change the way people with an impairment are with a Disability, during a glittering ceremony
APC is in talks with the International Federations
Berlin 2018 World Para Athletics European ships.” perceived in Peru.” in Monaco. The 32-year-old beat out a strong
affected to find alternative ways for their athletes
Championships which will be held from nomination pool that consisted of
to qualify for Lima 2019.
20–26 August. Days after the Co-ordination Commission, The accolade is given to the person who Japanese wheelchair tennis multi-
IPC President Andrew Parsons met with best demonstrates excellent athletic Grand Slam winner Yui Kamiji; US
+++ SHOOTING: Sydney, Australia, will
Under the partnership, Ottobock will Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra to discuss achievement and strong leadership Nordic skiing world champion
host the 2019 World Championships next
continue to
provide technical services preparations for the Games that will attract qualities in a sport in the Paralympic and overall World Cup win
October, aligning with the change to odd-year
to athletes at the European Champion 1,890 a
thletes and feature 17 sports. programme. Other winners on the ner Oksana Masters; Dutch
Championships.
ships through the Ottobock Repair Service night included the USA’s Serena Para snowboard pioneer
Centre. “With President Martin Vizcarra we spoke Williams, Switzerland’s Roger and cancer survivor B ibian
+++ COMMONWEALTH GAMES: As part on
about the great opportunity the Games Federer, Spain’s Sergio Garcia Mentel-Spee; Dutch dual-
an integrated programme, Gold Coast 2018
It includes the repairing of every type of represent for the people with impairment in and Italy’s Francesco Totti. sport athlete and Iron
attracted 300 Para athletes who competed
equipment, from prostheses to racing Lima and Peru,” Parsons said. “The Parapans man world champion
in 38 medal events across seven Para sports.
wheelchairs and throwing frames – or any are not only a sporting opportunity, but an op Hug won world t itles over Jetze Plat; and German
World records were set by English S14 swimmer
type of device athletes may need. portunity to improve inclusion and accessibility 800m, 1,500m and 5,000m Paralympic and world
Thomas Hamer, Welsh F46 javelin thrower
in Lima.” in the highly c
om
petitive T54 long jump champion
Hollie Arnold and England’s Sophie Thornhill
Ottobock’s Chief Marketing Officer, Chris class at London 2017. He also Markus Rehm.
in track cycling.
tin Gunkel said: “For Ottobock it is very Representatives from 17 NPCs also took part
important to let the athletes focus on their in two days of m
eetings and site visits with the
competition not their equipment, which Organising Committee.
8 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 9
FUTURE GAMES NEWS
Paralympic emblem unveiled
The Beijing Organising Committee revealed
Strong progress
Athletics and swimming the official emblems for the 2022 Olympic
and Paralympic Winter Games during a gala
The IPC is “reassured and encouraged”
by the progress made by the Beijing 2022
programmes finalised ceremony in Beijing. Organising Committee following the conclu
sion of May’s Executive Project Review.
Designed by Chinese artist Lin Cunzhen, the
The IPC Governing Board approved the Triathlon will have eight medal events (four emblems combine traditional and m odern Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC Chief Executive
final athletics and swimming medal event men’s and four women’s), two more than elements of Chinese culture, illustrating Officer, said: “Things are progressing very
programmes, as well as the number of medal its Paralympic debut at Rio 2016. The the vigour and passion of winter sports well in all areas and we are reassured and
events for triathlon at the Tokyo 2020 International Triathlon Union will
select while incorporating Chinese calligraphy encouraged by preparations for the next
Paralympic Games. which specific events will be c
ontested. and emphasising the importance of placing Paralympic Winter Games.
athletes at the center of the Games.
The Para athletics programme will feature IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “By maximising public awareness and
168 medal events – nine less than “For both athletics and swimming, we have The Paralympic emblem artfully transforms engagement in Paralympic winter sports
Rio 2016 – and will be made up of 93 created programmes that ensure a good , the Chinese character for ´fly.´ It vividly ahead of the Games, together with improving
events for men and 74 for women. cross section of events for athletes in all evokes the image of an athlete in a wheelchair striving for excellence. The emblem also and setting new standards in terms of
Tokyo 2020 mascot Swimming will have 146 medal events, six
classes. By reducing the number of events
in both sports from Rio 2016, we also aim
rushing towards the finish line and victory.
The robust strokes in the upper part and the
embodies the Paralympic vision of enabling
Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence
accessibility, China really can create a more
inclusive society and change attitudes
revealed less than Rio 2016. These will be comprised
of 76 for men, 67 for women and three
to increase the depth of talent in each
field and ensure greater long-term event
soft curves below symbolise Para athletes and inspire and excite the world. towards impairment.”
The official Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralym mixed gender relays. viability. The addition of mixed gender
pic mascots were revealed following a design relays will also enable more countries to
contest which was voted for by schoolchildren. participate.”
The Paralympic mascot is a character with
cherry tactile sense and supernatural power.
The Mascot is usually calm, however it gets WHAT WILL BE NEW AT TOKYO 2020?
very powerful when needed. It has a d ignified
inner strength and a kind heart that loves
nature. It can talk with stones and the wind. It
can also move things just by looking at them.
The Paralympic Mascot was born from a
traditional chequered pattern and cherry
blossom flowers. Its name will be revealed in
late July.
ATHLETICS SWIMMING TRIATHLON WHAT’S NEXT?
7% 2 8 Mark your calendars! Sports and disciplines 9 JULY
more slots for MIXED GENDER RELAYS MEDAL EVENTS
FEMALE IN 4X100M FREESTYLE Up 2 from
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will take
place from 28 August to 8 September, following
advance to next stage Deadline for the six new sports, together
with the 22 existing Paralympic sports, to
ATHLETES (for athletes with Rio 2016 complete application packs; it features a series
the Olympic Games from 26 July to 11 August. CP football, golf, powerchair football and
vision impairment of questions aimed to give the IPC detailed
sailing all proceeded to the next stage of
MIXED GENDER, and another information regarding each sport’s
The Paralympic and Olympic competitions the application process toward inclusion at
CLASS for intellectual governance, rules and regulations, associated
will therefore take place a week earlier than Paris 2024.
4X100M RELAY impairment) costs, anti-doping programme compliance
originally proposed. This change came in
response to the willingness of the IPC, the IOC Karate and Para dance sport will also move and activities, worldwide reach, quadrennial
2 and Paris 2024 to facilitate the organisation of to the next stage to be potentially considered competition programme and procedures
MEDAL EVENTS the competitions and offer the best possible as additions outside of the official Paris 2024 to ensure athlete welfare.
FOR ATHLETES exposure to the Paralympic Games, whose first Paralympic sport programme.
WITH HIGH SUPPORT half will now take place during the period of JANUARY 2019
NEEDS school holidays. The IPC Governing Board decided that surf Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme
ing, arm wrestling, wheelchair basketball to be announced.
3x3; and taekwondo poomsae and trap
shooting d
isciplines will not proceed to
Full list of Tokyo 2020 medal events can be found online: http://bit.ly/2niMU3h Phase 2.
10 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 11
AGITOS FOUNDATION NEWS
Building the Global Sports Inspiring the
+ + NEWS IN BRIEF + +
PyeongChang 2018 Development next generation
02/12/11
legacy support goes far in Kazakhstan
+++ CAMBODIA: NPC Cambodia organised its
third national workshop of the Agitos Founda
tion Organisational Capacity Programme (OCP)
in Phnom Penh. Activities were focused on The Korean Paralympic Commit Kazakhstan took an important step forward by
improving the NPC’s governance and planning. tee (KPC) and the Agitos Founda becoming one of the first countries to imple
tion took a step to ensure a lasting ment the educational toolkit I’mPOSSIBLE, which
+++ OCP: Representatives from Ethiopia, Kenya,
legacy for the Winter Paralympics launched globally in December 2017.
Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda during PyeongChang 2018. The
attended the launch meeting of the OCP (level two signed a Memorandum of Un From 7-8 February 2018, the country’s NPC hosted
1) in Kigali, Rwanda. They had the opportunity derstanding outlining a framework r
ound table discussions with representatives
to improve their knowledge about the for the development, implementa from the government and teacher training. The
Paralympic Movement and discuss topics on tion, monitoring and evaluation of objective was to advance the implementation of
governance, membership structure, marketing joint programmes to develop Para I’mPOSSIBLE which raises awareness and engages
and athlete development. sport in the region. young people, educators and key influencers about
the Paralympic Movement.
+++ ANGOLA: More than 50 athletes and
The main goal of the agreement
coaches from Portguese-speaking African is to organise international work NPC Kazakhstan applied for the Agitos Founda
countries gathered in Luanda for the Agitos shops for technical officials, tion’s 2017 Grant Support Programme as a way
Foundation Para athletics and Para powerlifting coaches, athletes and classifiers of funding the implementation of I’mPOSSIBLE
training camp. Participants from Angola, at the facilities of the KPC Icheon The partnership between the in the country. The grant was used to translate the
Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Training Centre, a multi-training Agitos Foundation and The Foun programme’s first five units and teacher handbook
Sao Tome and Principe learned from athletes sports complex established for dation for Global Sports Develop into Russian – which will then be translated into
and coaches from NPC Brazil. South Korean national Para ath ment (GSD) continues to help Kazakh.
letes. raise awareness and knowledge of
Para sport around the world. “The Paralympic Movement of Kazakhstan values
IPC President Andrew Parsons each athlete with different age and impairments.
said: “As much as it aims to sup In 2017, GSD was the main source Today’s school children are our future proud
port NPCs and International Fed of funding for the IPC’s athlete Paralympians. It’s our work to support them and
erations, the Agitos Foundation education programme, Proud provide assistance to find their path towards
also encourages and relies on the Paralympian. Thanks to its sup to Paralympic Games,” said Kairat Boranbayev,
support of those NPCs who can port, the programme reached President of NPC Kazakhstan.
take a lead role in their region. more than 1,000 athletes in events
hosted in six countries. On 7 February discussions were held to inform
stakeholders about I’mPOSSIBLE and the Para
GSD was also fundamental in lympic Movement and share best practices of
supporting education projects
implementation. The meeting was attended by
within the Agitos Foundation representatives of Kazakhstan’s ministries of
Grant Support Programme that education, sport and culture, as well as Non-
saw two major two initiatives Governmental Organisation members and school
funded. The first from the Asian directors.
Paralympic Committee aimed
to inspire the next generation of The next day, teacher training took place for
young athletes in Asia. This was physical education teachers from schools across
“This agreement will bene done through a Proud Paralympi Astana in NPC Kazakhstan’s newly-built Para
fit a great number of technical an leader training and outreach lympic Centre. During the training, teachers
officials, coaches, classifiers activities during the 2017 Asian
learned about I’mPOSSIBLE and all of its resources,
and athletes, who will soon be Youth Para Games in Dubai, and the founding of the Paralympic Movement.
able to attend workshops at the United Arab Emirates.
state-of-the-art facilities of the
KPC Icheon Training Centre.” The second project is a US
Paralympic Committee initiative
Fifty-one athletes from 21 coun to develop Para swimming in
tries competing at PyeongChang the Americas, targeting Aruba,
2018 participated in A gitos Foun Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
dation initiatives. Twelve of these Panama and Puerto Rico.
athletes won 23 medals between
them. GSD also supported the launch
of the I’mPOSSIBLE education
www.agitosfoundation.org programme.
12 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 13
AGITOS FOUNDATION CASE STUDY
At London 2012 Vanuata sent
one athlete 400m T38 runner
Marcel Houssimoli.
Refining governance structure in During the two-day workshop leading repre
sentatives from NPCs of Fiji, Kiribati, Papua
Vanuatu
New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga
NPC Vanuatu has been a model of what a solid and Vanuatu attended the sessions. NPCs
governance structure can do for the Movement exchanged information about their current
in a region scattered with islands throughout challenges and identified opportunities of
the Pacific Ocean. collaboration in the region.
“Nothing happens without effective govern Talent I.D.
ance,” Bird said. “Without governance you
don’t have communication. Without communi With sports-focused staff in place, NPC Vanuatu
The President of NPC Vanuata Margaret MacFarlane
cation, you don’t get activity. Without activity, was able to identify three talents for the with rower George Langa.
the NPC just doodles along.” 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast,
Australia. The NPC organised funding to get Part of her strategy for identifying talent is
Over about the past year and a half, the OPC the athletes qualified and participate in a going to the provinces of Vanuatu and intro
made an “effective intervention” with Vanuatu. training camp ahead of Gold Coast 2018. ducing Para sports there.
DEVELOPING PARA SPORTS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS They created a new board consisting of people
with commercial, governance and marketing Friana Kwevira was one of those three, and “We hope to go to every province – not every
knowledge. went on to win bronze in the women’s F46 island because there are 83 of them – but
How strong governance has
javelin. certainly the talent is out there. It is a bit like
Traditionally, NPCs in the Pacific Islands began ET (the Extra Terrestrial movie). We just have to
with people with a particular heart for disability find it and nurture it,” MacFarlane said.
developed the Paralympic Movement
and sports, and leading the NPC voluntarily.
But governance experience and knowledge “We’re just trying to grow the number of sports
was lacking. in a sustainable way, not by going in too fast,
too hard,” MacFarlane added. “We don’t want
in Vanuatu
“It relied more on disability and not sports, and to raise expectations if we can’t follow through.
when it came to Games time, yes, they would To do that, the absolute most important thing –
get a wild card and nothing much happened,” even if it’s boring – is a good strategic plan with
Bird explained. “What we were trying to do is a good budget. We’re at the stage where we got
refocus and say no that’s not good enough. a lot of governance issue dealt with in the last
On the right, Kwevira receives her Commonwealth
The Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) of their own social and economic development, Let’s go back to governance and say ‘who are bronze medal. six-nine months and now can reach out for
held its inaugural General Assembly last for them as an athlete or official to travel … to your members?’ We are pushing now for the corporate sponsors knowing we have credible
year, and its President Paul Bird invited IPC get classified, to get to an event, their budget members to be national sporting organisa Rowing has been another growing sport governance structures.
representatives to attend the meeting in Nadi, to get one person there is probably their NPC’s tions.” in Vanuatu, with George Langa being the
Fiji. budget for the whole year,” Bird said. country’s first official athlete in the sport. He “Toyota has announced itself as a global partner.
The development of governance has received competed in his first regatta at the Sydney What that means to us is we’re exploring,
Their travel from Germany involved 30 hours, “So I think there has been a limited under a boost from the IPC’s development arm the International Rowing Regatta in March 2017, trying to find some way on sustainable funding
including a layover in Singapore before a standing of the onerous demands placed on Agitos Foundation. with aims for Tokyo 2020. through a modest programme.
10-hour flight to Suva. Perhaps that flight these countries to try to find the money and
experience might give a better understanding find the athletes, and then enable them to go Last November, seven countries from Oceania Margaret MacFarlane, President of NPC “Our target is the Paralympics in Tokyo. If we
of the challenges the region faces, Bird said. down the qualification pathways.” took part in the first meeting of the Organisa Vanuatu, served as the country’s Para rowing could get one Vanuatu athlete there, we would
tional Capacity Programme in the region. The programme co-ordinator at the time, and is be very happy to have qualified and competed,
“When you turn it around and look at all our To tackle this, Bird said the OPC has focused programme aims to build capacity within NPCs credited for discovering Langa and recruiting and to have raised awareness of the Move
countries in the Pacific, then put in the context on “building capabilities from the inside out.” around the world. him to the sport. ment.”
14 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 15
TOKYO TALENTS
“Once I got mobile and stronger, then
I got faster. Running is fun, it’s my
hobby and something I just like to do.
Once I got good I just wanted to see how much
better I could become.”
“Last year was a new challenge
as I went to high school and had “It can be hard to combine studies
to adjust to that. I took a big and training, but I like it. I like being
fall at the 2017 World Championships in busy and enjoying life and what I am
the 100m and then came back at Junior lucky to have. I try to just be positive and to
Worlds to break the world record. I’m keep working towards bettering myself.”
happy with last year and hope to build on
it and do better this year.”
“There are many amputees who don’t
get equipment or the chance to go
to a good school. I want to do well,
prove myself and inspire people to get more
“I want to see how fast I could amputee kids equipment and for them to use it
be, especially in my preferred to do what they want.”
distances of 400m and 800m.
I want to make my family proud.”
ONE TO WATCH FOR
TOKYO 2020
Ntando Mahlangu
The teenage talent is one of the world’s best
sprinters, taking silver in the men’s 200m T42 at
both the Rio 2016 Paralympics and London 2017
World Championships.
16 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 17
stival of the Olympic
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18 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018
Snowflake Minimum Size Peop
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THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018
Scale 1 19 Scale 2
3.6mm 4.6mm 5.5mm 10mm 3.6mm 12ONES TO WATCH ATHLETE INTERVIEW
THIRD TIME’S A CHARM
FOR YUI KAMIJI
Japanese star finally finding her stroke ahead of her home Paralympic Games
Tokyo 2020 will be special for Yui Kamiji. Do you imagine already what
it will be like to compete at your
YUI KAMIJI (JPN)
Not only because it will be her home home Paralympics? Paralympic Games
Paralympics, but also because the 23-year-old Yui Kamiji (YK:) Winning gold in front of my London 2012
appears to be peaking at the right time. home crowd at Tokyo 2020 is my goal. But it Rio 2016: Bronze
is one of the many goals I would like to achieve
The Japanese wheelchair tennis star is set to throughout my career. I am only 23 years old Grand Slams singles titles
compete at her third Paralympic Games. The and still have not decided when to retire. It also US Open: 2014, 2017
left-hander did not medal at London 2012 and depends on how I perform in Tokyo. But I would Roland Garros: 2014, 2017, 2018
claimed a singles bronze at Rio 2016. like to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics Australian Open: 2017
as clay is my favourite surface.
She won 14 titles in 2017, including three
Grand Slams, to reclaim the world No.1 How would you sum up your 2017 season, Would you imagine a mixed doubles with
spot she first held in 2014. If she maintains winning three Grand Slams and reaching three-time Paralympic champion Shingo
her current level, Kamiji will be the leading world No.1? Kunieda? It would be quite a strong
contender for gold on her home court at the YK: It worked well both mentally and physically. pair!
2020 Paralympics. I will always try to better last season. I did not YK: I have actually never played
perform as expected at this year’s Australian mixed doubles but it might be
Open, but I will try to maintain a c ertain level interesting.
for the next months. I have been making some
changes to my game and will try to get used
to them as soon as possible. My main goal for
2018 is to secure my spot for the Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games.
What keeps you motivated?
YK: I am just very competitive. I believe that
the world No. 1 must win every single match.
So I want to do that and [have] everyone seeing
me as the best. Australian former wheelchair
tennis player Daniela Di Toro also inspires me
to improve myself. She was
the top player when
I started competing
but still helped me a What do you enjoy doing outside the
lot. She has retired tennis court?
but is still taking YK: I like to attend to concerts and watch
care of me. I have my favourite musicians performing live. I also
always seen her as enjoy cooking.
the role model.
20 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 21HOW TO …
HOW TO … 2018 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships
HOST A PARA SPORT BUILDING ON
RIO 2016’S LEGACY
COMPETITION
Brazil and Denmark have oraganised major international competitions. Learn from their
The 2018 UCI Para Cycling Track World
Championships was the first major
international competition held at the Barra
Olympic Park since the Rio 2016 Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
different approaches and experiences. The World Championships hosted 171
athletes from 30 countries across four days
of competition in March.
The Brazilian Cycling Confederation (BCC)
served as the Local Organising Committee,
led by technical delegate Edilson Alves da
Rocha, known as Tubiba.
Why host?
The Velodromo Municipal do Rio was built for
the Games, and hosting the 2018 Worlds was
an opportunity to further Rio 2016’s legacy.
governing body. BCC also began creating the Challenge(s) to consider
Rocha said the use of the legacy is not only event website; and negotiating with suppliers,
using the structure, but also “the knowledge partners and the participating countries. Accessibility is important, especially in trans
acquired by the workers who were at the 2016 portation and accommodation for the athletes.
Games.” The BCC especially pushed for partners
in terms of TV broadcast, streaming and “When we talk about World Championships,
“They also worked in the organisation of commercial partners that could bring some
we have to consider that there is no hotel in
the World Championships with the same attractiveness and marketing to the event and the world that is fully adapted to receive a
dedication and applied the previously acquired participants. large number of people with impairments,
knowledge,” Rocha said. so we have to think about how to solve these
Tips for success problems,” Rocha said.
With a state-of-the-art venue and experienced
personnel, the BCC were confident they could Rocha said it helped that many of the LOC Another curveball was organising space for
pull off a successful event. team members had experience. Having people classification, particularly for vision impaired
who knew each of the functional areas made categories. Anti-doping also needed to be
The process it “possible to make a very detailed scope, the thought of according to the types of impair
definition of the scope and the fulfillment of ments, compared to able-bodied sports.
The whole process began during Brazil’s what was defined in the scope.”
participation in the 2017 Para Cycling Track Benefits of hosting
World Championships in Los Angeles, USA. For this event, all the delegations stayed with
Looking at how the 2017 edition was run, the in 1km of the venue to avoid long periods in “It was a unique opportunity for Brazilian
BCC realised they could do likewise and host traffic. All meals were served at the hotels
athletes to participate in a Para sport World
the next edition. So they requested support during competition. Good communication and Championships in their own country, with the
from their NPC and Brazil’s Ministry of Sports support from the UCI were also crucial. encouragement of fans and spreading the
to organise the event. sport,” Rocha said.
“They sent to us a document with a lot of infor
After Brazil was announced as the 2018 host mation and details about the event that helped He added that hosting the Para Cycling Worlds
city and the BBC established a Local Organis us as the LOC,” Rocha said. “We received many would help strengthen the Brazilian team
ing C
ommittee (LOC), a detailed plan needed tips and contacts from UCI people that were ahead of Tokyo 2020.
to be presented to the UCI, cycling’s global working there since the beginning.”
22 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 23HOW TO …
Parasport Denmark
MAKING THE MOST OF
EVENTS ON HOME SOIL.
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING
The event must be sustainable in itself
and thus not burden NPC Denmark’s other
economy.
Nielsen said they have to set aside a realistic
budget: “It’s not that we should make a big
profit but a minor profit. The most important is
that the economy should be realistic.”
He added that Sport Event Denmark helps in
matching a certain amount of money used to
fund the event.
Funds from Sport Event Denmark are used to
hire a project manager who can focus solely
on organising an event. This allows the NPC to
dedicate its expertise and resources to s pecific
functions while also being able to complete
Parasport Denmark (or NPC Denmark) their athletes. In addition to a sporting boost, their day-to-day tasks.
has a tradition and lots of experience home events save expenses for participation in
arranging international events. They hosted other international events, which in turn can be Over the years NPC Denmark has become.
the 2015 Para Table Tennis European used to further improve the conditions for their more professional in providing the best athlete
Championships in Vejle; 2014 Wheelchair athletes. experience, in terms of accommodation, food
Rugby World Championships in Odense; and transportation.
and recently a World Para Swimming World “What is important is the connection with the
Series in Copenhagen, among others. top sports here in Denmark,” Nielsen said. “We have to focus on accessibility. This is
“It is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase from picking people up from the airport to
A secret to their success has been a Para sport at a top level, and the possibility buses,” Nielsen said. “We also try to see if we
comprehensive event strategy. In addition,
for our top athletes to compete at their home can eliminate internal transport and try to find
Parasport Denmark has taken advantage of base.” venues where hotels are neighboring. In this
an organisation established and supported way you make athletes more independent.
by the Danish Government called Sport Event Branding They move from hotel to venue whenever they
Denmark, whose objective is to bid for and want and do not have to jump on and off buses.
host world-class sporting events in the country. By attracting major international events, the Transport is where a lot of money gets used.”
Michael Mollgaard Nielsen, NPC Denmark’s
Danish NPC hopes to increase the focus, inter
sports director, is the man behind bringing est and recognition of Para sports, especially The competition is also an opportunity to
events to Denmark. in their own country. International events in double-up with other events such as workshops
Denmark give media greater opportunities to for classifiers, Nielsen added.
THE PURPOSE cover Para sports in both TV, radio and written
platforms. ASSESSING
In their event strategy, Parasport Denmark
outline reasons why they aim to attract Recruiting “What is the legacy for us here? That is
international events: connected to success,” Nielsen said.
The greater the exposure to Para sports,
Experiences for Danish athletes the more it can inspire youngsters with an Legacy could include how good were the
impairment to get involved. It also grabs the athlete and spectator experiences, were new
Athletes have a special experience when attention of local politicians and municipalities Danish talents recruited to the sport, what was
they compete at a major event on home which can lead to more governmental action to the media coverage like, were new sponsorship
grounds, and NPC Denmark wants that for benefit people with an impairment. and partnerships formed?
24 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 THE PARALYMPIAN 01|2018 25You can also read
