Inaugural session of newly elected IPC Athletes’ Council held in Bonn

The International Paralympic Committee Athletes’ Council’s first meeting at the new IPC headquarters was recently held in Bonn, Germany. This was also the inaugural session of the new Council, made up of members representing summer Games who were elected at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

During the three-day meeting, held from 18 to 20 November, new members learned about the governance structure of the IPC, classification and anti-doping, among other subjects. The new council elected a new Chairperson and second Vice-Chairperson and set their priorities for the next four years.

The meeting was also an opportunity for the IPC to inform members about their roles and responsibilities. As an athlete centred and membership focused organisation, the IPC Athletes’ Council plays an important role in communicating the needs and concerns of Para athletes to the IPC Governing Board. The Council Chairperson and first Vice-Chairperson also serves as ex officio members of the IPC Governing Board with voting rights.

The IPC Athletes' Council is the collective voice of Paralympic athletes within the IPC and the greater Paralympic Movement. It serves as an advisory body to the IPC Governing Board, carrying out tasks specifically delegated by the Board.

The Council also took a tour of the new headquarters which boasts an array of accessible and inclusive features. This includes fully accessible workstations, accessible bathrooms, automatic doors for ease of access, and tactile paving for those with a vision impairment.

Lenine Cunha said: “Attending my first IPC Athletes' Council meetings in Bonn was an amazing experience. The council members were so welcoming and come from really diverse backgrounds which made me feel comfortable even though I was a bit nervous at first.

“Everything became very real the first moment I entered the office, that I am here to make sure all athletes have a voice and to ensure athletes with an intellectual impairment are equally represented. It was great to see how much we could connect as a team. I think the other members can see that I take my role seriously, but I can also be funny and share my personal experiences in discussions.

“There’s a lot of hard work ahead, and I’m ready for it. Four years is only a short time and I want to do everything I can to make sure my time with the IPC Athletes’ Council will create more opportunities and inclusion for everyone in the Paralympic Movement.”

Martina Caironi said: “I really enjoyed our first AC meeting in Bonn, in the new headquarters. All the new members brought a fresh energy to the group and I'm also happy about the election results. Congratulations to Vlada and Yoomin. I'm excited to work with the new team for the next four years and help the athletes’ community to grow. It is right to say that ‘Change Start With Sport’.”

IPC President Andrew Parsons also spoke with the Council members through a video call.

The IPC Athletes’ Council is made up of nine athletes in total, which includes six summer athletes and three winter athletes.

The six summer sport members are: Martina Caironi (Italy, Para athletics), Lenine Cunha (Portugal, Para athletics), Vladyslava Kravchenko (Malta, Para swimming), Denise Schindler (Germany, Para cycling), Yujiao Tan (China, Para powerlifting) and Yoomin Won (Korea, wheelchair basketball).

The three winter sport council members are Josh Dueck (Canada, Para alpine skiing), Mitchell Gourley (Australia, Para alpine skiing) and Birgit Skarstein (Norway, Para nordic skiing).

In addition to the nine elected members, the IPC Athletes’ Council can appoint up to five additional members on two-year terms, to ensure there is balance between gender, regions, sports and disability groups. Presently this includes Grigorios Polychronidis (Greece, boccia).

For the first time, the Council also includes an athlete with an intellectual impairment represented by Lenine Cunha (Portugal, Para athletics).