PARALYMPIC HERITAGE

The IPC Heritage team is dedicated to preserving, curating and communicating the history of the Paralympic Movement, the International Paralympic Committee and the development of Para Sports. The purpose of collecting the IPC’s and the global Paralympic Movement’s heritage is to ensure administrative transparency and preserve our shared history. As an organisation and movement this enables us to understand how the past has shaped our values and identity, and how we can chart better paths forward. The Paralympic Heritage department is also responsible for better promoting knowledge of the history of the IPC and global Paralympic Movement.

ARCHIVES 

The Paralympic Heritage archive in Bonn, Germany, was established as a resource for the IPC management team as well as external scholars conducting research on the Paralympic Movement. The archive and collection offer insights into the IPC (and it’s predecessor the International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World (ICC)), the Paralympic Games and world and regional championships in various Paralympic sports.
It contains hard copy and electronic records of everything from administrative documents and press clippings to maps and letters.

ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

In 2024, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) launched a project to start documenting the history of the IPC and the global Paralympic Movement by conducting oral interviews with key players who acted as catalysts and connectors to initiate and drive growth in the Paralympic Movement.
Whereas the Paralympic Games and their evolution have been the subject of numerous storytellers over the years, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) itself and the global Paralympic movement have yet to meaningfully focus on preserving their own heritage and telling their story. 
The project aims to use the interview recordings to communicate the history of the IPC and global Paralympic Movement to a broader audience.
If you would like to be part of this project, or would like to suggest other people to interview, please contact the Paralympic Heritage team at archive@paralympic.org.

COLLECTION

The Paralympic collection includes torches, medals, mascots and memorabilia from previous competitions, as well as sport equipment, uniforms and mascot costumes.

LIBRARY

Currently comprised of about 1,000 books, 105 periodicals and numerous flyers, brochures and leaflets that discuss everything from the history of Paralympic Sport and the Paralympic Games to medical science and sport sociology.

CALL FOR DONATIONS

In order to enhance our collection we would like to encourage you to donate or lend the IPC any personal items collected from previous Paralympic Games which illustrate the history and development of the Paralympic Movement. We are particularly interested in materials from the early Paralympic Games.
These may include:

-    Medals, pins, flags, merchandising items etc.
-    Correspondence, documents, publications, books and posters
-    Certificates and awards
-    Photographs and footage
-    Media coverage of an event 

EXHIBITION

In 2025, the IPC plans to open its first public exhibition dedicated to the history of the IPC and Paralympic Games, the impact the movement has in the world, our membership organisations, as well as interactive exhibits relating to different Paralympic sports.

RESEARCH FACILITIES

Researchers who are interested in conducting studies on the Paralympic Movement and who would therefore like to consult materials kept in the IPC Heritage archive and collection are asked to contact the IPC.
For further information please contact the Paralympic Heritage team at archive@paralympic.org.
For photo or video requests, please contact the IPC media office.