ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

Vision - Future we want for everyone

An inclusive world through Para Sport.


Mission - How we are going to get there

To lead the Paralympic Movement, oversee the delivery of the Paralympic Games and support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.

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The Agitos display features three large inflatable Agitos
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony. @Bob Martin/OIS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement and is based in Bonn, Germany.
Founded on 22 September 1989 as a non-profit organisation, we aim to be athlete-centred and membership-focussed in all our endeavours.
Working with our 200 plus member organisations, we use Para sport as a vehicle to advance the lives of the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities.
The work of the Paralympic Movement has a transformational impact on society. A strong belief that Change Starts with Sport motivates our international workforce to work as one team, aligned and focussed on fulfilling our vision and mission through delivery of the IPC Strategic Plan.
 

Proud to serve our members

The IPC is a membership-based organisation, and our role is to serve and support our members who are made up of National Paralympic Committees, International Federations, Regional Organisations and International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled.
As of 1 January 2024, the IPC has 208 member organisations consisting of:
 

183 National Paralympic Committees

Act as the sole representative of the Paralympic Movement in their territory. They have the exclusive right to enter their athletes in the Paralympic Games and other IPC competitions.

 

17 International Federations

Have responsibility for governing sports on the Paralympic programme. There are 13 Olympic and Paralympic Federations and four Paralympic Sport Federations.

 

5 Regional Organisations

Focus on regional Games, member support and regional co-operation, covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

 

3 International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled

IBSA, Virtus and World Abilitysport (created following the merger of CPISRA and IWAS) focus on the development of sports for athletes with a specific impairment.