The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced on Monday (22 July) that Seoul, South Korea, will host the 22nd IPC General Assembly in mid-September 2025.

The decision to award the event to the Korea Paralympic Committee (KPC) follows a competitive bid and independent evaluation process which saw the IPC receive a significant number of proposals from NPCs across the globe.

The General Assembly is the supreme authority of the IPC, and the 2025 edition will have extra significance as members will elect a new Governing Board.

Under the IPC’s revised Constitution, the composition of the IPC Governing Board will change from next year’s elections onwards.  Whereas the current Board features one President, one Vice President, 10 Members at Large, and the Chair and First Vice-Chair of the Athletes’ Council, the Board from the 2025 elections will include one President, two Vice Presidents (one male and one female; the First Vice-President must not be of the same gender as the President); seven Members-at-Large (three male, three female and one open); two appointed members (with full voting rights); and Chair and First Vice-Chair of the Athletes’ Council.

Around 600 attendees from the IPC’s 208 members made up of National Paralympic Committees, International Federations, Regional Organisations, and International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled are expected to attend next September’s event.

Mike Peters, IPC Chief Executive Officer, PLY said: “Congratulations to the Korea Paralympic Committee on putting forward a very impressive bid to host the 22nd IPC General Assembly, an event that will coincide with the KPC’s 20th anniversary. Korea has a strong track record for organising major events within the Paralympic Movement having staged the 1988 Paralympic Games, the 13th IPC General Assembly in 2007, the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, and the 2023 IPC Athlete Forum. I am sure all our members will receive a warm welcome and enjoy a highly successful event.

“I’d also like to thank all the NPCs from around the world who put forward bids to host the event but were unsuccessful. The response was impressive and underlined our members’ commitment to advancing the Paralympic Movement.

“In addition to elections, and alongside the 22nd General Assembly, the second edition of the PARA SPORT Awards will take place in Seoul recognising the achievements of athletes, teams, volunteers, and officials, across summer and winter sports. It promises to be an exciting week in the Korean capital.”

Jung Jin-owan PLY, President of the Korea Paralympic Committee, said: "It is an honour to host another IPC General Assembly in Seoul, Korea in 2025 to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the KPC. We will work closely with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the IPC to prepare to create an environment in which all member organisations can attend the GA comfortably."

To encourage greater athlete participation in the General Assembly and support the development of athletes as leaders of the Paralympic Movement, attending members will be able to attend the event with a third delegate providing that person is an active Paralympic athlete. In addition, all members of the IPC Athletes’ Council will be invited to attend. The current IPC Governing Board features nine Para athletes.

Exact dates for the 22nd IPC General Assembly will be confirmed in due course.