On the occasion of the Next Step Conference in Windhoek, Namibia, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven and UK Sport Chief Executive Officer John Steele signed a partnership agreement to continue to support the development of the Paralympic Movement through the Organizational Development Initiative (ODI), a long-term strategic investment in those organizations and their key people responsible for the delivery of sustainable and effective Paralympic sport from the grassroots to the elite level worldwide.

Bonn, Germany - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced today that two Ukrainian athletes in the sport of Powerlifting, tested positive for a Prohibited Substance and a sanction of two years ineligibility was imposed for their first doping offence.

From 26 to 27 September, the second Project Review for the London 2012 Paralympic Games took place in London, Great Britain.

On 28 September, the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) launched an online educational tool that reaches out to schools and universities throughout Canada.

Last week, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) conducted its first site inspection visit to one of the two bid cities for the 2010 IPC Athletics World Championships.

On 25 September, the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (BOCOG) and Beijing Olympic Broadcasting Co. Ltd (BOB) signed the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Broadcasting Agreements with China Central Television (CCTV) and Beijing Television (BTV). BOCOG Executive Vice-President Jiang Xiaoyu and BOB General Manager Manolo Romero were present at the signing ceremony in Beijing, China.

Bonn, Germany - From 6 to 17 September 2008, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games will take place in Beijing, China. Around 3,500 media representatives are expected to cover the Games. In the course of the preparation for this unique event, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (BOCOG) are collaborating to ensure a successful media accreditation process.

The Next Step 2007 Conference, hosted by UK Sport and the Namibian Government, took place from 19 to 22 September in Windhoek, Namibia.

Last week, Classfication was the central topic during four days of meetings at the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Headquarters in Bonn, Germany.

Yesterday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that its Executive Committee approved the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods for 2008.