Paralympic News: Follow the latest IPC news and top stories featuring Paralympic athletes
![One women and one man in a wheelchair pull a curtain off a wall.](/sites/default/files/images/141009165407464_Hall%2Bof%2BFame%2Bunveiling_0.jpg)
Weir, Maughan, Loeffler and Vestey inducted into Hall of Fame
The four have been included in the Stoke Mandeville Hall of Fame for their dedication to the Paralympic movement.
![Naomi Soazo](/sites/default/files/images/120119150131302_82715753.jpg)
Naomi Soazo ends retirement for Rio 2016 dream
The Venezuelan judoka, a Beijing 2008 champion, is risking her all for Rio 2016.
![Two players sat in wheelchair holding trophies on their laps. In the background are two USA flags.](/sites/default/files/images/140907142705270_454791176_0.jpg)
Big names set for NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters
The competition will see the likes of Great Britain’s Jordanne Whiley and Japan’s Yui Kamiji and Shingo Kuneida take to the court once more.
![Naomi Soazo](/sites/default/files/images/120119150131302_82715753.jpg)
Naomi Soazo vuelve del retiro y sueña con Río 2016
La judoca venezolana, campeona en Beijing 2008, arriesga todo por Río 2016.
![Under water shot, leads the pack](/sites/default/files/images/140728130213185_LON_0309_1900.jpg)
IPC Swimming committee discusses past, present and future
IPC Swimming’s Sport Technical Committee met to discuss the 2013-16 strategic plan and how to take the sport forward over the next years.
![A picure of a man in the pool holding starting block with his hands](/sites/default/files/images/130124133321519_151214911.jpg)
Hood takes on swimming leadership role in Canada
James Hood will lead the national para-swimming team towards Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
![The IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Sport Forum was held from 27-28 September, in Bonn, Germany](/sites/default/files/images/141007140650356_20140928_102000_0.jpg)
Ice Sledge Hockey forum meets
All countries currently participating in the sport met for the first time since the sport’s incredible success at Sochi 2014.
![Dmytro Solovey of Ukraine and Sharif Khalilov of Uzbekistan compete in the Men's 73kg Gold Medal Contest at the London 2012 Paralympic Games](/sites/default/files/images/140207143651786_151075385_0.jpg)
Memorandum of Understanding between the IJF and IBSA
The agreement between the two organisations looks to continue the development of judo worldwide.
![Joao Fernandes of Portugal plays a shot during the Mixed Team Boccia](/sites/default/files/images/130614102420274_Joao%2BFernandes%2Bof%2BPortugal%2Bplays%2Ba%2Bshot.jpg)
Portugese NPC to host first congress
The event, which will see IPC President Sir Philip Craven as a key speaker, will take place in Lisbon between 24-25 October.
![Darragh McDonald at London 2012](/sites/default/files/images/130724185642598_Darragh%2BMcDonald_0.jpg)
Ireland hosts blade event and swimming masterclass
For the first time ever in Ireland, athletes were given the opportunity to try running blades and take part in a unique training session run by leading swimmers.
![Faris Al-Ajeeli of Iraq sticks his tongue out whilst attempting a lift](/sites/default/files/images/121114155230327_151280493.jpg)
Elizabeth Broad: assessing body composition in para-athletes
The author of ‘Sports Nutrition for Paralympic Athletes’ explains different ways for para-athletes to measure their body composition.
![A picture of men ready to swim](/sites/default/files/images/121022110423931_154543838.jpg)
Para-triathlon medal events confirmed for Rio 2016
Adding to the three medal events confirmed in July, the IPC Governing Board approved the men’s PT2 and the women’s PT2 and PT5 at a meeting in Berlin, Germany.
![Man in white robe walks through a crowd of people, some of them in wheelchairs](/sites/default/files/images/141007102635940_pope_francis_0.jpg)
Pope Francis meets para-athletes at Vatican
Audience with Pope Francis part of the “Believe to be Alive” events organised by the Italian Paralympic Committee.
![An artist's impression of how the Tokyo 2020 national stadium will look](/sites/default/files/images/140122115951799_New%2Bstadium_0.jpg)
IPC Governing Board approves first 16 sports to be included in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Para-badminton to make its Paralympic Games debut at Tokyo 2020
![Yijun Chen](/sites/default/files/images/131212142256239_20%2BYijun%2BChen%2BCREDIT%2BGetty%2BImages.jpg)
Yijun Chen refuses to be complacent ahead of Incheon
The wheelchair fencing Paralympic champion knows that he will face tough competition at the 2014 Asian Para Games in the battle for gold.
![Two men playing goalball at the Algerian Goalball Championships 2013](/sites/default/files/images/130528155733733_goalball%2Balgeria.jpg)
Algeria to host 2015 goalball African Championships
The competition will take place in the capital city of Algiers in November 2015
![Logo Paralympics New Zealand](/sites/default/files/images/141007104952155_NZ_Paralympics_Corporate.jpg)
Dave Hill awarded Paralympics New Zealand Order of Merit
Hill has been involved in para-sport since 1973 and is widely recognised as making a substantial contribution to its development in New Zealand.
Stinissen takes key role on IPC Athletes’ Council
Dutch sitting volleyball player Elvira Stinissen was elected as the new Vice Chair at the IPC’s Strategic Gathering in Berlin, Germany.
![Atsushi Yamamoto of Japan and Daniel Jorgensen of Denmark compete in the men's 100m T42 heats at London 2012](/sites/default/files/images/141005134659576_Yamamoto_0.jpg)
Yamamoto to face challenge for gold in Incheon
Japanese T42 Asian Para Games champion sprinter is confident he can hold off a challenge from Thailand’s 100m World No.1.
![The Rio 2016 Pioneer Volunteers group photographed during the filming of the campaign.](/sites/default/files/images/170202125759887_Rio-volunteers.jpg)
Over 100,000 applications for Rio 2016 volunteer programme
With less than two years to go, the Rio 2016 volunteer programme has already received over 100,000 applications from 180 countries.