PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

The Alpine Skiing season has come to an end. Before the summer starts, it’s time to take a break and have a look at this year’s action around the globe!

In April 2008, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Medical and Scientific Director Dr. Peter Van de Vliet was invited by the International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS) FIMS to attend the FIMS Executive Committee meeting in Hong Kong, China, to present current IPC initiatives in the area of Medical Services and Sports Medicine/Sports Science.

The Otto Bock HealthCare, worldwide partner of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), is the official repair service provider of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games for prosthetics and wheelchairs. The contract between Otto Bock and BOCOG safeguards the more than 4,000 athletes expected to compete in September.

Last week, Nike announced the extension of its relationship with the US Olympic Committee (USOC) as an Official Outfitter of the US Olympic and Paralympic Teams through the London 2012 Games.

Last week, more than 20 specialists from the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) and the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee for Olympic and Paralympic Games (BOCOG) gathered in Beijing, China, to contribute to building an excellent official Games-time website for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) has recently announced the return of the successful “Feel the Rush” campaign. The original launch occurred in 2006 and was met with much success and progress for the Movement.

Lausanne, Switzerland - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced the composition of its IOC Commissions for 2008. In several of these Commissions, representatives of the Paralympic Movement also contribute to the meetings and help to guide the IOC and the Organizing Committees for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in their missions.

From 1 to 2 April, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) organized a symposium to allow International Federations (IFs) and WADA to exchange information and views on recent developments in the area of anti-doping and anti-doping administration, particularly on World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) compliance and IF roles and responsibilities with regard to the implementation of the revised WADC by 1 January 2009.

Bonn, Germany - From 1 to 3 April, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Co-ordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games visited Beijing, China, for the last time before the Opening of the Games.

Ice Sledge Hockey team captains and flag bearers representing ten countries were honoured last week at the official Opening Ceremony of the 2008 IPC World Championships.

Yesterday, a delegation from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) concluded a one-day Paralympic Orientation Workshop with the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The second edition of paraEmotion – the monthly magazine programme on the re-launched ParalympicSport.TV channel - will be out on Friday!

The federal government of Canada will contribute around Euro 15,3 million (= 24 million Canadian Dollars) over two years and the same amount per year ongoing to support the Road to Excellence Programme created by the Canadian Olympic Committee in conjunction with the Canadian Paralympic Committee.

On 13 March, the first Paralympic School Day (PSD) in Spain took place in the ski resort of La Molina.

Yesterday, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) celebrated the two-year countdown to the Paralympic Winter Games with activities in Vancouver and Whistler.