PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) offers the following position statement in light of the recent media attention generated by a scientific study initiated by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that reports that sprint performance with Cheetah prostheses offers clear mechanical advantages compared to the sprint performance of able-bodied athletes who are capable of similar levels of performance.

The London 2012 Organizing Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (London 2012) recently launched the ‘Get Set London Roadshow’ 2008, which will now be travelling throughout London in the coming weeks and months.

Yesterday, Liu Jian, Director of the Volunteer Department of the Beijing 2008 Organizing Committee (BOCOG), released news on the Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Volunteer Programme.

Welcome to 2008 and what a year this is going to be.

Construction has been completed on all three of the Whistler Olympic and Paralympic competition venues. Thanks to the efforts of a 2,500-strong workforce recruited from across British Columbia and Canada, athletes will be able to train at these venues more than two years before the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games start. The venues in Whistler will offer a legacy for high performance and recreational use, both before and long after the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.

The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) yesterday announced it is looking for proposals from artists all around the world interested in designing the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals.

The Erasmus Mundus Master Consortium, a group of four European universities in co-operation with three non-European universities, offers the Erasmus Mundus Master in Adapted Physical Activity (APA).

Bonn, Germany - The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced today that a Brazilian athlete in the sport of Powerlifting, tested positive for a prohibited substance and a sanction of one year ineligibility was imposed for his first doping offence.

For the first time after Sochi’s election to host the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) CEO Xavier Gonzalez and IPC Fundraising and Sponsorship Director Sergio Furman visited the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee in Moscow, Russia.

On the occasion of today’s International Volunteer Day, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) acknowledges the commitment of thousands of volunteers whose actions enrich the Paralympic Movement and help make Paralympic Sport the growing phenomenon it is today.

Today, people from all over the world will celebrate the ‘International Day of Disabled Persons’ with different activities, including forums, public discussions, information campaigns and sport events to focus on disability issues and raise awareness.

Tickets for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games Opening and Closing Ceremony will be on sale from 10 December.

Yesterday, the composition of the IOC Co-ordination Commission for the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games was announced.

Samsung Electronics recently signed a sponsorship deal with the Chinese government to provide technical support for mobile communications during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, which will be held from 6 to 17 September 2008 in Beijing, China.

Bonn, Germany - Months of mystery and anticipation finally ended yesterday as hundreds of local schoolchildren were the first to personally meet Sumi, Miga and Quatchi, the mascots for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

On 25 November, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Sir Philip Craven presented Roh Moo-Hyun, President of Korea, with the Paralympic Honour. This award is bestowed on high-ranking dignitaries, officials and other persons outside the Paralympic Movement who have contributed significantly to the Movement.

Seoul, Korea - The 2007 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly (GA) was held from 24 and 25 November 2007, in Seoul, Korea. Around 250 delegates from National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), disability specific sport federations (IOSDs), regions and sports attended the event.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Conference started today with an Opening Ceremony at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel in Seoul, Korea.

Seoul, Korea - Today, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Governing Board (GB) concluded its 48th official meeting, which was held in Seoul, Korea, on the occasion of the IPC 2007 General Assembly.