PARALYMPIC AND PARA SPORTS NEWS

Accessibility Programme Launch Marks Sochi 2014 Five Year Countdown
On 7 March, the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games celebrated the five-year Countdown to the Sochi Paralympic Winter Games with the launch of an Accessibility Programme that is aiming to create an accessible city that will be a model for all cities in Russia to follow.

Paralympic Representatives on IOC Commissions
Bonn, Germany - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week announced the composition of its IOC Commissions for 2009. 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.

First IPC Athletics Summit Ends Successfully
With the theme “Big Challenges, Broad Thinking, Bright Future”, the first IPC Athletics Summit successfully ended its three-day conference in the town of Bad Honnef, located just a few kilometres outside of Bonn, Germany.

Ireland Press Awards Beijing Paralympic Photography
Photographer Brian Lawless was honoured this month, receiving the third prize in the Sports Action category at this year’s Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) Awards. Lawless captured a photo of two athletes at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Harouna Ousmane Wins Jappo Award
The Secretary General of the National Paralympic Committee of Niger, Harouna Ousmane, received a trophy at the 2009 Jappo Awards for his achievement in promoting sport for people with a disability.