President’s Blog

As 2008 comes to a close, we have the opportunity to reflect on what a fantastic year this has been for everyone. What I mean is how much the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games have affected the world. The Games we witnessed will forever be an inspirational marker that I continue to hear in and out of conversations during my travels over the past few months. Each person has been able to personalize an athlete, a competition, a moment… and it will stay bright in their memory for the rest of their lives.

The energy within those moments is incredibly vibrant and is the key to the Paralympic Movement’s success and growth in the future.

I am looking forward to 2009. The first event on my mind is the IPC Athletics Summit from 27-28 February. It will be a great opportunity for athletes and members of the Paralympic community to come together and discuss the sport’s future direction. Classification and the presentation of both track and field competitions at the Paralympic World and Regional level will be hot topics… and the hotter the better as far as I am concerned!

Season’s Greetings to you all, and I hope the memories of this incredible year will fuel your energy reserves for the great opportunities to come.