On 24th and 25th November the IPC held the General Assembly (GA) of nations, regions, sports and international disability sports organizations in Seoul Korea the country where historically the modern Paralympic Games came of age in 1988 with the first extensive use of the Olympic facilities. Nearly 100 members attended, a record for a GA. There were a number of resolutions, of which the one concerning athletes with an intellectual disability is key for London 2012.
In short, at the Sydney 2000 Games two able-bodied reporters managed to infiltrate the gold medal-winning intellectually disabled basketball team. As a result, athletes with an intellectual disability were suspended from Paralympic Games and IPC championships. Seven years of discussion and research had not yielded a solution.
But at the GA a motion presented to the Assembly by Iceland and strengthened by an amendment from the British Paralympic Association provided an opportunity to see those athletes re-admitted for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Accompanying the setting up a working party to resolve the matter, the BPA's ammendment reads:
Final motion:
‘The Governing Board includes within the mandate of the Working Group the requirement to ensure effective Sport input into the process and must present a report detailing the criteria by which those athletes with an intellectual disability could participate in the Paralympic Games by London 2012. Such a report must allow adequate time for preparation of those athletes by setting a timetable from 2009.’
The motion carried with 63 votes in favour and 27 votes against.
This time-scale is critical for our planning for 2012 too if we are to do justice to the needs of those athletes and ensure that any sports programme which is developed is compatible with our principle of maintaining compact venue plans and thereby enhancing the spectator numbers and excitement for the athletes. In addition, given the support of the UK for such athletes both with the secretariat of the Federation held by Mencap and a British President in Dr Bob Price and a number of influential members of the House of Lords, while not assured, the chances of reinclusion are significantly now advanced.
On the Sunday Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO reported personally on the progress for the Paralympic Games in London 2012. Given the greater proximity of Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010, he confined most of his remarks to the manner in which London 2012 is organised - 'inclusive yet distinctive' - and our overall vision for 2012 including the enhancement of the Paralympic Movement by organising outstanding Games.
Paul addressing the Assembly:
His remarks were well received as were the tactile maps of Olympic Park distributed to the visually impaired members present. Two firsts then - a POC (Paralympic Organising Committee) CEO presenting to the GA and the availability of tactile maps.
The next General Assembly will follow the Beijing Games and take place in 2009: at that meeting the Governing Board will be renewed with elections including nominations for the Presidency which might involve Sir Philip Craven should he decide to run for a third term.
