“I think that athletes should get involved because ultimately sport is for the athletes!”

World Para Alpine Skiing, World Para Snowboard and World Para Nordic Skiing invite National Paralympic Committees to nominate an athlete for their respective athlete representative elections, to be held at each of the World Championships in 2017.

The chosen candidates will serve a two-year term on the Sport Technical Committee, acting as liaison between the athletes and the decision makers in the sport, as well as a direct link to the IPC Athletics’ Council.

The candidates should have strong qualities of leadership, accomplishment, knowledge and respect, both on and off the field of play.

Australia’s two-time Paralympian Mitchell Gourley is the Athlete Representative for alpine skiing, with the elections to look for his successor set to take place on 27 January during the 2017 World Para Alpine Skiing Championships in Tarvisio, Italy, between 22-31 January. The deadline for nominations is on 20 December.

“I think that athletes should get involved because ultimately sport is for the athletes!” said Gourley.

“Generally, the athletes and coaches on the ground have the greatest understanding and insight into any sport and accordingly have plenty to offer.

“The recognition of that fact and subsequent willingness of our Sport Technical Committee to work with the athletes is incredible for our sport's future.

“While sometimes the benefits of an athlete's involvement may not be immediate, maybe they will not even get to witness it, hopefully it can help to improve the sport on the whole and the experiences of other athletes in the future.”

The successor for the Netherlands’ Sochi 2014 gold medallist Bibian Mentel-Spee as athlete representative for snowboard will be known on 5 February at the 2017 World Para Snowboard Championships to be held in Big White, Canada, from 1-8 February. The deadline for submissions is 5 January.

The new athlete representative for Nordic skiing will replace Russia’s Akzhana Abdikarimova, who has served her full term, and will be chosen on 13 February during the 2017 World Para Nordic Skiing Championships in Finsterau, Germany, from 10-19 February. NPC’s can submit their candidates until 13 February.

NPCs can nominate athletes via the respective World Para Alpine Skiing, World Para Nordic Skiing and World Para Snowboard websites.

*Editor’s note: The International Paralympic Committee suspended the Russian Paralympic Committee on 7 August for its inability to fulfil its IPC membership responsibilities and obligations, in particular its obligation to comply with the IPC Anti-Doping Code and the World Anti-Doping Code (to which it is also a signatory). As a result of the suspension, Russian athletes cannot enter IPC sanctioned events or competitions, including the Paralympic Games. For further information please click here: https://www.paralympic.org/russian-paralympic-committee-suspension