Members of the Paralympic Movement have on Monday (9 February) paid tribute to Don Mario Vazquez Rana, the President of the Pan American Sport Organisation (PASO), who sadly passed away on Sunday (8 February) aged 82 years.

“For the last five decades Don Mario Vazquez Rana has been an outstanding figurehead of sport in the Americas who will be sorely missed by the whole global sporting community,” said Sir Philip Craven, IPC President.

“He dedicated his entire life to sport and I hope one of the many legacies he leaves is that the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in the Americas continue to work together and collaborate on projects of mutual benefit.

“On behalf of the whole Paralympic Movement, I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”

Jose Luis Campo, President of the Americas Paralympic Committee, said: “On behalf of the Americas Paralympic Committee we deeply regret the passing of Don Mario Vazquez Rana, a man who has left a lasting legacy towards the Olympic and Paralympic Movements in the Americas region. I accompany the whole Pan-American Movement in passing my deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

“From the first meeting the APC had with him in November 1999, to coincide with the first Parapan American Games in Mexico City, to the last meeting we had with PASO, Don Mario always looked ahead to the future and how our actions could benefit athletes on our continent.

“Personally, I will remember him as a very important and influential man who was always a pleasure to be around. He offered me some great ideas and advice that will help Paralympic sport continue to grow in the Americas for years to come.”

In January 2015, PASO and the Americas Paralympic Committee signed a historic deal that means cities looking to host the Pan American Games in future years will automatically have to include the Parapan American Games in their bid as well.

This follows a verbal commitment from President Rana in March 2012 at the PASO General Assembly in Mexico City to the then APC President Octavio Londoño.

Under the terms of the Co-operation Agreement, the two organisations will work jointly on the bid process for future Games. They will employ the principle of “a host city for both Games” along the lines of the “One Bid, One City” agreement signed between the IOC and IPC in 2000 for the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

PASO will also aid the development of para-sport in the Americas by providing the APC an annual subsidy of USD 100,000.