“Taking part in the programme will also allow us to further deepen our partnership with the IPC, and as the only city that will have hosted the Paralympic Games on two separate occasions, we are determined not only to ensure the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Games, but also to contribute to the further development of the Paralympic Movement.”

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has reached an agreement with the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the delivery of the fourth edition of the IPC Academy Excellence Programme.

The partnership will see the IPC Academy deliver a range of knowledge workshops across the next five years as part of the IPC Academy Excellence Programme, and is geared towards enhancing the planning and delivery of the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Having already rolled out the Excellence Programme with Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and PyeongChang 2018, the 2020 programme will cover three areas and include all the activities and projects that are absolutely essential for the effective planning of a Paralympic Games.

The first core area that will be covered is the Education and Mentoring Programme. Featuring nine knowledge workshops they will provide informative and participatory opportunities for Games staff to work together in solving issues they face, while hearing from industry experts on past experiences and best practice. Subjects covered will include project definition and strategy, effective Paralympic planning integration, planning for the needs of Paralympic Games clients and building excitement via marketing and communications.

The second core area is the Rio 2016 Observers’ Programme that will see many members of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee attend next year’s Paralympic Games to witness first-hand Games-time operational delivery.

Several months after the conclusion of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the Debrief of the Games will take place in Tokyo and is the third core area of the Excellence Programme. This dedicated two-day event will focus on the most important and challenging elements of organising a Paralympic Games, client needs and lessons learned from Rio 2016 that can be passed onto Tokyo 2020.

Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Tokyo 2020 is already on course to deliver the best Paralympic Games ever, and we are confident they can achieve this with the support of the IPC Excellence Programme.

“The workshops, Observers Programme and Debrief that are delivered as part of our integrated approach to Knowledge Management for the Paralympic Games share best practice and key learning from previous Games and I am sure Tokyo 2020 will find this project hugely beneficial.”

Toshiro Muto, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with the IPC for the delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Excellence Programme. The programme will enable Tokyo 2020 to access a wealth of vital information and expertise as well as experiencing first-hand Games-time operations, and will form an indispensable part of our preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

“Taking part in the programme will also allow us to further deepen our partnership with the IPC, and as the only city that will have hosted the Paralympic Games on two separate occasions, we are determined not only to ensure the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Games, but also to contribute to the further development of the Paralympic Movement.”