The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council met from 9-11 December in Bonn, Germany. It was the first meeting after the elections that took place at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Britain’s most decorated female Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, Canada’s Paralympic medallist swimmer Chelsea Gotell and USA’s Paralympic cycling medallist Monica Bascio took part for the first time after their election in Rio. Other members present included Elvira Stinissen (Netherlands, sitting volleyball), Gizem Girismen (Turkey, Para archery), Mikhail Terentiev (Russia, Nordic skiing) and Katja Saarinen (Finland, alpine skiing) and outgoing members Tim Prendergast (New Zealand, athletics) and Yu Chui Yee (Hong Kong, China).

The three-day meeting, chaired by Todd Nicholson (Canada, Para ice hockey), included introduction sessions for the newly elected members, presentations and updates by IPC staff on various areas where athletes are involved, such as Proud Paralympian, as well as a debrief report on the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The council also discussed how links to the International Federations can be improved through Athlete Focus groups and what topics they would like to have discussed at next summer’s Athlete Forum in Duisburg, Germany, from 8-11 June 2017.

“It was a very productive three days of meetings and I believe the new members will be a great asset to the Athletes’ Council.”

“It was a very productive three days of meetings and I believe the new members will be a great asset to the Athletes’ Council,” said Todd Nicholson.

“Even though I have to stand down as chairperson, I will still be following their work and I am sure they will produce some great results in the future and represent all Para athletes very well.”

The next meeting will take place end of March 2017 and will include the election of a new chairperson and a full day strategic session.