What we are

The IPC Athletes’ Council is the collective voice of Paralympic athletes within the IPC and the greater Paralympic Movement. As the liaison between IPC decision-makers and Paralympic athletes, the IPC Athletes' Council works to provide effective input into decision-making at all levels of the organisation. To this end, the IPC Athletes' Council works to ensure effective athlete representation on all IPC committees and commissions as well as to create other opportunities for athlete representation both within and outside the IPC. For example, the IPC Athletes' Council enjoys cross representation with the IOC Athletes’ Commission.

What we do

The IPC Athletes' Council oversees the Athletes’ Council election process during the Paralympic Games. The Athletes' Council seeks to ensure that elections are organised in a democratic and fair manner. Furthermore, recognizing that the election process is the primary means by which athletes express their voice, the Athletes' Council focuses on education and awareness initiatives aimed at maximum participation.

Our strategy - "At the heart"

In March 2019, the IPC Athletes' Council published its first strategy to act as a guide to both athletes and the IPC membership as to how the IPC Athletes’ Council can build athlete leaders and ensure the Paralympic Movement is athlete-centred.

IPC Athletes' Council Strategy - "At the heart"

IPC Athletes' Council Strategy - "At the heart" (French)

IPC Athletes' Council Strategy - "At the heart" (Spanish)

Interested in becoming a member of the IPC Athletes' Council?

The first requirement of a candidate for the IPC Athletes' Council is a keen interest in the Paralympic Movement.

The second requirement is a strong commitment to working for and representing all IPC athletes.

The third and most important requirement is having the time and passion to make a difference for Paralympic athletes of today and tomorrow.

To be eligible for election to the Athletes' Council an individual must be an active Paralympic athlete. An active Paralympic athlete is defined as an athlete that is competing in the current edition of the Paralympic Games or Paralympic Winter Games at which the election is taking place, or has competed in either of the previous two editions of the Paralympic Games (if the election concerns summer sport athletes) or Paralympic Winter Games (if the election concerns winter athletes).

PyeongChang 2018 IPC Athletes' Council Elections

Marie Bochet, Rudolf Klemetti and Birgit Skarstein have been chosen as the three winter representatives on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council following elections held at the Proud Paralympian space of the Athletes’ Dining Hall at the Paralympic Village in PyeongChang, South Korea, during the Winter Games. Click here for more information about the Elections.

Contact us

The IPC Athletes' Council wants to hear from you! We encourage athletes to share their views, express concerns, put forth ideas and get involved! Please e-mail us either personally at the e-mail addresses below or collectively at athletescouncil@paralympic.org

The IPC Athletes' Council can also be found on Facebook.