History of International Paralympic Committee 1989-2014

A lot has happened since the International Paralympic Committee was formed on 22 September 1989. 1989 • The IPC is created on 22 September 1989 in Dusseldorf, Germany with Canadian Bob Steadward as President. 1990 • Groningen, the Netherlands, stages the second IPC General Assembly, during which the basis for the first IPC Constitution was approved. • First Athletes Committee elected • Set up of IPC Sport Technical Committees is initiated. • Agreement that ICC remains responsible for the Paralympic Games until after the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games. 1992 • Tignes-Albertville 1992 Paralympic Winter Games. • Barcelona 1992 Paralympic Games 1993 • On 25 March 1993 in Larnaca, Cyprus, the ICC holds its last meeting and passes on the torch to IPC. • Launch of the new IPC logo with 3 tae-guks 1994 • Lillehammer 1994 Winter Paralympics 1995 • CISS withdraws from membership in the IPC. 1996 • Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. • The General Assembly considered the recommendations of the Task Force and agreed to a slimmed down Executive Committee. 1997 • The General Assembly confirms its support to the selection of the city of Bonn as new IPC Headquarters. 1998 • Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games • The IPC Sports Council holds a strategic planning meeting and agrees to focus on i) the growth of Paralympic Sport by increasing the number of athletes and nations while improving the athletic performance, ii) enhancing the quality of the sport technical operations/administration and iii) ensure diversity in Paralympic Sport. 1999 • The IPC’s first headquarters open in Bonn, Germany, with 10 full-time staff. 2000 • Sydney 2000 Paralympics. • The first IPC-IOC agreement is signed during the Sydney Games by IOC President Samaranch and his IPC counterpart Steadward. 2001 • Former British wheelchair basketball player Sir Philip Craven is elected IPC President • On 19 June, the IPC and IOC sign an agreement that secures the practice of “one bid, one city,” meaning the same city will host both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2002 • Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games 2003 • The IPC’s mission “To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world” is launched. • The IPC Governing Board approves development of a Universal Classification Code. • The IPC-IOC Agreement is adjusted. 2004 • Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. 2005 • Sir Philip is re-elected IPC President 2006 • Torino 2006 Paralympic Winter Games • The IPC launches ParalympicSport.TV, an online TV channel, during the Games. It attracts nearly 40,000 unique viewers from 105 nations. • The IPC’s revenues break EUR 5 million for the first time. • In June, the IOC and the IPC sign a further co-operation extension covering the Sochi 2014 and the Rio 2016 Games. • The IPC starts implementing a four year Strategic Plan (2006-2009) which has five objectives: high performing organisation, membership development, resource creation, Games success and global recognition. 2007 • The IPC Classification Code is approved by the General Assembly 2008 • Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games • The IPC Governing Board approves a new Anti-Doping Code. 2009 • Sir Philip is re-elected President, re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual impairment. • The Organisational Development Initiative (ODI) is launched and aims to build the capacity and efficiency of IPC members. • Bob Balk is elected Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council. 2010 • Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games 2011 • A new Strategic Plan 2011-2014, outlining the IPC’s direction via six strategic goals, is launched. • The General Assembly adopts IPC Medical Code. 2012 • The IPC and IOC sign a new co-operation agreement which increases the amount of financial support to the IPC and guarantees the Paralympics will be staged in the same city and venues as the Olympics through until Tokyo 2020. • London 2012. • #Paralympics is the No.1 trending sporting event of the year in Great Britain • The Agitos Foundation is launched. • The IPC’s revenues exceed EUR 10 million for the first time. 2013 • Sir Philip is elected IPC President • For the first time ever, US broadcaster NBC sign up to broadcast both the Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games following in the footsteps of Channel 4, EBU, NHK and multiple other broadcasters. • The Agitos Foundation Grant Support Programme makes EUR 650,000 available to member organisations for development projects. • BP becomes the IPC’s second international partner joining Allianz. 2014 • Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games. • 22 September – the IPC will celebrate turning 25!