A total of 22 athletes from 21 different countries arrived in Bad Honnef, Germany, from June 25-27 for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Leadership Summit. Athletes representing 12 different Paralympic sports took part in group sessions on topics including stakeholder and communication planning, board management, good governance in the Paralympic movement, athlete representation, and milestone planning.
According to the IPC, each topic had a specific outcome goal. For example, the athlete representation sessions were meant to develop an understanding of athletes’ involvement in the Paralympic movement and how athletes can best help the structure of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and their objectives. IPC Legal Counsel Mike Townley, JD, led the discussion about athlete representation. He offered discussion questions such as “How can an athlete’s past experience aid the development and running of an NPC?”, “What positions best suit an athlete’s knowledge and experience?”, and “How can the athlete develop and aid legacy throughout their environment?”
The final afternoon of the IPC Athlete Leadership Summit brought attendees together to consolidate their groups’ findings and make final presentations. Following the program’s conclusion, participants provided feedback with questions and suggestions for further explorations.
For more information, visit www.ipc-academy.org
