Keynote Speakers -Andrew Parsons

Andrew is serving his second successive term as President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) having originally been elected in September 2017. During his time as IPC President, he has secured a long-term partnership with the IOC through to 2032, overseen the global launch of WeThe15 – the world’s biggest human rights movement for persons with disabilities, successfully steered the Paralympic Movement through the pandemic, and overseen the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, as well as the PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. He is currently overseeing the delivery of the Paris 2024, Milano Cortina 2026, LA28, and Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. Before becoming IPC President, he served as IPC Vice President (2013-2017) and IPC Governing Member (2009-2013). He was the President of the Americas Paralympic Committee from 2005-2009. He is an IOC Member and represents the IPC on the IOC Coordination Commission for LA28, the IOC Marketing Commission and the IOC Future Host Commission for the Games of the Olympiad.  He is also on the Board of Directors for the Olympic Channel. He has been active in Paralympic sports in his home country Brazil for many years. Between 2009 and 2017, he was President of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee after previously being Secretary General.

Lecture Title: Paralympic Games – the ambition to be the most transformational event of the planet, and what is the role of science and research to achieve that? 

About his Lecture: What is Paralympic sport? What is Para sport? The Paralympic Movement as the main platform for driving inclusion of persons with disabilities into society. The global impact of the Paralympic Games and the athletes’ journey to get there: from Sir Ludwig Gutmann to #WeThe15. The role of science and research to support the Paralympic Games to be positioned and recognised as the most transformational event on the planet.