Athletes Council

This video highlights the importance of the IPC Athletes Coucil. The Athletes Council provides the voice for the athletes to ensure thatthey have the best possible, positive experience thgoughout the Paralympic Movement.

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.

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).