European Paralympic Committee

Bratislava hosts EPC Conference on critical issues for the Paralympic Movement

In offering the advantage of combining attendance to the EPC Congress for Harmonisation of Doping Policies and Procedures, held on August 31st and September 1st, 2002, which was funded by the European Union, the EPC equally held on August 30th, a successful Conference on three issues that are considered critical for the further development of the Paralympic Movement.

EPC Secretary General, Enrique Sanchez, welcomed about 40 delegates from 15 countries who listened to presentations made on the topics: Sports for Athletes with Severe Disabilities, Women and Paralympic Sport and, IPC Marketing Opportunities. Under the guidance of Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper, who had accepted to be the moderator for the Conference, delegates were encouraged to have broad and open discussions on these topics. The attendance of members of the IPC Sports Council Management Committee in the first two sessions allowed very balanced discussions with contributions from both nations and sports.

Sport for Athletes with Severe Disabilities - Identifying key issues affecting the future of disability and sport

Dr. Barbara Wilhite, Professor Department of Recreation and Leisure at the University of Texas, presented the findings of a research project conducted during the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, on how athletes and officials view the key issues, trends and challenges affecting disability sport and the Paralympic Games. A paper on this topic was handed out to all delegates.

Using quotes from athletes, Dr. Wilhite illustrated some of the current perceptions related to the decreasing opportunities for athletes with severe disabilities to compete in elite sport competitions and the need to enhance the image with corporate sponsors and media by including more visibly the participation of athletes with severe disabilities.
The lack of depth in sport (e.g. lacking athlete recruitment, training, development and opportunities to compete, lacking information in schools on possibilities to practice sport) in combination with a decreasing motivation of athletes with severe disabilities to compete due to issues in athletes classification (e.g. combining classes) were identified as some of the underlying aspects to the problem.

The delegates discussed recommendations for future action, which included:

Define clearly what “athletes with severe disabilities” means (on a sport by sport basis);

Develop elite sports principles and educate public, sponsors, media by developing understanding and appreciation for the meaning of the term “elite level” in relation to sports for athletes with disabilities. Define what elite sport is;

Develop grass roots programmes to encourage participation of persons with severe disabilities; increase the numbers of persons with severe disabilities practicing sport on all levels. Address issues related to recruitment and retention;

Adapt Sports and Disciplines to match athlete profile. Encourage creativity in adapting conventional sports but take into account the need to preserve credibility to ensure compatibility to elite sport level. Highlight the most suitable events and focus on sports-specific rather than disability specific programmes;

Develop a unified and committed course of action to improve the integration of sports for athletes with severe disabilities into the overall sport system. Increase equality and acceptance;

Undertake specific training and action to strengthen the athlete’s self-advocacy and provide the environment that allows such self-advocacy. Showcase role models in self-advocacy;

Develop a multi-faceted communication strategy targeting numerous constituents, increasing the quantity and quality of communication on sports for athletes with severe disabilities;

Develop a strategic networking strategy and develop a co-ordinated education programme; define strategic partners within each country who can assist in the promotion of sports for people with severe disabilities. Capitalise on the education through sports initiatives of strategic partners.

The discussions held in this forum will further assist the IPC Commission on Sport for Athletes with Severe Disabilities, which is working closely together with the IPC Management Committee and Sports Council to address these issues and develop an action plan, which will be presented to the IPC General Assembly in 2003.

Women and Paralympic Sport

The second session during the EPC Conference addressed the challenges faced by women involved in Paralympic Sports. Ms. Carol Mushett, IPC Technical Officer, and Ms. Stephanie Nöthen; IPC Sports Administrator, gave an overview of the current status, presented objective data on numbers of women participating in Paralympic Sport Competitions, identified some of the barriers and, focused on developing a strategy to increase the number of female participants. During the presentation some of the recent successful initiatives such as the allocation of wild cards and solidarity funding targeted to female participation were highlighted. A comprehensive paper on the subject was distributed to all delegates. Anyone interested in receiving the detailed paper is welcome to ask IPC Headquarters for a copy.

Similar as to a statement made by the IOC President last year, it was recognised that unless more women are involved in leadership roles we will not see more women on the field of play.

Delegates were invited to contribute to a strategic visioning session on how to accomplish greater involvement of women at all levels and roles in all aspects of sports. Some of the comments outlined the need for:

A positive approach, emphasising the achievements rather than putting the spotlights on the lack of participation and the barriers and, more visibility to showcase successful female athletes as role models;

Nations to be more committed to secure women’s leadership and to balancing the selections (female athletes and female team staff);

The development of an incentive programme to recognise efforts in increasing participation of women; Develop specific aims regarding quantity and quality of women’s involvement, give recognition when goals are met and make countries accountable for the progress made;

Allocating resources to mentor emerging female leaders and develop a systematic mentoring programme; a systematic approach must be initiated and implemented proactively;

Networking with partners having similar but non-sports related objectives, and verify why some of the existing programmes has not been successful; link strategies and co-ordinate activities with other initiatives promoting women’s involvement;

Paying specific attention to cultural and religious barriers;

Lowering the qualifying standards to enter competition; however, it was recognised that this is a short term solution only; ensuring equal qualification (in relation to men’s qualification standards) in order to ensure equal selection opportunities must start already on national level;

Create and implement on a long term basis a comprehensive development plan targeting specific sports and specific countries; emphasize the development of sports for female youth.

The IPC Commission on Women in Sport will be holding its first meeting in January 2003 and will set clear organisational targets to be reached e.g. by the year 2012, and will subsequently develop a strategic organisational plan to reach those goals.

IPC Marketing Opportunities

During the EPC Conference afternoon session Mr. Andreas Schönemann, IPC Marketing Manager, made a presentation on marketing opportunities and challenges for IPC and all of its stakeholders. The marketing rights and obligations of the National Paralympic Committees (NPC) as outlined in the IPC Constitution were explained, as well as the conditions which an NPC emblem has to fulfil in order to ensure a consistent image and identity; such consistency is needed to enhance the value of the IPC “product” on a global basis.

Reference was made to the importance of finalising the marketing agreement with the IOC, aiming at the creation of a “real” partnership with the IOC. Key issue in the discussions is being able to prove to the IOC that buying the rights to the Paralympic Games is a benefit and an additional value for their sponsors. Ensuring the protection of IOC TOP* sponsors is obviously an important condition prior to achieving a true partnership with the IOC. Delegates raised many concrete questions related to the IPC’s recent request for NPCs to protect 18 sponsor categories which will form part of the International Paralympic Partner Programme. In answering to the concerns expressed by some NPCs about the need to protect their national sponsorship programme, and ensure funding for their operations and participation at the Games, Mr. Schönemann informed that a survey showed that there are only very few countries which risk to have a conflicting sponsor in place. For those countries there are various options that will be considered to safeguard their revenue, this could among other solutions be e.g. the inclusion on national level in the Paralympic Partner Programme, or a compensation fee reflecting the value of the lost sponsorship. Overall, the delegates recognised the need for, and supported an international marketing programme initiated by the IPC.

Extensive discussion was held on several marketing related issues and in referring to the many concerns and questions raised during this session, Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper suggested that at a next meeting a workshop could be organised which would address the NPC’s questions; such questions should be sent in advance to IPC Headquarters. Mr. Schönemann indicated that the IPC had already recognised the need for more information and was planning a workshop with European NPCs before the end of the year. In the meantime, NPCs are very welcome to raise any question they may have with Mr. Schönemann directly. (andreas.schoenemann@paralympic.org)
(* TOP stands for The Olympic Partner Programme)

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