Fascinating Facts About International Paralympic Committee

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is a crucial organization in the world of sports, especially for athletes with disabilities. It plays a significant role in organizing and overseeing the Paralympic Games.

In the light of upcoming Paris Paralympic Games 2024, we are here with some interesting facts about IPC because we should know something beyond its primary role, right? Allow us to present some ‘did you know’ facts about IPC. Get ready for a thrill because some of the facts might surprise you.

Did you know IPC started with just 1 staff member?

We understand that every organization starts small but can you believe that an international organization began its work with just 1 staff member?

Believe it or not, IPC was working with just 1 full-time staff only until 15 years ago. Today, the headquarters is supported by 70 staff members working tirelessly to manage the Paralympic Games and support athletes worldwide.

Did you know IPC was not always called the IPC?

What could the International Paralympic Committee be called if not that!?! Well, when the IPC was founded in 1989 in Düsseldorf, Germany, it was called the International Confederation of Sports Organisations for the Disabled.

Did you know that IPC is more than just a game organizer?

Unlike the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IPC wears multiple hats. In addition to being responsible for the Paralympic Games IPC serves as the International Federation for nine sports, including alpine skiing, snowboarding, and wheelchair dance sport. Being the international federation they are involved in everything from world championship to anti-doping efforts.

Did you know that the IPC as an organization is a melting pot of cultures?

IPC has full-time working staffs from more than 20 countries at its headquarter making it a multicultural organization. This diversity surely enriches their approach to managing and promoting inclusion as an apex body for paralympics.

Did you know the IPC’s headquarters has moved a few times?

You might already know that IPC is headquartered at Bonn, Germany. But, this has been the case only since 1999. The first headquarter was at Bruges, Belgium where IPC shared the office with Flemish League for Sports for People with a Disability. For a brief period, they also operated out of a spare bedroom from 1997-1999.

Did you know one of the IPC’s staff members is a Paralympic gold medalist?

Annika Zeyen, a German wheelchair basketball player who won gold at the London 2012 Games, works at the IPC as a Design Project Co-ordinator. Her role involves implementing the IPC brand book and promoting Paralympic values, blending her sports experience with her professional work.

Did you know #Paralympics once beat #Olympics on Twitter?

During the 2012 Games, #Paralympics was the top trending sports event on Twitter in the UK, outpacing #Olympics. The consistent use of this hashtag helped it gain prominence, even as the Olympic Games had multiple hashtags.

Did you know the IPC received a collection of prosthetic legs as a protest and it is still kept in its archive?

In 2008, the Cambodian standing volleyball team sent a collection of prosthetic legs to the IPC as a protest against the exclusion of standing volleyball from the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. This unique protest is part of the IPC’s fascinating archive, which also includes mascots, medals, Opening and Closing Ceremony costumes, a bottle of Vancouver 2010 maple syrup, London 2012 Union Jack tea towels, and Sochi 2014 Russian nesting dolls.

We hope you enjoyed discovering these lesser-known facts about the IPC! Did any of these surprises catch your attention? Stay tuned for more fascinating insights as we count down to the Paris Paralympic Games 2024. There’s so much more to explore in the world of Paralympic sports and we are thrilled to do it together with you. Keep reading. Keep sharing.