The Presidents of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), Andrew Parsons and Ulf Mehrens, met in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Friday (28 February) to discuss wheelchair basketball’s non-compliance with the IPC Athlete Classification Code.
The two parties discussed the IPC Governing Board’s decision to remove wheelchair basketball from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games until the IWBF becomes fully compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code. During the meeting the IWBF also shared its serious concerns that several of its national federations could face funding issues should wheelchair basketball not be part of Paris 2024. The IWBF also provided the IPC with an update on the progress it is making to reassess the eligibility of all wheelchair basketball players with sport classes 4.0 and 4.5 set to compete at Tokyo 2020.
Andrew Parsons said: "The meeting with the IWBF was productive and the federation left under no illusions about the measures it still needs to take in order to ensure its eligible athletes can compete at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
"During the meeting, the IWBF acknowledged that is not compliant with the IPC Classification Code, in particular as it currently applies a different and wider test for determining athlete eligibility. This matter has been ongoing for several years and this acceptance by the IWBF is a real step in the right direction and I left the meeting encouraged at the federation’s desire to implement the required changes to fix this situation.
"The IWBF stated its strong intentions to be fully compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code ahead of the IPC Governing Board’s deadline of 31 August 2021. Should this be the case, then once compliant, wheelchair basketball will be guaranteed its re-inclusion into the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
"As for Tokyo 2020, the IWBF is also making good progress with re-assessing all players set for the Games who have sport classes 4.0 and 4.5.
"Overall, both organisations will continue to work together to make sure the IWBF becomes compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code as soon as possible."
Ulf Mehrens said: "Since the IPC Governing Board’s decision in January 2020, the IWBF has made good progress in implementing changes that will ensure eligible athletes are able to compete at both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
"The re-assessment process of 4.0 and 4.5 sport class players for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games is proceeding smoothly and will be completed by the IPC’s deadline of 29 May 2020.
"We are also fully committed to work closely with the IPC to ensure that the IWBF is fully compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code by 31 August 2021 deadline.
"Following this meeting we are greatly reassured that should the IWBF become compliant with the IPC Athlete Classification Code, wheelchair basketball will be readmitted to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games sport programme."
-ends-
Notes to the Editor
For further information, please contact Craig Spence, IPC Chief Brand and Communications Officer on e-mail: craig.spence@paralympic.org. Alternatively, please visit www.paralympic.org.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. It co-ordinates the organisation of the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for 10 sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC’s vision is to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.
To watch videos and subscribe to ParalympicSport.TV, please go to www.youtube.com/ParalympicSportTV.
Also, you may follow the Paralympic Movement on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Paralympics, Twitter at www.twitter.com/Paralympics or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/Paralympics.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
