(ATR) International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven hands out official invitations to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and meets with South Korea’s acting president.
In a special ceremony on Tuesday in PyeongChang, Craven officially invited the world’s National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) to attend the Games, which begin in just over a year from now on March 9, 2018.
The IPC says it expects up to 670 Para athletes from 45 countries to compete in 80 medal events across six sports in PyeongChang. The Paralympics are returning to South Korea for the first time since the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games.
"Next year marks 30 years since South Korea last staged the Paralympics and I hope that PyeongChang 2018 will have a similar impact on the Paralympic Movement as what took place in this country in 1988," Craven said in a statement.
"Seoul 1988 marked the first time in 24 years that the Paralympics had taken place in the same city and venues as the Olympic Games. We have followed this successful format ever since providing a strong foundation for the Paralympics to grow and improve our capacity to inspire and excite the world."
Tuesday’s ceremony marked the start of the final Chef de Mission seminar ahead of next year’s Paralympics. Nearly 100 delegates from 35 countries are taking part.
Craven Meets With Acting Korean President in Seoul
Craven was also in Seoul on Tuesday as he and IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez met with South Korea’s acting President Kyo Ahn Hwang to discuss preparations for the Paralympic Winter Games.
Craven called for all delivery partners to increase Paralympic engagement activities with the South Korean public.
"The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games are just over one year away and are a once in a generation opportunity to further societal inclusion in this country. However, with awareness levels of the Paralympic Winter Games still low, the transformational impact this event can have on South Korea may be reduced if progress is not made over the next 12 months."
Craven also said "The President was very supportive of the Games and the social transformation the Paralympic Winter Games will bring to South Korea. I left the meeting greatly encouraged at his support."
For his part, Hwang was quoted by Yonhap as saying "South Korea will spare no efforts to ensure that the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics will be the best Games. (Seoul) will also hope to maintain close cooperative ties with the IPC."
The IPC says Craven also met with President Hee Beom Lee of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee and Myung Ho Lee, President of the Korean Paralympic Committee, to reiterate his message for greater engagement.
Written by Gerard Farek
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