International Paralympic Committee

Hello! We are the International Paralympic Committee. That's a long name, so many people call us the IPC for short. Our most important job is to organize the Paralympic Games. These are very special sporting events for amazing athletes who have a disability. We believe that everyone deserves the chance to play sports, compete, and do their best. We help athletes from many different countries all over the world. We work to support them as they train and compete, helping them to achieve their dreams. Our goal is to celebrate what these athletes can do and share their incredible talents with everyone.

Our story began on a special day: September 22nd, 1989. That was the day we were officially created. This happened in a city in Germany called Düsseldorf. Before we were formed, the world of sports for athletes with disabilities was a little different. There wasn't one single group in charge. Instead, many different organizations all worked on their own to help run sports. They all did important work, but it was sometimes hard for everyone to work together. People realized that if everyone joined forces, they could do so much more. So, we were formed to bring all of those groups together. Our creation meant there was now one big, strong organization for the entire Paralympic Movement. This made it easier to organize events and support every athlete.

Our biggest event is the amazing Paralympic Games. It's the most exciting part of our work! These Games happen every two years, which means there is always something to look forward to. We alternate between summer and winter sports. One year, you can watch incredible summer sports, and two years later, you can see thrilling winter sports. A very special rule is that the Paralympic Games take place in the exact same city that hosts the Olympic Games. This helps show the world that the Paralympic Games are a huge and important event. At the games, you can watch so many cool sports, like super-fast wheelchair basketball, powerful para swimming, and daring para alpine skiing down snowy mountains. The athletes are so skilled and inspiring.

Today, our work continues every single day. Our main office is located in a city called Bonn, which is also in Germany. From this office, we connect with countries all around the world. We work with National Paralympic Committees in each country to support para-athletes and help para-sports grow. We want more people to know about these sports and have the chance to participate. Our mission is about more than just sports. We want to show the world that having a disability doesn't stop someone from being a fantastic athlete. Through the achievements of Paralympians, we hope to change how people think about disability and help make the world a more inclusive and welcoming place for all people.