Yesterday, Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) met with James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank and Olympic fencer, in London, Great Britain, to officially welcome him as a member of the IPC Honorary Board.

The main purpose of the IPC Honorary Board is to allow leaders of society an opportunity to support the vision of the Paralympic Movement and to strive to maintain Paralympic Sport high on the agenda of the global community. Honorary Board Members assist the IPC in creating opportunities for raising awareness and funding, through the Member’s network of contacts and sphere of influence.

Said Mr. Wolfensohn: “I am delighted and honored to join the family of the Paralympics. Sport should be available to all for its challenge and its insights into life and values. I have seen the force of sport with the athletes of this organization and am humbled and delighted to be associated with them.”

Mr. Wolfensohn will join HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, HRH Grand Duchess of Luxemburg Maria Teresa, HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, HSH Prince Albert of Monaco and Soprano Maria Guleghina as a member.

”As a world class fencer and athlete in the Melbourne 1956 Olympics, Mr. Wolfensohn passionately believes in how sport can influence and enrich someone’s life. I am confident that as an ambassador for the Paralympic Movement he will help disseminate the positive values and vision of the Paralympic Movement to as wide an audience as possible,” stated Sir Philip.

Editors note:

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and serves as the International Federation for 13 sports, for which it supervises and co-ordinates the World Championships and other competitions. The IPC is committed to enabling Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to developing sport opportunities for all persons with a disability from the beginner to elite level. In addition, the IPC aims to promote the Paralympic values, which include courage, determination, inspiration and equality.

Founded on 22 September 1989, the IPC is an international non-profit organization formed and run by 162 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) from five regions and four disability specific international sports federations (IOSDs). The IPC Headquarters and its management team are located in Bonn, Germany.

Steffi Klein  www.paralympic.org.

Last Updated ( Friday, 17 November 2006 )