Vancouver, Canada (December 12, 2011) - The International Triathlon Union's membership with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) became official as it was ratified at the 15th IPC General Assembly in Beijing this past weekend.
ITU President and IOC member Marisol Casado, who attended the General Assembly in China with Dr. Sarah Springman, ITU Vice-President and Executive Board Representative to the ITU Paratriathlon Committee, said she was honoured to be present for what was an important moment for ITU, the sport of Paratriathlon and all paratriathletes.
"Since the announcement that Paratriathlon would be included on the programme at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, ITU has been working with the IPC to improve competition and standards for paratriathletes worldwide and staging that first Paralympic competition," she said.
"Now as a member of the IPC, we are honoured to officially become part of the vibrant Paralympic family and use this to drive our sport to even higher levels. Not only will those who compete in Rio achieve their dream of becoming Paralympians, but now all paratriathletes can consider themselves part of the international Paralympic family," said Casado. "It is an honour to officially join this Paralympic family, on behalf of the ITU would like to thank IPC President Sir Phillip Craven and the IPC board."
As well as President Casado and Vice President Springman, ITU staff member Eric Angstadt attended the 15th General Assembly and the two-day IPC conference, aimed to tie in with one of the Strategic Goals of the IPC's Strategic Plan 2011-2014, which is to build the organizational capabilities of the Paralympic Movement.
Photo: (L-R): ITU Vice-President Sarah Springman, IPC President Sir Philip Craven, ITU President & IOC Member Marisol Casado.
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