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Representatives from 34 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) and national and international federations have signed a declaration to boost the development of winter para-sport across the globe.

A weekend workshop in the Swedish city of Ostersund has seen the signing of The Ostersund Declaration – which seeks to improve athlete development, talent identification and recruitment, with all bodies represented at the workshop agreeing to work together to achieve the goals.

NPCs and national federations pledged to build partnerships with governments, Olympic federations and event organisers, as well as healthcare, research and business groups to increase the level of opportunities given to winter para-sports athletes of all ages.

The international federations also agreed to add further events to their respective calendars and explore the opportunity to host more multi-sport competitions. In addition, international federations will promote research and development in key areas to increase the pool of athletes available to national federations.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) will be responsible for organising regular discussions between the various bodies and support them in the initiative. The IPC will also press ahead with designing a 10-year plan in line with the Ostersund Declaration. The plan will include the introduction of a multi-sport event competed for by both leading and up-and-coming athletes, and securing key commercial partnerships to aid the growth of winter para-sport.

Welcoming the commitment to winter para-sport, Swedish Paralympic Committee Secretary General Johan Strid stated “the results of the workshop on para-athlete pathways in winter sports surpasses my expectations by far.

“The combined efforts of committed representatives of NPCs, NFs, IFs and not the least IPC have resulted in a declaration outlining a clear direction in reaching out with winter sport to more individuals with an impairment.”

IPC governing board member Rita van Driel, added “this represents a huge turning-point for winter para-sport around the world. Here in Ostersund we have seen such passion and energy to increase opportunities for people to try para-sport with the goal of increasing the quality of competition.

“The IPC will do whatever is necessary to support the declaration being taken forward and I hope that now the governing bodies will come on board to make the same commitment.”

All parties present at the workshop will put forward the Declaration to those that weren’t in attendance for formal endorsement by the end of the year. The declaration ties in with the IPC’s strategic plan, which strives to establish the winter Paralympic Games as a major event on the sporting calendar, empower athletes and support the development of winter para-sport.

The workshop and declaration was a response to the IPC’s strategic plan, which aims to consolidate the Paralympic Winter Games as a premier sporting event and to empower athletes and support the development of winter para-sports.

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