International News - IPC and Commonwealth Games Federation form new partnership

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) have signed a new co-operation agreement.

As a major global multi-sport event that first featured Para athletes at the 1994 edition, the Commonwealth Games has continued striving for further inclusion. Now, the new partnership between the IPC and the CGF allows both organisations to work closely together to better develop the Games’ Para sport programme. 

As part of the agreement, every edition following Birmingham 2022 in England will only feature the sports whose international federations are recognised by the IPC. 

The agreement also enables the two entities to co-operate in strategic areas, including branding, campaigns, classification and development programmes.  Further collaboration in non-sporting events, such as advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and advocating the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, will be explored. 

IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “Change starts with sport, and Para sport has a tremendous ability to change attitudes towards disability and drive social inclusion. We have witnessed this at  the Paralympic Games, the Commonwealth Games, and at Para sport development camps around the world.  Our success has increased our desire to do more.