Alison Creagh AM CSC’s Post

Para Powerlifting: Structuring the Paralympic ecosystem? In our dynamic world of sports, change is not just inevitable, it's essential for progress. The decision by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to transfer the governance of Para powerlifting to an independent body marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Paralympic sports. Para powerlifting has long been a cornerstone of the Paralympic Games. Since its inclusion in 1984, Para powerlifting has truly captivated audiences worldwide with awe-inspiring displays of athleticism from para-athletes representing over 100 nations. With the decision to spin off from the IPC, Para powerlifting gains the freedom to chart its course, set its priorities, and pursue initiatives tailored specifically to its development and growth. This independence will bring a sense of responsibility and accountability. As Para powerlifting assumes control of its governance, the teams will have to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct: governance structures, stakeholder engagement and priority to the welfare of athletes, from grassroots to Paralympians. But this decision of spin off isn't just about empowering the sport—it's a strategic move that could significantly impact sponsorship dynamics within the Paralympic movement. By transferring governance responsibilities, the IPC might be aiming to free up budget and administrative burdens, shifting the financial and sponsoring responsibility onto one of its disciplines. It's a pragmatic move, but it raises a hard-hitting question: Will sponsors follow? The answer isn't as clear-cut. While Para powerlifting boasts a passionate fan base and inspiring athletes, without the IPC's umbrella and the allure of multi-sport events, will sponsors still be as eager to invest? The reality is, Para powerlifting might struggle to attract the same level of sponsorship interest as before. Sport is a tough market out there, and brands are increasingly scrutinizing their investments. They want maximum visibility, impact, and alignment with their values. Without the IPC's backing, Para powerlifting may find itself fighting for attention against other sports with broader appeal and established track records. This spin-off presents a considerable risk but is also aligned with the values of sport: ambitious goal are served by consistent effort. I am confident Para powerlifting will definitely secure new sponsorship deals, differentiate itself in a crowded marketplace and will prove its great worth to skeptical brands. #governance #sport #budget #sponsoring #Paralympics #Parapowerlifting #strategy

The Paralympics are over, we have celebrated the wonderful work of our athletes, and, as per usual, things will quieten down when it comes to the broadcasting of Para sport, until the 2028 summer Games. But does this have to be ‘usual’? I believe it is imperative that we continue to cover and talk about Para sport in the Paralympic inbetween years if we really want to see equitable coverage of the Paralympics and for our Para athletes. Coverage has improved for the Games a lot since my years of competing, and while it’s important that we acknowledge the positives, there are still gaps, still narratives that need to be addressed, dismantled and/or filled. For example, a lot of media still position their Para sports stories from an ‘inspiration’ narrative stemmed strongly from overcoming trauma stereotypes. And as much as live coverage has improved, it’s still not equitable with the Olympics and what about live coverage of Para sport in the intervening years - have you all never watched a wheelchair rugby match?? I’d totally be up for watching that live on my screen when looking for sport to watch. The argument can be had that there isn’t the audience for Para sport, but the growth in interest of the Paralympics, I believe, proves this wrong. It’s now normal, every four years, for the Paralympic host to sell millions of tickets to spectators. Just as we say, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see,’ to marginalised people, we could be saying, ‘You can’t enjoy as a spectator what you can’t see on your screen,’ to those at home wanting to enjoy a spot of sport on a Saturday afternoon. We have seen the growth of “women’s sport” (or just sport, as it should be called) in our screens, with even my elderly dad now actively watching the NRLW alongside the usual NRL games he watches. It’s now time to normalise seeing Para sports (aka disabled athletes) on our screens every year, not just when the second biggest sporting event in the world is on. #Sport #Paralympics #People #Media #SportMedia #RepresentationMatters #Inclusion #YouCantBeWhatYouCantSee #WomensSport #Leadership #DEI #Disability

The faces of the students lit up when they found out that some of the biggest names in Malaysian sports had once studied in their schools, when the National Sports Council (NSC) embarked on a nationwide tour recently to celebrate athletes taking part in the upcoming Paris Olympics, and Paralympics. More on Twentytwo13. #Malaysia #news #media #sports #Olympics #Twentytwo13 #Twentytwo13news

🏅After finishing second in the medal table with 124, how have Team GB seen such great Paralympic success? 🇬🇧 The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games marked one of Team GB’s most successful performances in the history of the competition. China finished with 220 medals (94 gold). Team GB finished far ahead of Team USA, and neither team was anywhere near the top of the Paralympic table. 💸 Over the course of the Paris Cycle, UK Sport has invested £315 million ($415.24 million) of government and National Lottery funds across 53 Olympic and Paralympic Sports. 🔑Investment is key - as has been evident from China and GB’s success. 🇺🇸 Will the LA 2028 Paralympic’s see China’s global dominance ended?

Did you know that sport is the #1 form of civic engagement and that more than half of Canadians 15+ participate in sport? A properly funded sport system is important to all Canadians. With a stable foundation, sport can be delivered in a safe, inclusive and barrier-free way. #athletesafety #sportfunding #safesport #athletedevelopment Biathlon Canada

As a firm believer in the power of sports to foster resilience and well-being, I'm convinced it's one of the most effective avenues for promoting mental health. Let's continue championing and supporting sports initiatives. Let's locate the FUNDS where real improvements will bring to our communities! #CanadianSports #MentalHealthWellnessThroughSports"

Sport has been an important fabric of my life for as long as I can remember. Now working directly for a national sport organizations, I get to see daily, the commitment and dedication of the athletes, coaches, administrators, staff, and all partners. Everyone working together to make our sport system better. Investment is crucially needed to allow us to continue this work. #athletesafety, #nsofunding, #safesport, #sportsfunding, #nationalsports, #youthsports, #athletedevelopment.

Paralympians not “participating” at Paris 2024 Paralympics • Leading Paralympians challenge language bias with “I won’t be participating at Paris 2024” campaign Some of the world’s leading Paralympians have declared they are not “participating” at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, as part of a new International Paralympic Committee (IPC) campaign aimed at challenging language bias. As part of the social strategy, Paralympians including the likes of Australian Paralympic canoe champion Curtis McGrath, Italian sprint champion Amber Sabatini, and Argentinian wheelchair tennis ace Gustavo Fernandez, have posted a series of graphics on Instagram, the first of which declares: “I won’t be participating at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games”. By swiping left on the series of images, social media followers discover the athlete instead stating: “I will be competing” – a reminder that Paralympians have often been praised simply for taking part in sport, not because of their sporting abilities or fierce drive to win. The campaign has been created to drive a conversation around the language used to describe Paralympians, compared to athletes who compete without a disability. It builds on the IPC’s “Paralympic Dream” film which teased audiences with the idea that the Paralympic Games are an idyll of sporting harmony only to unleash a taste of the impressive athleticism and fierce competition that will actually be on show. Craig Spence, the IPC’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, said: “Paralympians have often been described in the media as ‘participants’ and not ‘competitors’. At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, it’s time we set the record straight. “After years of training and dedication, 4,400 of the world’s best Paralympians are heading to the French capital to compete at the very highest level. Across all 22 sports, we are expecting intense competition and the greatest Paralympic Games to date in terms of sport performance. “Language plays an instrumental role in how people are perceived, especially when it comes to persons with disabilities and Paralympians. It’s important we get the language right which is why we have launched this campaign to provoke interest in the subject ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.” The social strategy has been created by adam&eve DDB, who have created several award-winning international campaigns on behalf of the IPC. Richard Brim, Global Chief Creative Officer at adam&eveDDB, said: “We’ve loved collaborating with the International Paralympic Committee on this campaign, and are delighted at the Paralympians who are getting on board. Language matters, not just in how we describe each other, but with those all-important ‘doing words’ too. This is a great way to remind audiences and show them why they should be following the 2024 Paralympics.”

CELEBRATING THE PARALYMPIC SPIRIT 8 years ago I was in the final preparations for my final Paralympic Games in Rio. As a 2-time Paralympic gold medalist and silver medalist, I know firsthand the immense dedication, resilience, and passion that it takes to reach the Paralympics. It's a journey filled with challenges, but also one that embodies the true spirit of sport. Since 2008, we've witnessed a significant shift in the awareness and recognition of Paralympic athletes. This movement has been crucial in providing athletes with opportunities to compete and build a career in their chosen sports—something that was often out of reach for many para-athletes in the past. When I won gold in 2008, I received $4,000 USD for that performance. By 2016, this amount had increased by our national Olympic committee to $23,000 USD for a gold medal. One of the most incredible milestones as a South African Paralympian came in 2012 and 2016 when the South African Olympic Committee made a groundbreaking pledge to equalize prize money for both Olympic and Paralympic athletes. This was a huge step towards fairness and recognition for all athletes, regardless of the challenges they face. While we don't do it for the prize money, something as small as making prize money equal goes a long way in promoting recognition and respect. This equality has also opened doors for brand collaborations with para-athletes, who now have the platform to grow their audiences through social media. This connectivity allows the world to see how they deal with the challenges of being a para-athlete. Through Social Media, we are now closer to the athletes than ever before, and I believe these Games have the potential to push the Paralympic movement forward in huge leaps because of it. As we look forward to the Paris Paralympic Games, let’s continue to champion the progress of the Paralympic movement and ensure that every athlete has the opportunity to shine on the world stage. International Paralympic Committee South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee SuperSport

I would like to see Canadian Sport get more funding and agree that the current scenario is not sustainable. I am also encouraged by the increased emphasis on prioritizing inclusion, safe sport and other areas of focus that more directly contribute to community betterment. But surely there must simultaneously be a commitment to explore doing things differently. Convergence of resources, skill and knowledge base need to be more aggressively advanced. Fewer silos, more sharing, and greater efficiency needs to be part of the path forward. An ecosystem of 61 organizations each with their respective boards of directors, high performance coaching systems, staffing structures , websites, marketing strategies, annual reports, and the list goes on, constitutes fertile ground to identify areas to share and save. I know I am over-simplifying and that there are complex nuances that will prohibit breaking down all silos. And I also know that some attempts have been made and some pieces of this sharing of resources have already been put in place. But it is an area of substantial opportunity that merits more prominent discussion and consideration. The topic will inevitably battle against the headwinds of confidence in the hard-won sport-specific systems, traditions, and methods already in place. But the scale of opportunity to uncover efficiency is too great to ignore. #DoneDifferently #NoSilos #Convergence