The IPC Opens Nominations for 2017 Scientific Award

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has opened nominations for the highly prestigious IPC Scientific Award, which will be presented at September’s VISTA Conference in Toronto, Canada.

First presented in 2005, the biennial award recognises the work of one academic researcher for their contribution to research in the field of sports for persons with an impairment.

The award acknowledges and rewards the work of researchers and serves to promote and encourage further study and enhance the quality of work in this area.

More information and details on how to submit nominations before the 24 February 2017 deadline can be found at www.vista2017.com

Dr. Peter Van de Vliet, IPC Medical and Scientific Director, said: "The biennial Paralympic Scientific Award allows the Paralympic community to honour someone for their exceptional performance and contributions to the Paralympic Movement.

"Each edition, the quality of nominations improves massively and I am sure that this year’s winner will once again raise the bar in terms of research."

In 2015 the award was presented to Professor Jennifer Mactavish in recognition of her role in the re-inclusion of athletes with an intellectual impairment into the Paralympic programme.

The Canadian, who is the Dean of the Yeates School of Graduate Studies at Ryerson University, served as the leading member of the joint IPC - International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS) Taskforce that provided the framework for the "Eligibility Classification Research" project.

This successful project eventually led to 120 intellectually impaired athletes competing at London 2012 after a 12 year absence in athletics, swimming and table tennis.

In addition to her research on intellectual impairment and classification, Mactavish has contributed to the scientific work in family life and stress coping mechanisms of individuals with an impairment.

IPC members, IPC Governing Board members, Sport Technical Committees, IPC Standing Committees and Councils can all submit nominations ahead of the deadline which is on Friday 24 February 2017 at 12:00 GMT.

The award will be presented at VISTA 2017 which will take place between 20-23 September 2017. It is organised through a partnership between the IPC, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) and this year’s theme is "Opportunities, Challenges in Paralympic Sport Science & Sport Medicine Support." The event will take place at the Chelsea Hotel and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.

Registration for VISTA, which is likely to attract around 300 of the world’s leading sports scientists, sport medicine practitioners, classifiers, coaches, athletes and sport administrators, is now open at www.vista2017.com.

Everyone booking before 15 June 2017 can take advantage of an early bird registration fee of CAD 400, which represents a 12.5 per cent discount on the listed price. Students can book their places for CAD 200 and all registering delegates can take advantage of a special discounted accommodation rate at the Chelsea Hotel.

The registration fee includes participation in all conference sessions, an invitation to the Opening Ceremony and an Evening of Interactive Learning and Scientific Celebration on 22 September. Also included are lunch and refreshments during breaks, and airport transfers to and from Pearson International Airport and the Chelsea Hotel.

For more information, please contact:

Craig Spence

IPC Director of Media and Communications

E-mail: craig.spence@paralympic.org

Tel: +49-228-2097-230

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