Athletes need to be taken care of, according to IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez. (Photo : Getty Images)
One of the most important principles for a successful Games is to focus on athletes, according to Xavier Gonzalez, chief executive of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), as reported by the Xinhua News Agency.
Gonzalez made his remarks during a seminar for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing on Monday.
Several IPC members were invited to the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games Orientation Seminar to help local organizers better understand the Paralympic Games.
The seminar also involved over 200 representatives from the Chinese Paralympic Association, as well as the Beijing Municipal Government and the Hebei Provincial Government.
"One of the fundamental principles for a very successful Games is to make sure that we focus on athletes, who need to be taken care of," Gonzalez said. He added that another important aspect is looking forward to the legacy and global impact of the Games.
Last December, the organizing committee for the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games was established.
Gonzalez highlighted the importance of the seminar during the committee's initial stage.
"This is the initial stage of the committee as this organization was set up a month ago," Gonzalez said. "The fundamental purpose of having this seminar is to learn a bit more about the Paralympic Games, and start from now on to include all the planning for the Paralympic Games in this foundation phase."
The IPC official also said, "The next is to have plans to make sure from the beginning that the Paralympic Winter Games are considered at the same level as the Olympic Winter Games as we move forward."
At the 128th IOC Session in Kuala Lumpur on July 31, 2015, Bejing was selected as the host city for both the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and the Paralympic Winter Games.
"The Paralympic winter sport still has an opportunity to grow significantly both in China and globally, and the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games could be a catalyst for that goal," Gonzalez said.
"We had the experience in 2008 that the Paralympic Games held in Beijing helped the Paralympic summer sport across the world, not only in China, that is what the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games also can do," added Gonzalez.
