The new International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President, Andrew Parsons, has prasied IBSA as a "valued member" of the IPC in a message of greetings posted on this web site.

IBSA was a founding member of the IPC when the organisation was created in 1989.

Parsons, elected to succeed Phil Craven at the IPC General Assembly last week in Abu Dhabi, has promised to work with all IPC members, including IBSA, "to take them to the next level". He makes clear his goal for IPC is "to provide betters services to Para athletes of the whole word and increase further the impact we can have on driving social inclusion."

Parsons underlines that "IBSA has played a key role in the development of sports for athletes with a visual impairment" since IPC was set up.

IBSA governs three sports on the Paralympic Games programme – Football 5-a-side (blind football), Goalball and Judo – more than any other independent International Federation.

IBSA would like to congratulate Andrew Parsons on his election to the position and wish him all the very best during his tenure.