One of the real pleasures of being IBSA President is to attend events where our blind and visually impaired athletes perform at their very best.

Last week I attended the Asian Paralympic Games for a few days in Hangzhou China. The Local Organising Committee produced a Games of the very highest standard – the Opening Ceremony was spectacular. It set me to thinking how we might raise the standard of our own World Games and build on the excellent Birmingham experience.

Apart from all the ‘business’ opportunity meetings such events provide with the IPC President, Para Sport Chairmen and our IBSA Members NPCs seeing our athletes in action and then presenting them with their medals is a real honour.

But one of the most exciting pieces of news for readers and IBSA fans were the conversations I had with World Para Athletics lead, Paul Fitzgerald and Craig Nicholson Head of World Para Swimming. We are all committed to see greater cooperation between the organisations. They know that I am determined that the sports of athletics and swimming will have an increasing higher profile in our events aided by their expertise.

The inclusion of athletics and swimming programmes in our future World Games is a personal ambition of mine which I am determined to deliver.

Congratulations to all IBSA athletes, coaches and support staff who performed so well in Hangzhou and made us all proud.