The ICF Paracanoe Classification Team has welcomed the newly elected IPC president Andrew Parsons at the VISTA 2017 conference held in Toronto (Sept 20-23).

Andrew Parsons of Brazil was elected as the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) new President, at the 18th IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi on September 8. 

The 2017 VISTA conference features 132 oral and poster presentations, and 10 interactive workshops.

“This is the biggest VISTA ever,” Andrew Parsons said.

“The IPC Sport Science Committee has put together a very strong programme.  In order to take the Paralympic Movement forward in the coming years it is vital we collaborate and consult in order to overcome challenges and maximise opportunities that may come our way.

"Only with teamwork can true progress be made and I look forward to working with many of you in the coming years.”

During this conference, scientific research about Paracanoe classification were presented by our two Paracanoe researchers, Dr. Anna Bjerkefors and Johanna Rosen (PhD candidate). 

The research on the Para-Kayak and Para-Va’a classification systems are key in building the classification for both disciplines.  John Edwards, ICF Paracanoe Committee chair, noted the high regard which Dr. Bjerkefors and Ms. Rosen are held within the Paralympic movement’s international research community.

Paracanoe made its debut in the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016 with six events in kayak, and it has been recently announced that it will have three additional events added to the program for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Three Va'a events will be added to the schedule.