Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations

The Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO) is an international non-profit organisation that brings together the International Federations and sport organisations responsible for governing sports on the Paralympic Games programme or recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Established in 2017, APSO describes itself as a collective of 21 International Federations and sport organisations, united by a common mission: to represent, support and strengthen their sports and the athletes who compete in them. APSO is independent of the IPC, which is the governing body of the Paralympic Games. Its creation was decided at the 2015 congress of the movement, and the organisation was formally established in 2017. Its stated role is to unite, promote and support the International Federations that govern sports on the programmes of the two Paralympic Games, and to coordinate their common interests and objectives. In November 2020, APSO became a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). APSO's membership covers a broad range of Paralympic sports, including badminton, boccia, equestrian, blind football, goalball, judo, paracanoe, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, paratriathlon, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, cycling, archery, curling, volleyball, rowing and para-taekwondo. Through this collective, APSO provides a platform for dialogue, expertise-sharing and collective advocacy within the Paralympic community. The organisation is led by a welcome message from Dr. Debra Alexander on its official website, and it publishes news and articles relating to its member federations and the wider Paralympic movement. APSO positions itself as a guardian of Paralympic sports, committed to upholding high standards of governance and integrity and to ensuring that every federation and athlete has a voice at the highest level.

The Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO) was established in 2017, following a decision taken at the 2015 congress of the Paralympic movement to create a body that would unite the International Federations governing Paralympic sports. The organisation was founded as an international non-profit, independent of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which is the governing body of the Paralympic Games. APSO's purpose from the outset was to unite, promote and support the International Federations that govern sports on the programmes of the two Paralympic Games, and to coordinate their common interests and objectives. The rapid growth of Paralympic sport had created different models of governance across the movement, and APSO brought together those federations that carry full responsibility for their sports internationally, providing them with a strong and united voice within the Paralympic community. In November 2020, APSO became a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF), strengthening its position within the wider international sports governance landscape. By the time of its official website welcome message, APSO described itself as a collective of 21 International Federations and sport organisations that govern sports on the Paralympic Games programme or recognised by the IPC. APSO's membership has included a broad range of sports and their governing bodies, such as the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed), the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), the International Canoe Federation (ICF), the International Table Tennis Federation, the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the International Triathlon Union (ITU), the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS), the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF), the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), World Archery (WA), the World Curling Federation (WCF), World ParaVolley, World Rowing (FISA) and World Taekwondo (WT). Through its platform, APSO enables its members to learn from one another, share expertise and address challenges collectively. It publishes news and articles relating to its member federations and the wider Paralympic movement, and it positions itself as a guardian of Paralympic sports, committed to building on the foundations laid by its members and leaders and to shaping a future where Paralympic sport continues to thrive.

• 2020

  APSO became a member of the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF) in November.

• 2017

  APSO established as an international non-profit organisation.

• 2015

  Decision taken at the congress of the Paralympic movement to create APSO.

A united, independent voice for the International Federations that govern Paralympic sports, upholding governance and integrity standards.

• Representation and advocacy

  A strong and united voice for member federations within the Paralympic community.

• Coordination of common interests

  Coordinating the common interests and objectives of International Federations governing Paralympic sports.

• Dialogue and support platform

  Enabling members to learn from one another and address challenges collectively.

1. 1Welcome - APSOapso.sport
2. 2Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Association des organisations sportives paralympiques - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org