The International Paralympic Committee says Paralympic growth could be “jeopardised” if the Games was to be merged with the Olympics.
The Para-sport programme at the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been a big success and led to calls for greater integration.
But while the sports and athletes involved in Birmingham have benefited from the increased profile, IPC spokesman Craig Spence told the BBC’s Access All podcast that the current agreement for separate Olympics and Paralympics “serves us well”.
The current deal for the same city to host both Games was signed in 2018 and runs until the 2032 Games in Brisbane.
“Since 1988, we have seen exponential growth in Paralympic sport,” said Spence, the IPC’s chief brand and communications officer.
“We are on a strong ascendancy and growing the Games so combining both events would potentially stunt and jeopardise that growth, and we could potentially go backwards.
“This is a conversation that crops up regularly, but you have to look to see if it makes sense to bring both Games together and at the moment we believe it doesn’t.
“The current agreement works for us at the moment. It serves us well and we like it and are keen to keep it.”
Birmingham has featured a record 42 Para-sport events across eight sports, with over 350 athletes taking part in a fully-integrated programme.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/commonwealth-games/62447608
