Absolon, an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Development Committee member, will be based in Toronto.

He will work alongside Jean-François Rapatel, who performs the same role but is based in Victoria, to build on Canada's current Parasport system and ultimately boost the nation's medal standing at future Games.

"With Jean-Francois in Victoria and Daniel now in Toronto, we look forward to their work contributing to the deepening of Canada's competitive prospects internationally in Paralympic sport and ensuring that we continue to advance," Catherine Gosselin-Després, the CPC's executive director of sport, said.

"We're thrilled to be working with our sport partners on this enhancement to the Paralympic sport system."

Anne Merklinger, chief executive of Own the Podium, added: "The quality and depth of competition at the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games has increased dramatically around the world over the last eight years and therefore, Canada cannot stand still if we want to continue being a world-leading sport nation.

"For Canada to remain competitive, we need to continue building the talent pool of athletes with a disability across the country in an effort to develop more athletes into podium contenders at future Paralympic Games.

"I commend the Canadian Paralympic Committee for its focus on this area.

"I know Daniel will be a significant asset in helping Canada achieve its future Paralympic performance goals."

Daniel Absolon has previously worked at the International Tennis Federation, the Tennis Foundation and is an IPC Development Committee member


Absolon, who was disability development manager for the Tennis Foundation from 2011 to 2013 after being the International Tennis Federation's development officer from 2008 to 2011, will now work on specific sports to develop "gold medal profiles" to identify Canadian athlete prospects and create clear pathways to podium finishes.

He is also a tennis and soccer coach and volunteer guide runner, and has developed and managed wheelchair tennis development programmes in 35 countries, including in Iraq, Kenya and Moldova through the ITF Tennis Wheelchair Development Fund.

"I'm very excited about this new role, the potential for innovation and the partnership between OTP (Own the Podium), CPC and CSI (Canadian Sport Institute) Ontario," Absolon said.

"I'm looking forward to working with all three organisations in moving Paralympic sport forward to make Canada the world's leading Paralympic nation."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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