The partnership will see the IPC Academy deliver a range of knowledge workshops across the next five years as part of the Excellence Programme, geared towards enhancing the planning and delivery of the 2020 Paralympic Games.

Having already rolled out the Excellence Programme for Sochi 2014, Rio 2016 and Pyeongchang 2018, the 2020 version will cover three areas, including all the activities and projects that are considered to be essential for the effective planning of a Paralympic Games.

The first core area that will be covered is the education and mentoring programme, featuring nine knowledge workshops that will provide informative and participatory opportunities for Games staff to work together in solving issues they face, while hearing from industry experts on past experiences and best practice.

Subjects to be looked at will include project definition and strategy, effective Paralympic planning integration, planning for the needs of Paralympic Games clients, and building excitement via marketing and communications.

The second core area is the Rio 2016 observers' Pprogramme that will see many members of Tokyo 2020  attend next year's Paralympics to witness first-hand Games-time operational delivery.

Several months after the conclusion of the Rio 2016 Paralympics, the debrief of the Games is due to take place in Tokyo as the third core area of the Excellence Programme.

The dedicated two-day event will focus on the most important and challenging elements of organising a Paralympic Games, client needs and lessons learned from Rio 2016 that can be passed onto Tokyo 2020.

“Tokyo 2020 is already on course to deliver the best Paralympic Games ever, and we are confident they can achieve this with the support of the IPC Excellence Programme,” said Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC's chief executive.

“The workshops, observers' programme and debrief that are delivered as part of our integrated approach to knowledge management for the Paralympic Games share best practice and key learning from previous Games and I am sure Tokyo 2020 will find this project hugely beneficial.”

Toshiro Muto, director general and chief executive of Tokyo 2020, added: “I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with the IPC for the delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Excellence Programme.

“The Programme will enable Tokyo 2020 to access a wealth of vital information and expertise as well as experiencing first-hand Games-time operations, and will form an indispensable part of our preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Games.

“Taking part in the Programme will also allow us to further deepen our partnership with the IPC, and as the only city that will have hosted the Paralympic Games on two separate occasions [having done so in 1964], we are determined not only to ensure the successful delivery of the Tokyo 2020 Games, but also to contribute to the further development of the Paralympic Movement.”

The IPC claimed it was "extremely encouraged" by the progress of Tokyo 2020 following the conclusion of its first Project Review in December. 

A delegation of IPC representatives spent two days in the Japanese capital, receiving a number of updates on planning and progress for the 2020 Paralympics, which are due to take place between August 25 and September 6. 

Areas discussed included governance, people management, venues and sport, planning and co-ordination, Paralympic Games integration, accessibility, legacy plan, engagement, broadcasting, commercial, brand and brand protection.


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