The 206 members of the IPC will elect 10 new Board members for the Board on December 12.

The seven-time Paralympic gold medallist is currently the Chef de Mission of the Dutch Paralympic team, Paralympic TeamNL

At Tokyo 2020 this summer, she led the delegation to its best Summer Games since Seoul 1988, picking up 25 gold medals, and its all-time best Winter Games performance with three golds at Pyeongchang 2018.

"Our time is now," said Vergeer.

"It is time to reach the next level.

"We, the Paralympic Movement, can show the world that an inclusive society is a stronger society.

"We can make the difference, just by being our own unique selves.

"Paralympic sport made the difference for me.

"Now I would like us to be a game-changer for future generations.

"This asks for people who dream, dare and do.

"Both on and off the fields of play.

"If elected it is my goal to take the next step in the development of the Paralympic Movement with the other stakeholders.

"Together, in a new and different way, we can make a difference."

Throughout her career, Vergeer has helped wheelchair tennis grow as a professional sport, namely with its integration into able-bodied Grand Slams and other tournaments.

Since 2009, she has been the tournament director of World Wheelchair Tennis, which resulted in the world’s first fully-integrated Para and able-bodied Association of Tennis Professionals tournament.

In 2004, she founded the Esther Vergeer Foundation, which helps disabled children to find a place in a regular sporting club.