The delivery of such programmes had previously been carried out by the Agitos Foundation.

Launched by the IPC at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the Agitos Foundation has acted as the body's development arm and was the global leader in delivering sport opportunities for persons with disabilities. 

Agitos Foundation programme staff will form a new membership programmes division within the IPC, a team headed by Felipe Rodrigues.

"Bringing the delivery of Para-sport development programmes back in-house from the Agitos Foundation allows the IPC to better focus on key elements of its mission to support members to enable Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence," said IPC chief executive Mike Peters.

"The IPC membership programmes team will continue to deliver the same range of development programmes that have benefited our members in recent years, but by having the delivery in-house we aim to increase greater co-operation and efficiencies with other IPC functional units."

Successful programmes that the membership programmes team will continue to deliver include the grant support programme, National Paralympic Committee development programme, I’mPOSSIBLE, Road to the Games, Proud Paralympian and En sus Marcas, Listos…Inclusión.   

The Agitos Foundation will remain active, serving as a fundraising vehicle for IPC development programmes. 

"Since its launch in 2012, the Agitos Foundation has benefited the whole IPC membership, developing Para sport opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Para athletes, coaches, officials and administrators around the world," said Rodrigues. 

"This fantastic work, making for a more inclusive world through Para sport, will continue for our members, with the only difference for them being that the work is undertaken by the IPC rather than the Agitos Foundation.

"This move will help us provide a better range of joined-up services to the IPC’s 200+ members.  

"We have seen first-hand the positive impact Para-sport development has on Para athletes and with driving social inclusion, and we aim to continue transforming lives in the future."