Surprise Candidate for Paras President; Parsons in Lima

(ATR) For the first time a woman will lead the Americas Paralympic Committee.

Julie O'Neill Dussliere, vice president of U.S. Paralympics, was chosen by the APC executive committee May 9 in Lima, Peru.

She will serve until 2019 when an election will be held for a full four-year term.

Dussliere’s election is a bit of surprise. Heading into this week’s extraordinary general assembly, there was but one candidate for the presidency, Julio César Avila, president of the Colombian Paralympic Committee.

But Avila failed to win a majority plus one of the 14 votes at the meeting. Under the rules of the APC, the decision then moved to the executive board, the members voting in favor of Dussliere.

"I’m honored to have been entrusted with this important position and dedicated to advancing the Paralympic Movement in the Americas," said Dussliere in a statement.

"The athletes of our region deserve the unified support of every National Paralympic Committee in the Americas, and along with my colleagues on the Executive Committee, that is what we will seek to provide. My thanks to Eduardo Montenegro for his recent service as interim president, as well as my colleagues on the Executive Committee for their support of my appointment today.

"I’d also like to thank Julio Cesar Avila for his willingness to serve and for his continued leadership. Finally, I’d like to recognize the late Jose Luis Campo, whose leadership we all seek to emulate," she said, mentioning the Argentine sports leader who died in 2017. His death opened up the presidency, which has been filled by Montenegro on an interim basis.

Around The Rings has been told that Avila received six votes, two short of the simple majority. Handed over to the executive committee, the choice was between the Cuban-born Montenegro and Dussliere.

The US leader will remain in office until the elections at the next General Assembly in Lima in the summer of 2019.

Montenegro remains a VP. Dionisio Celedon of Nicaragua was appointed as a new member. Bayron López from Ecuador and Pedro Mejía of Colombia are the other two members.

Iliana Rodriguez from the U.S. and athletes representative, completes the executive committee.

International Paralympics President Visits Lima

IPC President Andrew Parsons is in Lima to cast his eye on preparations for the 2019 Parapans. The Brazilian is also a past president of the APC, holding the post until last year when he was elected international president.

Parsons paid his first visit to the new president of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, who took office two months ago. Parsons was accompanied by the IPC director general Xavier González, Lima 2019 chief Carlos Neuhaus and the president of the Peruvian Paralympic Committee, Lucha Villar.

The meeting was described as "historic", as it was the first time that a president of Peru welcomed a leader of the Paralympic Movement.

The dialogue focused on "how Peru can better promote Paralympic values in Peruvian society", an official statement said.

President Vizcarra reaffirmed his support for the work of the Paralympic Movement and presented his government's vision of a more inclusive and just Peruvian society.

The President also emphasized Peru's commitment to capitalize on the unique opportunity presented by the Lima 2019 Parapan Am Games to leave a lasting legacy for the Peruvian people.

Parsons acknowledged Vizcarra's positive perception of the Lima 2019 project.

"There is a real sense that the president wants to take advantage of this unique opportunity, he is aware of the challenges ahead but is willing to overcome them"

"I left the meeting impressed," he said.

Carlos Neuhaus said that the Parapan American Games "can have a transforming effect in Peru".

Lucha Villar added "today we have taken a big step forward. We will keep moving and we will not stop".

The Parapan American Games will include 1,890 athletes in 17 sports and 18 disciplines between August 23 and September 1, 2019.

Reported by Miguel Hernandez.