Final speakers announced for APC Athletes' Forum

The Asian Paralympic Committee have announced the final speakers for the inaugural Athletes’ Forum for Asian Para-athletes which takes place at the start of December.

Several sessions have been planned on the theme of athlete education and well-being, including one from Professor Dr. Jeffrey Martin from Wayne State University who will present on the psychology of the Paralympics and training management during the Covid-19 pandemic. Continuing the theme, members of the APC’s Medical and Sport Science Committee, Prof Datuk Dr Rokiah Omar and Dr Badrul Amini Abd Rashid will lead sessions on increasing the athletes’ understanding of the classification process and the latest anti-doping rules.

Adding to the session on Athlete Career Management, Airbnb and the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) will join Adecco on outlining opportunities for athletes to build a career post-competing. Airbnb will expand on the opportunities available for athletes to get involved in their online experiences and the IWRF will present on how to build a career in sport post competing.

The final session of the two-day forum will be led by Mr. Jae Jin Park, Director of the International Sports Department of the Korea Paralympic Committee who will outline the journey that the Paralympic Movement in Korea has been on from Seoul 1988 to PyeongChang 2018. This will then be followed by a panel discussion to explore the impact on athletes of their own countries hosting major events and the legacy and opportunities this affords.

Speaking as the final line up was announced, President Majid Rashed said: "We’re delighted that such a high-quality line-up has been assembled for our first Athletes’ Forum. The list of speakers and the topics that they will cover will make this a really useful two days for the athletes and help them be better prepared not just for upcoming major events but for life after competing. And of course, we are looking forward to hearing the athletes’ voice on the issues facing them and the Paralympic Movement to ensure that they are at the forefront of our future planning."

Athlete representatives from all 44 Asian National Paralympic Committees as well as representatives from International Federations will attend the virtual conference which is being supported by the Korea Paralympic Committee and will run from 2-3rd December 2020.

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