Golden 25: Paralympics President Andrew Parsons #23

(ATR) International Paralympics Committee President Andrew Parsons faces his first big decision since his election three months ago.

Parsons led the IPC Executive this week as it begins deciding on whether Russian athletes will be able to compete at the Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang next March. The IPC maintained the blanket ban on Russia issued ahead of the Rio Paralympics, deferring a decision on PyeongChang until January.

He is number 23 in the 2018 edition of the Around the Rings Golden 25. Published since 1997, the Golden 25 is an annual review of people, events and issues expected to influence the Olympic Movement in the year ahead.

Under predecessor Phil Craven the IPC banned Russians totally from the Rio 2016 Paralympics. That opened a rift with IOC President Thomas Bach on how to handle the doping crisis afflicting Russian sport. This month the IOC laid out new ground rules for Russian participation. The IPC could follow suit, perhaps signaling rapprochement with the IOC.

Parsons, who is expected to become an IOC member ex officio like his two predecessors, has not been nominated yet for a seat.

Parsons turns 41 in February, the youngest ever IPC president. He leads the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and seems to be one of the few prominent sports leaders in the country who has not been implicated in scandal over the bid from Rio for 2016.

On the Paralympics front, Parsons takes the helm as more sports seek to be included in the Paralympics. He is also keen to develop the marketing program for the IPC, integrating it with the worldwide sponsors of the Olympics.

2017 ranking: Not Ranked

Reported by Ed Hula.