(ATR) The Paralympics has a new leader as Brazilian Paralympic Committee chief Andrew Parsons takes the presidential election in the first round of voting.
Parsons was visibly exuberant when the official vote was announced, receiving 84 of the 163 votes, just two more than required to win the simple majority. Beijing 2022 president Haidi Zhang placed second with 47, former European Paralympic Committees chief John Petersson was third with 19 and former Canadian Paralympic Committee president Patrick Jarvis received 12 votes.
"I am absolutely delighted and I don’t know what to say. I would like to thank the IPC membership for their trust," Parsons said in a statement. "I think the election, winning in the first round, shows very strong support from the membership. It shows they trust me and I am really delighted."
The third president of the International Paralympic Committee was able to escape any guilt by association resulting from the ongoing Rio 2016 vote buying investigation. Parsons has not been embroiled in the controversy as a member of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee but some feared his relation to Rio 2016 chief Carlos Nuzman might have hurt his presidential aspirations.
The 40-year-old was unaffected by the ongoing investigation and recent questioning of Nuzman by Brazilian and French authorities on Sept. 5. Nuzman was held by authorities for five hours but reportedly reserved his right to silence.
Parsons will preside over the next two editions of the Paralympics in PyeongChang and Tokyo. Tokyo 2020 organizers welcomed the new leader who already has experience with Tokyo Olympic project as a member of the Coordination Commission for the Games.
"He has given us valuable advice derived from his rich experience as IPC Vice President and from his role as Brazilian Paralympic Committee President in delivering the successful Rio 2016 Paralympic Games," Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said in a statement.
"It is with great enthusiasm we learnt that a person so familiar with Tokyo and Japan has been appointed as the new IPC President. I am confident Mr. Parsons’ youth and passion will be great assets during his leadership of the Paralympic Movement."
The IPC also elected Duane Kale as vice president in a close contest with challenger John Petersson who also ran for the presidency. Kale received 81 votes to Petersson’s 79.
Ten Governing Board members were also elected during the IPC General Assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Debra Alexander, Mohammed Alhemeli, Muffy Davis, Rita van Driel, Sung Il Kim, Luca Pancalli, Leonel da Rocha Pinto, Tim Reddish, Juan Pablo Salazar and Yasushi Yamawaki.
Parsons will now begin trying to strengthen the relationship between the IPC and IOC, likely attending the upcoming Session in Lima, Peru next week.
"Going forward the relationship with the IOC is going to be key," Parsons said. "We have some very important decisions ahead; sport is at a difficult moment at this time and we have many things in common that we have to fight for. It is fundamental that we work together, cooperate and I am sure we will do that."
Written by Kevin Nutley
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