A message from the Canadian Paralympic Committee

In these challenging and uncertain times, we wanted to reach out to all of you to assure that the Canadian Paralympic Committee remains committed to providing the best support and guidance to our community.  
 

Our first priority will always be the health, safety, and well-being of Canadian athletes, coaches, officials, and staff. This is an evolving situation every single day and we are monitoring new developments on an ongoing basis and adjusting as required.

We are working very closely with our sport partners at the Canadian Olympic Committee, Own the Podium, COPSIN, and Sport Canada to develop collaborative responses and support. This is a team effort.

We are also in communication with the International Paralympic Committee. The IPC is part of the task force with the International Olympic Committee and Tokyo 2020 and are having ongoing conversations on the situation. The IOC released a statement on Tuesday and as of right now, Tokyo 2020 plans are moving forward as planned. There is a desire to take the appropriate time to make the right decision given the start of the Olympics is in July. The World Health Organization is the collective group’s main source of information regarding the global outbreak.

The priority right now for the IPC is revising plans for Tokyo 2020. The IPC is working around the clock, alongside international federations, to develop adjusted and fair qualification scenarios and criteria, as well as plans for classification. These processes take time and will require everyone’s patience and understanding.

We are paying attention to the cancellation and postponement of events, and the fact that most athletes are unable to train due to lack of access to training facilities. We are paying attention to classification; there will be no classification at the Games, and so the IPC is planning solutions based on suggestions from its members and international federations. Each sport will ultimately have specific information available for these key areas.

There will be updates from the IPC every week, and we will ensure that you receive any new information from us.

Here at the CPC, we are also communicating and working with our sport members and partners on an individual basis, safely from our home offices. We first want to ensure that everyone is safe and well established in their home working environments, and from there we are working on scenario planning for all possible circumstances.

This pandemic has altered our entire country’s systems, and the globe as a whole. We are paying attention to this first and foremost, and how this impacts our Canadian athletes and their training and preparation.

These are unprecedented and difficult times, and we are all in this together – working to do the best we can to slow the spread, protect our vulnerable population, and help our community as much as we can. We all have a responsibility as global citizens.

We will keep you updated as new developments arise.

We wish you and your families good health, and we are sending strength and positive thoughts your way.
 
Marc-André Fabien
President
Karen O’Neill 
CEO