Founded in 1989, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has the vision to enable Paralympic athletes worldwide to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world.

The IPC is one of the largest democratic non-profit sport organizations in the world. In 2001, Sir Philip Craven from Great Britain was elected president to lead the organization. Its membership includes amongst others more than 160 National Paralympic Committees (NPCs). Within countries, some NPCs serve as the national governing body for one or more sports, while others only act as the IPC member with responsibility for Paralympic Games.

The IPC organizes, supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, but also other competitions including World and Regional Championships in 11 sports. The IPC organizes, supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, but also other competitions including World and Regional Championships in 11 sports. Representing the vast majority of athletes with a disability, it has taken sport to a new and higher level, providing unique opportunities from a developmental to an elite sport level. By promoting the Paralympic values of courage, determination, inspiration and equality, the IPC is a central organ to support the integration of persons with a disability and strengthen their position in society by changing public perception.

The new Paralympic symbol consists of three elements in red, blue and green - the three colours that are most widely represented in national flags around the world. It is a symbol that is in motion, with three Agitos (from the Latin word “agito”, meaning “I move”) encircling a centre point; emphasizing the role that the IPC has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete. It also stresses the fact that Paralympic athletes are constantly inspiring and exciting the world with their performances - always moving forward and never giving up - as embodied in the new Paralympic vision “To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and to Inspire and Excite the World”.

"Spirit in Motion" is the new Paralympic motto, expressing the inspirational character of the Paralympic Movement as well as elite performance of Paralympic athletes. It also stands for the strong will of every athlete. The word “Spirit” implies that the IPC is not limited to only staging high performance sport, but that there is a strong message behind the movement. “Motion” on the other hand implies, that the IPC is an organization on the move.