Komšić receives President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons

(Patria) - Member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić received the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew Parsons.

The delegation present at the meeting included the President of the Paralympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina Sabahudin Delalić, and the presidents of the Paralympic committees from the region's countries - Ratko Kovačić from the Republic of Croatia, Zoran Mičović from the Republic of Serbia, and Branimir Jovanovski from North Macedonia.

The meeting was an opportunity to exchange views and experiences on the current situation in Paralympic sports, as well as on opportunities for further development and strengthening of support for athletes with disabilities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. During the meeting, the importance of supporting athletes with disabilities was discussed, and the significant success achieved by our Paralympians in swimming and sitting volleyball at the Paralympic Games held in Paris last year, winning two silver medals, was highlighted.

Member of the BiH Presidency Željko Komšić expressed deep respect for the achievements of our athletes and stated that they will always have his full support. He emphasized the importance of continuous work on creating equal opportunities for athletes with disabilities, as well as on improving infrastructural and organizational conditions for their work and performances. He said that the biggest problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina is that, unfortunately, there is still no adequate legal solution for Paralympic sports, which is why he continuously stresses the need to systematically regulate this area as soon as possible to ensure the rights and equality of athletes with disabilities.

The interlocutors emphasized that sport has a unique power to break down barriers and enable athletes to achieve top results, as demonstrated by our Ismail Barlov winning a medal – an example to all young people that success can be achieved despite challenges. They also stressed that the mission of all of us should be to transfer this principle to all spheres of society, including education, the healthcare system, and social protection, so that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities without obstacles.

The President of the International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons, concluded by expressing hope that the law in question will be adopted as soon as possible, because Paralympic sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina deserve it. With the adoption of this law, Paralympic sports in Bosnia and Herzegovina will gain access to resources, funds, and projects offered by the International Paralympic Committee.