BPA celebrates 30-year anniversary

The British Paralympic Association celebrated its 30th Anniversary on Thursday with Chair Nick Webborn OBE looking forward to the next chapter in British Paralympic history.

The BPA was founded in 1989 and since then British Paralympians have won an incredible 869 medals across summer and winter Paralympic Games.

And, with Tokyo 2020 around the corner, the BPA will be looking to add to that total in just over a year’s time.

“I’m very proud of what has been achieved over the last 30 years,” said Webborn. “I’m excited by what is to come in the next year with Tokyo 2020 edging ever closer.”

The 30th anniversary celebrations took place at the British Museum with IPC president Andrew Parsons also in attendance and keen to highlight the influence of the BPA on the global Paralympic movement.

“The BPA is one of the leading National Paralympic Committees in the world,” said Parsons. “And to think it started with two staff in 1989 is incredible.

“To see the growth is amazing and other NPCs around the world can look and see it is possible to get to this level.

“The UK is the spiritual home of the Paralympics and we are very attached to the growth of the movement in the UK and the BPA is a guide to others around the world.”

Eight-time Paralympic champion and BPA Athletes’ Commission member Sophie Christiansen OBE also took to the stage on Thursday night:

“There is still a long way to go but the BPA always manages to evolve and I am so excited to see where we will be in another 30 years.

“Paralympic sport changed my life and has given me the confidence to do so much.”