4 March 2021

ParalympicsGB announces key roles for Beijing 2022

ParalympicsGB has today announced a number of crucial roles as it steps up preparations with one year to go to the start of the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.

Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022, Phil Smith, has appointed three Deputy Chef de Mission roles for the Games as the team looks to build on the historic success at PyeongChang 2018 where ParalympicsGB achieved its best ever results.

The Deputy Chef de Mission positions for Beijing are:

  • Clare Cunningham, Athlete Services Manager at the British Paralympic Association
  • Tom Paulson, Head of Paralympic Performance Support, British Paralympic Association & English Institute of Sport
  • Verity Naylor, Director of Operations at the British Paralympic Association

Clare Cunningham is a gold medal winning Paralympian who has attended three Games in Swimming (1992 & 1996) and Triathlon (2016). She has responsibility for all areas of team education, safeguarding, welfare and anti-doping and Beijing will be her second Games as a member of the ParalympicsGB team.

Tom Paulson has a long history of supporting British Paralympic athletes through roles at the Peter Harrison Centre, the English Institute of Sport and the BPA and has been to three Paralympic Games. He will lead on all aspects of preparation and athlete performance support in Beijing.

Verity will once again take on the role of Deputy CdM Operations in what will be her seventh Paralympic Games. She will lead on all operational and logistical areas required to take the full delegation of athletes, staff and stakeholders to the Games.

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I am delighted to have them on board as ParalympicsGB seek to make the nation proud with the inspirational performances of our athletes on ice and snow.

Phil Smith, Chef de Mission

Phil Smith said: “All three deputies bring brilliant leadership qualities and a wealth of technical knowledge and I am delighted to have them on board as ParalympicsGB seek to make the nation proud with the inspirational performances of our athletes on ice and snow and further establish ourselves as a medal winning winter sport nation.

“Clare’s appointment means that for the first time in over 20 years we will have a Paralympian as a member of the Chef’s team and she will ensure that athlete voice, welfare, wellbeing and safeguarding is at the forefront of all of our planning and delivery at the Games.

“Tom will bring his vast knowledge of athlete preparation and performance to ensure that each of the three villages is set up to support our athletes to produce world class performances in Beijing.

“Verity is an experienced and world leading expert in Games Operations who will help us to deliver the most complex Winter Games project we have ever had to deal with.”

Dr Sally Nicholson has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the first time. She is a Sport Physician with the English Institute of Sport who has worked with Para athletes in preparation for a number of games and major championships throughout her career, including as CMO for para equestrian at Beijing 2008 and para athletics for their 2017 World Championships.

Chris Dick will be Head of Security and Kate Williams will be team Press Attaché, both reprising roles they are undertaking in Tokyo whilst BPA Director of Sport, Penny Briscoe OBE will be offering support, guidance and mentoring to all members of the leadership team at her tenth Paralympic Games.

The Beijing Paralympic Winter Games will be staged from 4 March to 13 March, 2022 and ParalympicsGB expects to take a team of around 20 athletes to compete in five sports: Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Cross Country, Snowboarding and Wheelchair Curling.

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