AfPC congratulates newly elected IPC Board, champions partnership for African Para sport
Samson Deen’s message celebrates the new leadership and calls for cooperation on athlete development, classification, governance and inclusion across Africa.
AfPC General Assembly, Accra, November 2025. This archive photograph is separate from the IPC’s online election on 20 November. Supplied by AfPC; existing AI-assisted lighting, colour and detail enhancement.
ACCRA — The African Paralympic Committee (AfPC) congratulated the newly elected International Paralympic Committee Governing Board in a message dated 20 November 2025, with President Samson Deen pledging cooperation to widen opportunities for African athletes and strengthen the Paralympic Movement.
A completed election and a new term
The IPC’s announcement that day confirmed the election of seven Members-at-Large at an online Extraordinary General Assembly: Debra Alexander, Chelsey Gotell, Fernando Riaño, Mohamed Duaij Alkhalifa, Robyn Smith, Miki Matheson and Bradley Snyder. Their four-year terms run to the IPC General Assembly in late 2029.
The vote completed an election process begun at September’s General Assembly in Seoul, where Andrew Parsons secured a third presidential term and Leila Marques Mota and John Petersson were elected Vice-Presidents. The Members-at-Large election had been adjourned because of time constraints.
In its November report, the IPC described a 12-member Board with six women and six men, representation from all five regions, and eight Para athletes or Paralympians.
Recognising contributions to Africa
Deen’s signed message paid particular tribute to Dr. Debra Alexander, describing her re-election as a third term and praising her support for classification systems and capacity building in Africa. AfPC credited her with helping strengthen technical expertise, fair participation and the confidence of national committees.
The message also celebrated Miki Matheson’s friendship with Africa. It credited her support, through a Japanese NGO, with a donation of 46 racing chairs for the first African Para Games. AfPC said the equipment would also be available for the West Africa Para Games then being planned. These contributions and intended uses are described in AfPC’s letter.
Chelsey Gotell and Fernando Riaño received warm recognition for their engagement with the African Paralympic community. Deen praised Gotell’s empathy and principled leadership, and highlighted Riaño’s courage, innovation and commitment to inclusion. He also welcomed the election of Mohamed Duaij Alkhalifa, Robyn Smith and Bradley Snyder.
An invitation to work together
At the centre of the message was a practical invitation to cooperate: expand athlete development pathways, improve classification systems and standards, strengthen governance, and help ensure that no region or athlete is left behind.
The letter presented diversity, gender equality, regional representation and athlete leadership as shared priorities. Its tributes connected the new Board’s mandate to the people, equipment and technical support that AfPC said had helped African Para sport grow.
Deen closed with a message of solidarity: “Africa is proud of you. Africa is inspired by you. Africa stands with you.”
Participants at AfPC’s 2025 General Assembly in Accra. Supplied by AfPC; existing AI-assisted enhancement. This is an AfPC archive image, not a photograph of the IPC Governing Board election.
