By Zjan Shirinian

Paralympic initiatives around the world have been supported by the Grant Support Scheme in the last 12 months ©Getty ImagesApril 4 - Applications for grants that will be used to support Paralympic athletes are being called for by the Agitos Foundation.

The development arm of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has set aside €650,000 (£536,000/$890,000) under its Grant Support Programme.

It wants National Paralympic Committees, International Federations and organisations to make bids for grants centred around athletes.

The Foundation is asking organisations to "draw attention to the support, training and competition needs required at every stage of a Para-athlete's career".

Last year, the first year of the Programme, more than 60 applications were received and more than half of them won a total of €630,000 (£520,000/$863,000) in funding.

These included Iran's National Paralympic Week; the creation of a multi-sports camp in Serbia for young athletes; a wheelchair tennis awareness campaign targeting women and quadriplegics in Central and South America; and a talent-spotting and pathway development programme in New Zealand for swimmers with high-support needs.

"We experienced great success across all regions during the first year of the Grant Support Programme (GSP)," said Agitos Foundation director Georg Schlachtenberger.

"The Agitos Foundation is proud to contribute to the developing goals of the different IPC member organisations, and we are convinced that successful programmes funded by the GSP will create a more inclusive society through sport."

The Programme was launched after London 2012 to help contribute to the worldwide growth of the Parlaympic Movement.

The application process is now open and will close on May 15.

Application guidelines can be found here.

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