No "ulterior motive" to keep Pistorius off list of best Paralympic moments, insist IPC

By Zjan Shirinian

There was no "ulterior motive" to exclude Oscar Pistorius from a list celebrating the top 25 moments in the history of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the organisation has insisted.

The top 25 countdown, celebrating a quarter of a century of the IPC, ended today with the London 2012 Paralympic Games being named the top moment.

But South African Pistorius, arguably the most recognisable Paralympic athlete of all-time with six Paralympic gold medals to his name, did not feature anywhere on the list.

The IPC has batted away suggestions he was consciously kept off the list because of his court case for shooting dead girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14 last year.

He was convicted of culpable homicide on September 12 and will be sentenced next month.

Craig Spence, the IPC's director of media and communications, told insidethegames: "There was no conscious decision [to exclude Pistorius].

"He received a number of votes.

"There was not an ulterior motive from the Governing Board."

The 13 members of the Board each chose their top 25 moments from a long list of around 60 - which itself had been taken from around 750 highlights submitted by the public.

Spencer said Pistroius' defeat at the hands of Alan Oliveira in the 200 metres T44 at London 2012 had ended up 26th on the list, just outside the top 25.

Another Pistorius moment was 28th.

Oscar Pistorius' defeat to Alan Oliveira in the 200m T44 final at London 2012 was voted the 26th best moment of the last 25 years, the IPC has said ©AFP/Getty Images

But Spence insisted the Governing Board had not sought to keep Pistorius, who also competed in the London 2012 Olympic Games, off the list because of his court case.

"We have said all along that as far as the public are concerned, the Pistorius case needs to be differentiated between the sporting achievements and what's occurred in his private life," said Spence.

"I think the Governing Board took that into account when they voted for their moments."

He said it was a close vote, with many different highlights in the mix.

Last week, IPC President Sir Philip Craven stressed that while Pistorius will be free to return to competition once he has satisfied the South African legal system, the organisation will not "promote" his comeback.

The London 2012 Paralympic games was voted the best moment by the IPC Governing Board ©Getty Images

London 2012 was described as the "overwhelming winner" of the top 25 countdown.

"The London 2012 Paralympic Games were outstanding; so many aspects of them have set the benchmark for how future Paralympic Games should be organised," said Spence.

"They made a huge impact across the world and this is reflected in four other moments from London 2012 making the top 25.

"I think the top 25 moments show how much the IPC, the Paralympic Movement and the athletes have achieved over the last quarter of a century, which makes what lies ahead even more exciting."

The number two moment was the agreement signed in 2001 by the International Olympic Committee and the IPC, ensuring Olympic host cities would also stage the Paralympics.

Barcelona 1992 was voted number three.

The full top 25 list can be seen here.