The ACSM are a leading organisation within the field of sport medicine and exercise sciences and first became involved with the IPC in 2006.

By working together, IPC and ACSM will help to "drive the research agenda toward answering critical Paralympic Movement questions ranging from medicine to biochemistry and all points in between," ACSM vice-president and IPC Sports Science Committee member Walt Thompson outlined.

"This is truly a historic alliance between two global and highly influential organisations," he added.

Since the partnerships began the organisation have identified a number of collaborative areas to improve the sharing of knowledge in health, safety, research and performance of athletes with impairments.

The extended agreement will see the partnership continue for an additional five-and-a-half years.

"I am delighted that we have been able to extend this partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine through to beyond the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games," said Dr Peter Van de Vliet, the IPC's Medical and Scientific Director.

"Over the last eight years we have enjoyed a fruitful partnership and I am confident in the coming years this will continue as we identify how we can both work together to advance in such areas as medical, sports science and anti-doping."

The extended agreement will last until after the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics ©Getty Images



The partnership will also see the IPC and the ACSM work together on areas of common interest that would benefit the organisations, with ASCM chief executive Jim Whitehead outlining how "ensuring the health and safety of athletes, including those with impairments, is a major priority.

"This partnership allows us to complement IPC's already strong leadership by providing our scientific and clinical expertise in the areas of sports medicine and exercise science," he added.

"We are science, anti-doping, classification, and more.

"Working together, we'll push knowledge, understanding, and innovation to new and important levels."

The agreement will also see the ACSM deliver a symposium at the VISTA conference with this year's theme is "securing the future for young Para-athletes".

It will be the seventh edition of the VISTA conference and will take place in Girona, Spain from October 7 to 10.

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