The pair will go head to head at the IPC General Assembly in Athens on November 24, with both targeting a simple majority of votes from the mass of delegates present.

While Sir Philip has the support of the British Paralympic Association (BPA), Dickson, a member of the IPC Governing Board, was nominated by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA).

Speaking here to follow the launch of his manifesto, Sir Philip is focusing upon "maintaining the momentum" of recent years.

But he admitted he had not really anticipated Dickson's challenge.

"I am a little bit surprised but it doesn't half sharpen you up I tell you," he said here at the headquarters of the BPA.

"Alan Dickson is a Briton but of course I have the nomination from the BPA and his nomination comes from another member.

"As I go around the world, as I do regularly, I think many people are surprised that there is a Briton running against a Briton.

"Dickson's been a member of the Board for eight years and I've had great interaction with him in the past.

"It did surprise me when I heard - on the last evening of the [2012] Games in London - that he was considering challenging me - but that's something you have to deal with in life, and we've got an election battle coming on now."

Alan Dickson is the sole candidate challenging Sir Philip and he has been supported by CPISRA


Sir Philip was adamant, however, that a similarly bitter electoral battle to that seen earlier this year between Brian Cookson and Pat McQuaid for the International Cycling Federation (UCI) Presidency would not follow.

"I always fight clean - and don't know any other way," he said.

Although he admitted to "never having considered that before", he also laughed off suggestions that, with an all British electoral contest following the euphoria and British Paralympic "celebrities" created by London 2012, the Movement is becoming "British-centric."

He emphasised that every country who hosts the Games produces headline-makers and predicted that Brazil would do exactly the same at Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Sprinter Terezinha Guilhermina is a potential heroine of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Sir Philip is bidding to compete, what he claims, will be a final four year term as President in addition to the 12 years that he has already served.

As with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) terms, IPC rules usually dictate that a candidate can serve a maximum of three four year terms,

But, because a new structure was brought in at the end of 2005, it was decided that terms should not be carried forward from the previous constitutional structure so - as Sir Philip explained - in 2005 his three four year terms "kicked off again"

He was keen to stipulate that this was a one-off situation which will not happen again in the future.

"It will be a final four years to ensure that the take off which happened in London will turn into sustained growth," said Sir Philip.

He also claimed a lack of fresh blood coming through in the Movement was "definitely not the reason why" he had stood again.

After spelling out the positive changes which had happened during his period at the helm - including gaining the support of the IOC, ensuring " a strong financial base" and in maintaining growth around the world - he spelled out his aims for the future.

In particular, this involves ensuring "two great Paralympic Games in Rio [2016] and Sochi [2014]" as well as "making absolutely sure that we maximise the investment in the development of athletes around the world".

Although no date or location has yet been announced he also vowed that, if re-elected, in 2014 - the IPC's Silver Jubilee year - he will hold a "coming together" or a "gathering" by way of commemoration as well as forward planning. 

Here, figures from throughout the Movement would "work together to address the areas of concern and determine our direction for the next four years and beyond".

Sir Philip also spoke positively about the addition of two new sports - triathlon and canoeing - into the programme for Rio 2016.

Triathlon and canoeing will make their debuts at Rio in 2016 with more new sports to follow




He described this as "great news" and expressed how Rio, with its iconic setting including Copacabana, will be "a great place for this to happen".

Sir Philip also responded positively about the likelihood of other new events being added to the schedule in the future.

"They could be as there is great demand and it's something that we will look at very closely, but no decisions have been taken yet," he said.

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