The Manchester Regional Arena, left, could be utilised by the new governing bodies due to be based in the city ©Getty Images

UK Sport and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) are set to help the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) with the transfer of governance and creation of independent bodies for Para athletics and Para swimming.

The IPC currently acts as the International Federation for the sports but will work with UK Sport and the BPA to establish two independent governing bodies.

The British bid was selected out of 12 expressions of interest to the IPC and has proposed Manchester to be the location for the new organisations.

"We are extremely grateful and excited to begin exclusive discussions with UK Sport and the BPA regarding the transfer of governance of the sports of Para athletics and Para swimming," said IPC President Andrew Parsons.

"As part of the IPC's new constitution which was overwhelmingly approved by IPC members in December 2021, the IPC committed to cease acting as the International Federation for the World Para Sports within five years.

"In 2022, the four Para snow sports transferred to FIS and IBU and now, after a careful process, we believe we are in a strong position to further engage with UK Sport and BPA regarding two further sports.

"Our objective in transferring the governance of the World Para Sports is for them to continue to thrive after becoming independent. 

"We look forward to announcing the next steps in this process in the near future and welcome the support from World Athletics and World Aquatics."

The new Para governing bodies for athletics and swimming will operate separately but are set to work from shared resources ©Getty Images
The new Para governing bodies for athletics and swimming will operate separately but are set to work from shared resources ©Getty Images

Negotiations between the IPC, BPA, and UK Sport are now to take place until August 31 to set up the stand-alone federations with the IPC aiming to stop governing the sports by December 31 in 2026.

Each sport is due to have its own legal and governance structure but with shared operational resources "to maximise economies of scale". 

"UK Sport is delighted that the UK's proposal has been chosen as the preferred partner by the International Paralympic Committee," said UK Sport chair Dame Katherine Granger, a five-time Olympic rowing medallist.

"The establishment of independent and stand-alone international Para sport federations represents an exciting period of transition and development for Para athletics and Para swimming.

"A new home in Manchester is a huge vote of confidence for the city which is becoming a real hub for Para sport, and we are very pleased that these new federations will be based here in the UK."

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