Dickson will be the only challenger in the election to be held here tomorrow as Sir Philip Craven seeks a record fourth term.

While Sir Philip is backed by the British Paralympic Association (BPA), Dickson received his nomination from the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) of which he was President until 2010.

Dickson has promised to be "open, transparent and would engage with members at every level". 

"I'd be looking to have a Governance Review which would affect all aspects of the organisation at the very top starting with constitution - I would start this process as soon as possible to find out whether we are currently fit for purpose," he told insidethegames.

"The organisation is growing so fast I think you need to stop occasionally, take stock, and say okay, could we be doing things a little differently, could we position ourselves better ready for the next stage?

"But it would be all up to the members not by people in a darkened room."

He explained that beyond merely General Assembly's every two years the IPC "have to look at other forms of active engagement as well".

"We have large and small National Paralympic Committee's (NPC's), nations at different stages of social and economic development and that all has to be taken into account", he said.

Dickson's views on wider views regarding people with disabilities has been echoed by others including dressage star Sophie Christiansen ©Getty Images


Before becoming President of CPISRA, Dickson worked as chief executive of Capability Scotland to raise laws and attitudes towards people with disabilities and it is his background has influenced his current views.

Although he emphasised that the IPC remains first and foremost a sports organisation, he still sees a "strong moral purpose" to bring about positive change in the wider treatment of people with disabilities.

"We can make a great impact and I believe that is a role we need to integrate and further develop," Dickson told insidethegames.

"We have to recognise that we have to do this with other partners rather than by ourselves.

"But I think the Paralympic Movement can, and does, and will continue to do, the job of occasionally holding a mirror up to people and saying, 'Do this better'."

A good example of this in action, he explained, was the preparations for Sochi 2014 where improvement in access for those with disabilities has resulted from the hosting of the Games. 

"Sochi and Moscow has been in position to upgrade and the Paralympics coming to town gives a city or country the opportunity to do more to make the environment more accessible and that is a legacy which we can leave behind," he described. 

With the Games now barely four months away, preparations for Sochi would be one of Dickson's immediate concerns should he be successful in his Presidential bid.

He admitted ticket sales had been "disappointing" in comparison with the "extraordinary support" during London 2012 and that certain things require "a tweak here and there".

But he added that "our Russian colleagues are doing a very good job to produce a quality Games", while the increased television coverage partly offsets any fall in spectator numbers.

In a longer term sense, one of Dickson's focuses will be on continuing the "huge progress" regarding global development that has been made since the establishment of the Agitos Foundation,the IPC's development arm, last year.

Increasing dialogue between members and leaders is another of Dickson's primary aims ©George Santamouris



He explained the necessity of producing a global strategy which "recognises the diversity of the Movement and reaches all regions and all parts of the globe."

One area to improve this could be by "engaging more with external partners who could help drive this development further".

This focus on investigating the highest levels of the Movement does appear an implicit criticism of Dickson's Presidential opponent, and fellow Briton, Sir Philip Craven.

Dickson was however quick to praise Sir Philip's 12 year contribution, but added it is "important that we have an election because it enables the members to debate key issues, issues where there is may be a divergence and issues which are important for the future."

Another area he has been vocal about is the legitimacy of Sir Philip standing for a fourth term when the IPC constitution only officially permits three.

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 in 2005 his three four year terms "kicked off again"

Sir Philip, pictured at Vancouver 2010, is seeking a fourth term in office ©Getty Images




"My position is that Sir Philip is perfectly able to stand for that fourth term under the terms of what was agreed by the membership and I am not questioning that," said Dickson.

"What I have said, and I am standing by, is that four terms is a long time.

"I believe that we should stick within the spirit of the constitution and that is one of the reasons why I considered it important to stand."