The Paralympic Hall of Fame founding partner Visa will once again sponsor the Paralympic Hall of Fame (PHF) and the induction ceremony which will be held in conjunction with the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.

Antonio Lucio, the Global Chief Marketing Officer of Visa Inc, said: "Visa is proud of our longtime association with the International Paralympic Committee and pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the Paralympic Hall of Fame.

"I am looking forward to the induction ceremony in Vancouver and celebrating the commitment and achievements of the inductees as well as the spirit of sportsmanship, excellence and community embodied in the Paralympic Movement."

For this ceremony, three inductees, consisting of one male athlete, one female athlete and one coach chosen by the IPC Governing Board will be inducted as members of the Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame.

These individuals will be elected based on their athletic performance, history of fair play and participation in community service.

According to the IPC, to be eligible for induction in the Paralympic Hall of Fame, athlete and coach candidates must have participated in at least two Paralympic Games and must have won a number of medals, either directly or, in the case of a coach, through the athlete(s) or team(s) they coached.

An athlete or coach must have ceased to be an active participant in the Paralympic Games for at least four years, or one Paralympic cycle, prior to the year of election.

Sir Philip Craven, the President of the IPC, said: "The Visa Paralympic Hall of Fame is a high-profile way of celebrating the great historical sporting achievements in the Paralympic Movement, commemorates Paralympians who have achieved true sporting excellence and will ensure that a permanent record and institutional memory is kept of those top athletes and their achievements.

"The IPC appreciates the support of its global partner, Visa in making this programme possible."

Paralympic Hall of Fame election and induction ceremonies are held in conjunction with the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games, and consequently take place only during those years in which the Paralympic Games are held.

The Hall of Fame currently exists virtually on the IPC website.