Today's Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo offers the perfect opportunity to look to the future and celebrate: The global partnership between med-tech company Ottobock and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has now been extended until 2032. Thanks to the extension, Ottobock will be able to provide its technical repair and maintenance services to athletes at the next six Paralympic Games – from Beijing in 2022 to Brisbane in 2032.

IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “Ottobock are a powerhouse in the Paralympic Village – at the Games they quite literally keep the athletes moving. The presence of Ottobock’s dedicated and knowledgeable staff in the Village is so reassuring for athletes, as they know there is someone trusted to solve their technical issues should they arise. I am thrilled that Ottobock are partnering with the IPC at the Paralympic Games until at least 2032, and are going to continue to be a valued member of the Paralympic Movement.”

"Passion for Paralympics"

Ottobock has been actively supporting international disability sport ever since the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul. They began by sending four orthotics and prosthetics professionals to support the athletes and repair their equipment for competitions, using a tent as their base. In the last three weeks, more than 100 experts were deployed in Ottobock's Technical Repair Service Center in Tokyo. They provided free technical assistance more than 2.000 times, for example for prostheses, orthoses and wheelchairs.

"Our initial enthusiasm has grown into a veritable passion. We've now been supporting Paralympic athletes for more than 30 years with our unique technical services," said Professor Hans Georg Näder, owner and Chairman of the Board of Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA. "Ottobock's commitment to Paralympic sports has long since become part of our DNA. So I'm delighted that we can continue this partnership and officially support the Paralympic Games for the next eleven years."

A mutual vision

In recent years, public awareness for the achievements of Para athletes has grown immensely, and the Paralympic Games are more popular than ever before. Philipp Schulte-Noelle, CEO of Ottobock, said: "The Paralympic Games show society how powerful sports can be. They prove just how much people can achieve if they train with focus on a goal and believe in themselves. But they do more than that – they help to overcome barriers, and they epitomise courage, diversity and openess. I'm proud that our company is a part of this and can continue to play its part in the future.”

The IPC and Ottobock share a common vision for an integrative world. By consolidating their efforts, the institution and the company hope to inspire people with impaired mobility to engage in sports.

"Sport is our catalyst – change starts with sports," said IPC President Andrew Parsons. "Para athletes are role models. They inspire and encourage people with disabilities to live active lives. Their incredible achievements impress a wide audience. They can change people's attitudes and help society to become more inclusive for people with disabilities. We're working together to achieve this common goal."