Paralympic Committee of India, which is abbreviated as the PCI is the body responsible for selecting athletes to represent India at the Paralympics Games and other international athletic meets and for managing the Indian teams at the events of national level and international level. Paralympic Committee of India is the one institution responsible in having a scope to the entire athlete world in India, who are deformed and disabled.
History of Paralympic Committee of India
Paralympic Committee of India was founded in the year 1992 as the Physically Handicapped Sports Federation of India. In 1992 M. Mahadeva and others started an organization at national level for the promotion and development of sports for the physically challenged and named it the Physically Handicapped Sports Federation of India. Paralympic Committee of India was registered in the year 1994 with the registrar of co-operative societies, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The first president of Paralympic Committee of India was Rathan Singh.
Objectives of Paralympic Committee of India
The objectives of Paralympic Committee of India were to promote sports for the disabled in India. Its aims include identifying disabled athletes throughout India, imparting necessary training to them and preparing them to take part in State, National and International Sports meets.
Affiliation of Paralympic Committee of India
Paralympic Committee of India affiliated itself to the International Paralympic Committee, as well as the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation; the FESPIC Federation, covering countries in the Far East and South Pacific regions; and the Asian Paralympic Committee. Paralympic Committee of India was given public authority status by the RTI Act of 2005.
Aims of Paralympic Committee of India
The aims of Paralympic Committee of India were to promote and contribute to the development of sports opportunities and competitions, from the start to elite level. It helps to develop opportunities for athletes with a severe disability in sport at all levels and in all structures. It also promotes the self-governance of each Paralympics sport federation as an integral part of the national sport movement, whilst at all times safeguarding and preserving its own identity. It also ensures the spirit of fair play that prevails, the health risk of the athletes is managed and fundamental ethical principles are upheld.