The Asian Paralympic Committee (APC) successfully concluded the 2nd APC Women in Sports Seminar in Taipei, reaffirming its commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women to lead, compete and thrive across the Paralympic Movement.
Held from 18-20 July in partnership with the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee (CTPC) and supported by the Ministry of Sports, Chinese Taipei, the seminar brought together 52 representatives from 30 nations, including 40 representatives from National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), alongside leaders from the Americas Paralympic Committee, European Paralympic Committee and World Abilitysport, making it the seminar’s largest and most globally diverse edition to date.
The seminar was attended by APC President Majid Rashed, Americas Paralympic Committee President Julio César Ávila, European Paralympic Committee President Raymon Blondel, World Abilitysport President Rudi Van den Abbeele, APC Chief Executive Officer Tarek Souei, CTPC President and APC Women in Sport Committee Chair Dr. Mu Ming-Chu, members of APC Women in Sports Committee among others.
One of the APC’s flagship development initiatives, the seminar continues to serve as a platform for haring knowledge, exchanging experiences and strengthening collaboration to advance women’s leadership in Para sport.
Opening the seminar, APC President Majid Rashed thanked the hosts and reaffirmed the APC’s long-term commitment to empowering women across the Paralympic Movement.
“On behalf of the Asian Paralympic Committee, I would like to thank the Government of Chinese Taipei, the Ministry of Sports and the Chinese Taipei Paralympic Committee for successfully hosting the second APC Women in Sports Seminar,” said Rashed.
‘Sustainable Opportunities’
“The continued growth of this seminar reflects our shared commitment to one of the key pillars of the APC Strategic Plan – empowering women and strengthening leadership across the Paralympic Movement. Through collaboration with our NPCs and international partners, we are creating sustainable opportunities for women to excel not only as athletes, but also as coaches, officials, administrators and leaders. Together, we are building a stronger and more inclusive future for Para sport across Asia.”
The seminar featured discussions on Women Leadership and Governance in Para Sports, Sports Empowerment, Self-Actualization and Social Participation: A Neurodiversity Perspective on Female Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities, and Empowering Future Women Leaders in the Paralympic Movement. Through expert presentations and interactive discussions, delegates shared best practices and explored practical strategies to strengthen women’s leadership while creating more inclusive opportunities throughout the Paralympic Movement.
‘Meaningful Dialogue’
Closing the seminar, APC CEO Souei highlighted its growing international significance. “This seminar has become a platform for meaningful dialogue, the exchange of ideas and experiences, and inspiring positive change across the Paralympic Movement. Together, we are not only empowering women – we are strengthening the future of the Paralympic Movement.”
CTPC President and APC Women in Sport Committee Chair Dr. Mu Ming-Chu welcomed the seminar’s continued growth.
“I am incredibly proud to see how the APC Women in Sports Seminar has grown in just its second edition. Increased participation from NPCs and the inclusion of male delegates reflect our shared commitment to gender equality. The presence of Regional Organisations and World Abilitysport brought diverse perspectives that made this seminar truly global, and I hope we continue to strengthen communication, share experiences and collaborate on research that will benefit the future development of the Paralympic Movement.”
The seminar reaffirmed the APC’s commitment to creating greater opportunities for women as athletes, coaches, technical officials, classifiers, administrators and decision-makers.
Through initiatives such as this, the APC continues to inspire the next generation of women leaders, strengthen gender equality, and shape a stronger, more inclusive future for the Paralympic Movement across Asia and beyond.
