A significant milestone was achieved this week with the IPC governing board approving golf to move to stage two of the application process for the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Golf will proceed with three other sports – cerebral palsy football, powerchair football and sailing – with karate and para dance sport also advancing outside the Paralympic program.
Golf, along with the other three sports, is considered to have met core requirements of the IPC handbook including compliance with the world anti-doping code, IPC athlete classification code, a quadrennial competition calendar and worldwide reach.
IPC president Andrew Parsons said: “I would like to thank and congratulate all international federations that put forward new sports and disciplines for consideration in the Paris 2024 Paralympic program.
“The fact that six of the 11 applicants will go forward to the next stage underlines the growing strength of sports within the Paralympic movement.”
Golf Australia’s national inclusion manager Christian Hamilton said the announcement was a great positive.
“The advancement of this application highlights the great work being done around the world in bringing the game together for golfers with physical or intellectual impairments,” Hamilton said.
“Golf Australia have been supporting events held in Australia through connecting to the Rankings for Golfers with a Disability (R4GD), a pathway and ranking system that continues to grow all over the world.”
Details of the further process for the application were also announced.
The International Golf Federation will now submit supporting evidence by 9 July with a final decision being set for next January.
Further information on all abilities golf can be found at www.golf.org.au/inclusion