Gizem GIRISMEN new member of the IPC Athletes’ Council

The Turkish archer Gizem GIRISMEN is among six athletes recently elected as members of the International Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council for the next four years.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recently announced the six elected members of the IPC Athletes’ Council for the next four years.
   
The newly elected archer Gizem GIRISMEN is the 2008 Paralympic champion in the Recurve Women W1/W2 category. She was the flag bearer for her nation at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.
   
The other council members include athletes in Sitting Volleyball player Elvira STINNISSEN of the Netherlands, track athlete Arnaud ASSOUMANI of France, and football 7-a-side athlete Jon McCULLOUGH of the USA. Swimmer Teresa PERALES of Spain and wheelchair fencer YU Chui Yee of Hong Kong are the two re-elected athletes who complete the six.
   
The IPC Athletes’ Council is made up of nine athletes in total, which includes the aforementioned six summer athletes and three winter athletes, as well as chairman Bob BALK. As the liaison between IPC decision-makers and Paralympic athletes, the Athletes’ Council works to provide effective input into decision-making at all levels of the organisation. To this end, the Council works to ensure effective athlete representation on all IPC committees and commissions as well as to create other opportunities for athlete representation both within and outside the IPC.

The elections took place from the 27 August through 7 September, with 1,970 athletes placing their votes, representing a 46 per cent overall turnout.

Asked what would be her first priority if elected, the 31-year-old GIRISMEN answered that: “I would like to promote the sport participation to more para people. I think we are the lucky ones, here in London. We have been able to do sport for a long time, but not everybody has had this chance. I would really love that more people have the possibility to do sport. I have come through all the stages of a sportsman. I was a beginner and progressively I have become an elite level athlete. I know the challenges on the way and I would like to share my experience.”
   
Read a recent interview with Gizem GIRISMEN from the London Paralympic Games here.

Source: International Paralympic Committee
World Archery Communication