Virtus Ambassador Lenine Cunha Shortlisted As Nominated Candidate For The IPC Athletes‘ Council Elections

A record 26 candidates have been nominated for election during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games to fill six summer representative roles on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Council. The IPC Athletes’ Council, composed of elected athlete representatives, serves as the voice of the Para athlete community to the IPC. This year, the 26 candidates, including 14 men and 12 women, represent 12 sports and four continents, with 22 being actively competing athletes.

For the first time in history, an athlete with an intellectual impairment has been nominated by Virtus Sport and shortlisted by IPC for the IPC Athletes’ Council election. Lenine Cunha is a Virtus Ambassador. His international career started in 2000 and since then he has won more than 220 international medals including a bronze at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and multiple gold medals from Virtus Global Games.

He is one of the rare athletes who has competed across all six editions of Virtus Global Games and at three Summer Paralympic Games, Sydney 2000, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Talking about his intentions behind standing for the election and his aspirations if he gets selected in the IPC’s Athletes’ Council, Lenine said,

“The IPC’s Athletes’ Council holds a prestigious position as the voice of athletes with various impairments. However, there is currently no one representing athletes with intellectual impairment within the IPC’s Athletes’ Council — a significant gap that I hope to fill. With approximately 2-3% of the global population living with intellectual impairment, it is important that we have representation in the IPC’s Athletes’ Council.”

“I want to talk about the rights and interests of athletes with intellectual impairment, and ensuring our voices are heard, and valued within the international sporting community. I also want to show my leadership that I have learned because of sport, and to use my experiences to add ideas to IPC that is more inclusive of all disability groups, for a better future for next Paralympians.”

“As someone who has spent his entire life with this invisible impairment and made a career out of it, I understand the challenges and discrimination faced by athletes like me and I want to continue advocating for their needs on a global scale using the IPC’s Athletes’ Council platform. I also recognise the importance of ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of all athletes, including athletes with an intellectual impairment are heard and addressed within the Paralympic movement.”

“While the IPC has made significant efforts in raising awareness of various disabilities, there is still work to be done in making intellectual impairment more visible and promoting inclusive pathways for athletes like me. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the IPC to achieve these goals, and to hopefully see more participation from current and new nations in the Paralympic movement.”

“Another topic I want to talk about is the difficulty that athletes and especially athletes with an intellectual impairment can often face during their transition from athletic careers to post-retirement life. I am experiencing this myself, and by joining the IPC, I want to develop resources and support systems that will help retiring athletes of all disability to manage this transition successfully.”

Lenine Cunha has been an extremely proactive Virtus Ambassador. He recently was selected by Virtus to become the flag bearer of the #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign launched by Virtus during the GG2023 anniversary week.

 

The Athletes’ Council acts as a liaison between athletes and decision-makers, significantly influencing the growth and development of Paralympic sports. The IPC Electoral Commission will oversee the election, ensuring adherence to the IPC Code of Ethics and Campaign Rules. The six newly elected members will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on 8 September. They will join the three winter representatives elected during the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, and appointed member Greg Polychronidis of Greece, and the IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair to complete the IPC Athletes’ Council.

The election will be held from 26 August to 5 September in PLY House, near the Main Dining Hall in the Paralympic Village, and in the Athlete Lounge at Chateauroux Village for Shooting Para sports athletes. Virtus urges all athletes competing at Paris 2024, especially athletes with intellectual impairment, to vote. If elected, Lenine Cunha will be the first athlete with an intellectual impairment to join the IPC Athletes’ Council, a historic moment for Lenine, for Virtus and for inclusion of millions of past, current and future athletes with an intellectual impairment around the world.

For more information, visit Paralympic.org/athletes-council. Read IPC’s announcement here.