VISTA 2025

VISTA Conference

EGYPT 2025

Welcome to the official website of VISTA 2025, the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) Scientific Conference, proudly hosted this year in Cairo, Egypt, from 7–10 December 2025.

We are delighted to welcome researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and members of the Paralympic family from around the world to join us in exploring the latest scientific and practical advancements in Para sport. This event marks a significant milestone as VISTA is hosted in Africa for the very first time, reflecting the global growth and inclusion of the Paralympic Movement.

About VISTA 2025

VISTA 2025 is the 11th edition of the IPC’s Scientific Conference and serves as a unique platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research, cross-disciplinary dialogue, and strategic collaboration.

This year’s theme is:
"Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health and Performance."

VISTA 2025 will feature keynote presentations, symposia, oral and poster sessions, and will host the prestigious IPC Scientific Award ceremony. The conference brings together experts from diverse fields—including sports science, medicine, technology, sociology, policy, education, and ethics and integrity—to collectively shape the future of Para sport.

We invite you to join us in Cairo to learn, connect, and contribute to the advancement of inclusive and high-performance sport for Para athletes.

Message from IPC President Andrew Parsons

Welcome to the VISTA Conference 2025, the International Paralympic Committee’s leading platform for scientific exchange and innovation in Para sport.

VISTA is where science meets purpose. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and sport leaders from around the world to explore how evidence-based knowledge can drive performance, enhance athlete well-being, and promote inclusion across all levels of sport.

This year’s theme, “Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health, and Performance,” reflects our commitment to advancing Para sport through research and collaboration. Together, we’ll explore ideas and innovations that are shaping a more inclusive, accessible, and empowering future for all.

Over the past few decades, sport for people with disabilities has evolved dramatically, gaining public attention and sparking growing interest from the academic community.

By bringing together experts from across disciplines, we aim to improve athlete support systems and deepen global understanding of high-performance sport for athletes with disabilities.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your work is vital to the continued growth, integrity, and impact of the Paralympic Movement.

Finally, my heartfelt thanks to the Egyptian Paralympic Committee for hosting this tremendous event.

Andrew Parsons

President, International Paralympic Committee

Message from IPC Scientific Programme Chair

Welcome to the VISTA Conference! As the Scientific Programme Chair on behalf of the International Paralympic Committee and the Scientific Programme Committee, I am honoured to welcome you to the world’s premier scientific gathering dedicated to the Paralympic Movement. VISTA brings together researchers, clinicians, coaches, athletes, and leaders from around the globe to share cutting-edge science, foster collaboration, and advance knowledge that empowers Para athletes to achieve their full potential. Thank you for your dedication to excellence, innovation, and inclusion—together, we are shaping a brighter future for Paralympic sport. I'm looking forward to greeting you in Egypt later this year.

All the best,

Rory A. Cooper, PhD, PLY

Message from EPC President

Dear Paralympic family,

I have the honour and pleasure to welcome you here in Egypt, the land of pharaohs, history, culture, and great civilizations.

It will be the first time in history to organize the IPC VISTA conference in Africa. We consider this to be a benchmark of Paralympic sports development in Africa and the Middle East.

Our intention is to organize this conference in a highly professional manner in cooperation and support of the International Paralympic Committee and attract researchers and participants from all over the world to attend and exchange their experiences and knowledge.

Cairo is a historic, cultural city, the capital of Egypt is ready to welcome participants from all over the world from the 7th of December till the 10 of December 2025 to attend the VISTA conference and we hope all participants enjoy their time in Cairo Egypt, and achieve their plan and needs.

We believe that the results of this conference will be a milestone in achieving remarkable progress and significant development in Egypt and Africa.

I express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Mr. Andrew Parsons, President of IPC, Governing board, and IPC’s wonderful team for their cooperation and support to develop and promote Paralympic Sports in Africa and the whole world.

I take this opportunity to express my great gratitude to our President Abd Elfatah Elsisi, for his great support of the Paralympic Movement in Egypt, and thank our Minister of Sports and Youth for his close cooperation, help, and support in guaranteeing the success of this conference.

We are all waiting for you to feel the Egyptian Hospitality, a historical city with Pharaonic, Roman, Greek, and Islamic monuments.

My best wishes and regards,

Dr Hossam Eldin Mostafa

President, Egyptian Paralympic Committee

About Vista 2025

Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health, and Performance

VISTA 2025 is the 11th edition of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) scientific conference, designed to foster critical inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge exchange in the field of Para sport. For the first time in its history, the conference will be hosted on the African continent—in Cairo, Egypt, from 7 to 10 December 2025—marking a significant milestone in the global expansion of the Paralympic Movement.

This year’s conference theme, “Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health and Performance”
reflects the IPC’s commitment to advancing research and practice that directly contribute to the participation, well-being, and performance of Para athletes across diverse global contexts.

VISTA 2025 provides a platform for academics, athletes, classifiers, clinicians, sport scientists, engineers, and sport administrators to share original research, present innovative practices, and engage in evidence-informed dialogue. The conference programme will include:

Keynote lectures by leading international scholars and practitioners
Invited symposia on cross-cutting topics in Para sport
Peer-reviewed oral and poster presentations
Roundtables and networking sessions
Presentation of the IPC Scientific Award

By bringing together the global community of stakeholders in Para sport, VISTA 2025 aims to bridge the gap between science and practice, enhance the visibility of emerging research, and contribute meaningfully to the development of inclusive sport systems worldwide.

VISTA Objectives

• To provide a forum for exchange on current information, research and expertise related to Paralympic Sport and the Paralympic Movement.
• To enhance and promote cross-disciplinary professional interaction among sport scientists, coaches, athletes and sport administrators.

Target audience

The target groups of the Conference include: sports scientists and researchers, classifiers, coaches/trainers, sports administrators and athletes.

VISTA 2025 is organised around the theme: “Developing Para Sport: Inclusion, Transformation, Health and Performance”. The theme will be discussed in keynote presentations, invited symposia, and free communications. They will cover key issues such as Classification, Ethics and integrity, socio-cultural development, sport medicine, health and well-being, sport performance, and technology.

History

In 1993, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) realised that it was important to exchange experiences and increase knowledge pertaining to sport for athletes with a disability in the international arena. As a result, the concept of VISTA, which means a long succession of events, emerged.
The first VISTA Conference was held in Jasper, Canada in May 1993. At this Conference, 163 international participants convened to discuss issues pertinent to sport for athletes with a disability. The delegates included researchers, administrators, trainers, coaches, and athletes. A variety of plenary and interactive sessions were organised in the areas of performance, technical developments, sports medicine, classification, inclusion, ethics, management, and administration.