Call for Abstracts – VISTA 2025 – Deadline extended until September 12
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in partnership with the IPC Science and Research Working Group and the National Paralympic Committee of Egypt, invites researchers and professionals to submit abstracts for presentation at the VISTA 2025 Scientific Conference, to be held from 7–10 December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
As the first edition of VISTA to be held on the African continent, the 2025 conference will explore the overarching theme:
Abstracts may be submitted for oral or poster presentations within one of the six key sub-themes:
Each sub-theme encompasses a broad array of interdisciplinary topics, including:
Classification: Conceptual frameworks, impairment criteria, governance models, and sport-specific adaptations
Ethics & Integrity: Leadership, rules and regulations, equity, inclusion, and media impact
Socio-Cultural Legacy: Disability sport in education, family and community roles, gender, and advocacy
Health & Medicine: Injury prevention, mental health, doping control, and climate-related health issues
Sport Performance: Training systems, coaching frameworks, and performance technologies
Technology & Equipment: Assistive devices, biomechanics, AI in training, and accessibility innovation
Each sub-theme will feature invited symposia and free communications, with accepted abstracts included in the official programme. Abstracts should align with the overall theme of the conference and contribute to advancing research or applied practice in Para sport.
Opening Date: 2 July 2025
Deadline: 22 August 2025, 23:59 CEST — Deadline extended until September 12
Language: Abstracts must be submitted in English only
Length: Title (max. 20 words); Abstract text (max. 400 words, including references)
Format: Electronic submission via the official portal
Review Criteria: Relevance, originality, scientific rigor, clarity of methods and conclusions, and language quality An Abstract Review Score Sheet is provided for your reference.
Prize: An award will be presented for the best oral and poster presentations. Authors will be asked to indicate their career stage.
All authors will receive confirmation of receipt upon submission and will be notified of the review outcome by 10 October 2025. Presenting authors of accepted abstracts must register by 31 October 2025 to be included in the final program.
We encourage contributions from both emerging and established scholars across all relevant fields engaged in the advancement of Para sport.
“The line of eligibility is a very hard border as it is the border of disqualification”. This statement was made by Dr. Karl Quade during the first VISTA conference in Jasper, Canada in 1993. Gold (Seoul 1988) and silver (New York 1984) medalist in standing volleyball Karl Quade, travelled to Barcelona as a shot putter in 1992, where he was denied participation; he was “not classified” locally.
The invited symposium on classification reviews the history, philosophy and science behind the current criteria determining eligibility in Paralympic sport; zooms in on potential personal consequences of disqualification; and debates different pathways
towards fair equality of opportunity.
The aim of this symposium is to display the range of diverse disciplinary interests that inform ethical and integrity issues in Paralympic Sport. The contributions range from legal, philosophical, and social scientific perspectives. Each presentation reflects on a different aspect of Paralympic sport (inclusion, safe sport, technology) and draws out implications for Paralympic policy and practice.
This session explores how performance data is transforming talent identification and personalised training in wheelchair basketball and rugby. Moderated by Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey, the discussion will feature Tom O’Brien’s innovative performance dashboard developed for strength and conditioning and measuring performance in Paralympic athletes (technical and physiological data) providing insights into the usage of data and informed decision-making. Joseph Baker will share perspectives on talent identification, data science, and evidence-based decision-making, while athletes Erica Gavel-Pinos and Allysa Seely offer a firsthand view of data’s impact on training, progression, and team selection from both an athlete and research perspective. The session will also examine the ethical and practical responsibilities in using data for athlete selection in Para sport.
This symposium will feature presentations by three experts on technology related to Para sport. Technology plays a critical role in Para sport by leveling the playing field, enhancing performance, and expanding opportunities for participation among athletes with disabilities. From custom prosthetics and adaptive training tools to cutting-edge fabrication techniques, innovation empowers athletes to compete at their highest potential. However, challenges remain—including issues of access, affordability, and the need for individualized solutions. This session brings together leading experts to discuss these advances and complexities. Dr. Ian Rice will examine the impact of technology on training, Dr. Urs Schneider will highlight progress in prosthetics and exoskeletons, and Dr. Garrett Grindle will present emerging applications of 3D printing in Para sport.
This symposium will feature presentations by three individuals who have varying degrees of experience in Para sport. Each speaker will reflect upon their experience of the need and desire for support to facilitate high-quality participation within the Para sport space. All to often the need for support in Para sport spaces is taken for granted, as a logic practicality to that is neutral. In this symposium it will be argued the socio-cultural nuances of support are often overlooked by national and international sport organisers and this can have a negative impact on athletes and the people that support them, in training and competitive environments.
This symposium brings together leading international experts to explore contemporary strategies and emerging evidence in the pursuit of optimal health and wellbeing for Paralympic athletes. The session will open with Dr Kristina Fagher (Lund University, Sweden), who will discuss “Beyond the podium: Longitudinal monitoring of health and well-being in the Swedish Paralympic Team for enhanced performance and success” Dr Fagher will share insights from ongoing health surveillance initiatives and their impact on athlete preparation and outcomes.
Dr Abdullah Al Rahoomi (UAE) will present “Maximizing health and wellbeing: Periodic health assessment strategies for Para athletes” offering a detailed perspective on the implementation and value of structured medical assessments in promoting long-term athlete health. Dr Cheri Blauwet (Harvard University, USA), who will address “Brain Health—a contemporary exploration of Para athlete mental health and concussion” Dr Blauwet will provide an overview of the latest research and best practices in safeguarding both the psychological and neurological health of athletes with disabilities.
The session will conclude with an interactive 30-minute panel discussion featuring all speakers, providing the audience with an opportunity to engage directly with the experts, explore key challenges, and discuss future directions in the field of Paralympic athlete health.
Researchers and experts are invited to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations within one of the six themes.
The submission of abstracts for VISTA 2025 Conference will begin 2 July 2025.
The deadline for submission of abstracts has been extended until 12 September 2025, 23:59 CEST. Please note that abstracts are ONLY accepted in English.
All authors who have submitted abstracts will be notified electronically that it has been received by the Conference organisers.
Each abstract will be reviewed for its scientific merit and/or relevance to the Conference topics by members of the Scientific Committee and/or other experts selected by the Scientific Committee. Abstracts that do not follow the structured format and/or are not submitted electronically will be automatically rejected.
