College of Health Dean John Dunn has been contacted by Chinese Olympic officials about possibly leading the Paralympic Congress prior to the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
According to Nancy Parker, spokeswoman for the College of Health, Dunn is an expert in physical activity for the disabled and on sports’ role in improving quality of life for people with disabilities.
Dunn said, “There are some great role models of athletes with permanent disabilities in sports. We want to encourage individuals with disabilities to engage in activities and get them to think of sports performance beyond their disability.”
According to Dunn, the role of sports is huge in enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities.
Dunn has not yet accepted the leadership opportunity offered by the Chinese Olympic officials. He’s been too busy attending events, meetings, functions and the Paralympic Closing Ceremony these past few days.
“There has been nothing definitive to come out of these meetings yet,” said Dunn. “We’re still exploring options, but I don’t care what role I play. My interest is in seeing these congresses continue in some form so that the needs of the disabled community continue to be met.”
Dunn is the chair of the sixth Paralympic Congress, a group charged with looking at ways to make disabled athletic competition better and to improve the lives of all people with disabilities.
This year’s congress, Sport and Human Performance: Beyond Disability, was to run March 3 to 6 preceding the Games in Salt Lake City. Uncertainty related to air traffic prompted the organizers to cancel the event following Sept. 11.
Sport-science community members, from rehabilitation therapists to sports psychologists, were all invited to attend.
Dunn said he has been meeting with new International Paralympic Committee President Phil Craven. Dunn plans to continue his IPC involvement with meetings in San Diego in April.