06.09.2021 – 09:53

Ottobock extends Paralympic partnership with the IPC until 2032

Ottobock extends Paralympic partnership with the IPC until 2032 / Ottobock and IPC to continue their technical service cooperation

Duderstadt/Tokyo, 5 September 2021

Today's Closing Ceremony of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo offers the perfect opportunity to look to the future and celebrate: The global partnership between med-tech company Ottobock and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has now been extended until 2032. Thanks to the extension, Ottobock will be able to provide its technical repair and maintenance services to athletes at the next six Paralympic Games – from Beijing in 2022 to Brisbane in 2032.

IPC President Andrew Parsons said: “Ottobock are a powerhouse in the Paralympic Village – at the Games they quite literally keep the athletes moving. The presence of Ottobock’s dedicated and knowledgeable staff in the Village is so reassuring for athletes, as they know there is someone trusted to solve their technical issues should they arise. I am thrilled that Ottobock are partnering with the IPC at the Paralympic Games until at least 2032, and are going to continue to be a valued member of the Paralympic Movement.”

"Passion for Paralympics"

Ottobock has been actively supporting international disability sport ever since the 1988 Paralympic Games in Seoul. They began by sending four orthotics and prosthetics professionals to support the athletes and repair their equipment for competitions, using a tent as their base. In the last three weeks, more than 100 experts were deployed in Ottobock's Technical Repair Service Center in Tokyo. They provided free technical assistance more than 2.000 times, for example for prostheses, orthoses and wheelchairs.

"Our initial enthusiasm has grown into a veritable passion. We've now been supporting Paralympic athletes for more than 30 years with our unique technical services," said Professor Hans Georg Näder, owner and Chairman of the Board of Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA. "Ottobock's commitment to Paralympic sports has long since become part of our DNA. So I'm delighted that we can continue this partnership and officially support the Paralympic Games for the next eleven years."

A mutual vision

In recent years, public awareness for the achievements of Para athletes has grown immensely, and the Paralympic Games are more popular than ever before. Philipp Schulte-Noelle, CEO of Ottobock, said: "The Paralympic Games show society how powerful sports can be. They prove just how much people can achieve if they train with focus on a goal and believe in themselves. But they do more than that – they help to overcome barriers, and they epitomise courage, diversity and openess. I'm proud that our company is a part of this and can continue to play its part in the future.”

The IPC and Ottobock share a common vision for an integrative world. By consolidating their efforts, the institution and the company hope to inspire people with impaired mobility to engage in sports.

"Sport is our catalyst – change starts with sports," said IPC President Andrew Parsons. "Para athletes are role models. They inspire and encourage people with disabilities to live active lives. Their incredible achievements impress a wide audience. They can change people's attitudes and help society to become more inclusive for people with disabilities. We're working together to achieve this common goal.

About the International Paralympic Committee

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. It co-ordinates the organisation of the Paralympic Games and the Paralympic Winter Games. The IPC’s vision is to make for an inclusive world though Para sport.

For further information, please contact Philip Dorward, IPC Head of Communications on e-mail: philip.dorward@paralympic.org. Alternatively, please visit www.paralympic.org.

About Ottobock

Ottobock develops “wearable human bionics” – medical technology products for people with limited mobility in the fields of Prosthetics, Orthotics and Human Mobility (wheelchairs). Founded in 1919, the company also treats patients in its Patient Care division. Our goal: Enhancing quality of life and health economic benefits. With its Paexo exoskeletons, Ottobock has also been applying its expertise in biomechanics to applications in manufacturing since 2012. Subsidiaries in almost 60 countries offer “Made in Germany” quality worldwide and employ more than 8000 people. The company’s international activities are coordinated from its head office in Duderstadt (Lower Saxony, Germany). Ottobock has been supporting the Paralympic Games with technical expertise since 1988.

Gesa Liss
Public Relations Manager
Corporate Communications

Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
Prenzlauer Allee 242 | 10405 Berlin | Germany
T +49 30 398 206 223 | M +49 151 4416 1837 
gesa.liss@ottobock.com |  www.ottobock.com