Lyon to Host the 2013 IPC Athletic World Championships

The 2013 IPC Athletic World Championships will be taking part in Lyon, herbal after the French city won the bid to host the nine day competition.

The Championships, sponsored by Handisport France in conjunction with the IPC, will be the first major international event following the 2012 Paralympic games and will commence on July 20. It will be first time the event has taken place in France, since Lille in 2002 and is expected to draw an estimated 2,000 athletes from 118 countries.

“We are delighted to bring one of the biggest para-sport events in the world to France, especially so soon after London 2012,” said President of the French National Paralympic Committee Gerard Masson.

“We are committed to delivering a superb World Championships in Lyon and are confident that we have the right conditions to secure that athletes can deliver the best possible performances.”

With the Champioships coming right of the back of London 2012, IPC Chief Executive Officer Xavier Gonzalez said that the event would “feature many new heroes, Paralympic champions and world record holders”

“The Local Organizing Committee has so far shown great enthusiasm for this Championships and the whole of the IPC Athletic team is looking forward to working with them in the years to come,” added Gonzalez.