The announcement follows the successful reintroduction - after a 12-year absence - of athletes with an intellectual disability in to the Paralympic Games at London 2012, which saw 120 athletes with an intellectual impairment competing across T/F20 athletics, S14 swimming and C11 table tennis.

Among them was autistic swimmer Marc Evers of the Netherlands, who won a gold medal in the men's S14 100 metres backstroke and bronze in the SB14 100m breaststroke, and Polish track star Barbara Niewiedzial who secured gold in the women's T20 1500m.

"For Inas, 2012 represented a milestone and an opportunity of almost unparalleled significance," Bob Price, Inas President, said.

"The [London 2012] Games were hugely successful in many different ways and with re-inclusion now achieved, I believe Inas is on the cusp of a very exciting future."


Formally national sport manager in England, Parr (pictured top) takes up his new role of executive director after supporting the Inas Executive Committee in its work with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and other international sports organisations ahead of the re-inclusion into the Paralympics.

"I am very proud and excited to have the opportunity to join Inas in this new role," Parr said.

"Though London was a huge success, there is still much work to do to give athletes with an intellectual disability across the world the opportunity to enjoy sport and to perform at the highest level.

"I look forward to leading the organisation as it builds towards Rio 2016 and beyond".

Parr is due to begin his role this month and will be based in the United Kingdom.

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