Schlachtenberger was speaking here on the opening day of the General Assembly of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) of which the Agitos Foundation - launched last year - is the official development arm.

In a 45 minute address to around 450 figures from the Paralympic Movement, he gave an overview of the partnership before revealing particular plans for the next year.

These consist of a pilot mentoring programme aiming to develop stronger female leadership, the continuation of a grant support programme, which earlier this year saw almost €630,000 ($853,000/£527,000) distributed to 34 projects, and the launch of an organisational capacity programme.

This will focus upon emerging National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) in six "priority" areas consisting of Paralympic Games preparation, athlete development, branding, fundraising, organisational capability and strategic partnerships.

"Our aim is to make the Agitos Foundation the leading global organisation for developing sports activities for people with an impairment as a tool for changing lives and contributing to an inclusive society," Schlachtenberger explained to IPC delegates when unveiling the plans.

"In the last 14 months since our official launch at London 2012 we have achieved a lot, and our aim is to achieve even more over the coming years to develop the size, scope and reach of the Paralympic Movement.

"We cannot do this alone however but through strong partnerships around the world."

Elsewhere on the opening day, strategic plans were announced for the nine Paralympic sports that the IPC acts as the International Federation for.

As one of the nine sports athletics, and stars therein including Tatyana McFadden, will be affected by the strategic plans ©Getty Images

As well as athletics, these consist of powerlifting, shooting and swimming for the 2013-2016 period, and ice-sledge hockey, cross-country skiing, biathlon, alpine skiing and snowboard for the 2013-2018 period.

Drawn up following a consultation with Sport Technical Committees, sporting communities and IPC departments, the plans will aim to develop athlete opportunities and ensure greater visibility and promotion of the sports between Paralympic Games, it is claimed.

"The goal is for IPC sports to reach self-sustainability between 2017 and 2024", IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez said.

"The timing will depend on the individual progress of the sport and the relationship with the Olympic equivalent International Federation, where relevant."

The Paralympic Movement has descended on Athens for the three day event which will culminate in the Presidential Election ©George Santamouris


All candidates standing in the various IPC Governing Board elections also gave short presentations to give IPC members final food for thought ahead of the decisions being made.

First to present were the two British Presidential candidates in Alan Dickson, who was nominated by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), and current President Sir Philip Craven, the British Paralympic Association's nominee seeking a fourth term.

The two Vice-Presidential candidates, Ann Cody of the United States Olympic Committee and Andrew Parsons of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, followed before all the candidates for the 10 IPC member at large positions - except Cody and Parsons - gave a short five minute presentation.

The General Assembly continues over the weekend, with an address by Dmitry Chernyshenko, President and chief executive of Sochi 2014, as well as the annual Paralympic Awards Gala, tomorrow.

The elections are due to bring the three day event to a conclusion on Sunday (November 24)