The Angolan, re-elected to the APC’s top job in April, is standing for one of the 10 members at large positions, with the election due to take place here on Friday (September 8) during the IPC General Assembly.

Each of the candidates were allocated seven minutes to present their case today.

Pinto, who narrowly failed to secure a place on the IPC Governing Board in 2013, highlighted lack of leadership and Government backing as the main problems facing Paralympic sport in Africa.

He believes, however, that if the IPC sets a proper plan in place, the APC can work together with the African Union and United Nations Convention to bring about change.

"I know as a businessperson that everything needs strategic planning," Pinto, the APC President since 2010, said.

"I’ve got a passion for sport for people with a disability and one of my main concerns is that talking about sport today, it’s not only talking about competition, it’s also talking about integration.

"I come from a country which actually has gone through a lot of years of war.

"The success stories that we see today in the Paralympics [from African nations], won’t be followed up if we don’t take care of those countries."

Pinto believes the Agitos Foundation, the development arm of the IPC, can play an important role in changing Africa’s fortunes.

The continent accounted for just 36 of the 529 gold medals won at Rio 2016. 

"Most of the challenges we face today in is down to lack of infrastructure," he added.

"We are seeing athletes that are taking part in the Games coming on a wildcard and we’re still sending wildcards to these countries.

"One of the sayings that we have is 'give me the line to fish and not the fish to eat' and that’s actually what we have to do in Africa."

Among the other member at large candidates presenting today were South Africa's Debra Alexander, the United Arab Emirates's Mohammed Alhameli, Belgium's Anne d’Ieteren and Marianna "Muffy" Davis of the United States.

The Netherlands' Rita van Driel, Morocco's Hamid El Aouni, Sung Il Kim of South Korea and Italy's Luca Pancalli are also standing, along with Germany's Karl Quade and Great Britain's Tim Reddish.

The list of candidates is completed by Colombia's Juan Pablo Salazar, Hungary's László Szabó, Pakistan's Imran Shami, India's Rao Inderjit Singh, Australia's Robyn Smith, Joe Walsh of the US, Kevin Wong of Singapore, Japan's Yasushi Yamawaki and Jia Yong of China.

New Zealand’s Duane Kale will stake his claim for both the vice-president and a member at large positions later today.

Also standing for vice-president are Denmark’s John Petersson, one of four candidates for President, along with Canada’s Patrick Jarvis, Brazil’s Andrew Parsons and China’s Zhang Haidi.