For the first time, three schools – two from Japan and one from overseas – that have fully utilised the Agitos Foundation's I’mPOSSIBLE education programme will be recognised during the Closing Ceremony, on September 6 next year.

Two Paralympians – one woman and one man – will also receive awards in recognition of their contribution to the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) vision of making for an inclusive world through Para-sport.

All schools in Japan implementing the programme will be eligible to enter the I’mPOSSIBLE Award and are encouraged to submit applications. 

The guidelines were announced by the I’mPOSSIBLE Award Japan office. 

The full details regarding the application and selection process for overseas schools and Paralympians are scheduled to be announced by the Agitos Foundation and the IPC later this year.

"We are extremely excited to announce this new award, which will showcase to a global audience the impact of I’mPOSSIBLE," Rita van Driel, the chairperson of the Agitos Foundation Executive Committee, said.

"Having these schools and Paralympians recognised during the Closing Ceremony will be a great way to celebrate the promotion of an inclusive society through Paralympic education."

I’mPOSSIBLE was globally launched in December 2017, aiming to promote social inclusion by raising awareness of the Paralympic Movement. 

It offers teaching resources, lesson plans, worksheets and inspirational videos to teachers and learners, seeking to change perceptions about persons with disabilities and inspire the next generation through the Paralympic values.

The resources available through I’mPOSSIBLE consist of units with lesson plans, featuring information on different Para-sports and inspirational achievements of Para-athletes that showcase their abilities.

The toolkit is designed for teachers to use with learners age six to 18, and provides a range of easy-to-use lesson ideas introducing learners to inclusion through the Paralympic values, Para-sports and the inspirational achievements of Para-athletes from around the world.

Japan was the first country to pilot I’mPOSSIBLE in early 2017, with funding from the Nippon Foundation Paralympic Support Center and support from the Japanese Paralympic Committee. 

To date, around 15 per cent of elementary schools in Japan have implemented I’mPOSSIBLE’s lesson plans.

As of August 2019, 25 countries from all over the world have also signed agreements to implement the programme. 

In 2018, around 150,000 children and 3,818 teachers around the globe were reached by I’mPOSSIBLE.