Paralympic Sport Award

The Paralympic Sport Awards honour top Paralympic athletes and officials and recognise the achievements and contributions based on the previous Paralympic Games. The award is presented in five categories: Best Male Athlete, Best Female Athlete, Best Team Performance, Best Paralympic Games Debut and Exemplary Paralympic Games Official.

All award recipients will be presented with their trophy at the Closing dinner of the 2005 IPC General Assembly, to be held in Beijing, China, on 19 November.

Best Official: At the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games Jonquil Solt, Chairperson of the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) proved to be a calm but persistent and very enthusiastic leader who exercised sound judgement and compassion, demonstrated at various occasions. She succeeded in resolving difficult situations in an exceptional manner, admired by athletes, officials and members.

Her persistence and persuasion assisted her in convincing the ATHENS 2004 Organizing Committee, in the interests of the sport and of the riders, to pay for transport costs for the Equestrian Team horses, which are normally not covered.

At the unexpected death of a horse of a French athlete, Mrs. Solt swiftly took actions first to ensure the rider’s safety and then to minimise the distress. Due to her prompt actions the competition continued with minimum delay. In the following medal ceremony she enabled the Paralympic gold medal winner to offer his flowers to the French rider, despite being against protocol. It proved to be an emotional and memorable occasion, in the true spirit of the Paralympic Games.

In addition, Mrs. Solt arranged a venue in which supporting families and friend were allowed to meet the competitors and their horses after their competition, which was appreciated by many.

The IPC is proud to honour Mrs. Solt as true member of the Paralympic Movement, displaying its spirit above and beyond the bounds of her role.