Para archers Yiğit Caner Aydın of Türkiye, Juan Diego Blas of Guatemala and Dorothea Poimenidou of Greece were among more than 70 athlete representatives who attended the fourth edition of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes’ Forum, held in June 2025.
The event took place from 24 to 26 June in Bonn and Duisburg, Germany, and coincided with the official inauguration of the new IPC Campus, the organisation’s headquarters in Bonn. IPC president Andrew Parsons and chief executive officer Mike Peters were among those in attendance for the opening.
The forum brought together athlete leaders from more than 50 countries, representing National Paralympic Committees, international federations, regional organisations, the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled. Over three days, participants engaged in workshops and discussions focused on key topics shaping the future of the Paralympic Movement.
Four-time world champion Aydın said the experience deepened his appreciation for the shared values and challenges among athletes around the world.
“It was a truly valuable experience for me,” said the W1 archer, a double medallist at the 2022 European Para Archery Championships. “It gave me the opportunity to connect with athlete representatives from around the world, learn from their perspectives and contribute to important discussions.”
“I was proud to represent archery and to be part of a collective effort to shape the future of the Paralympic Movement.”
Currently preparing for the 2025 World Archery Para Championships in Gwangju in September, Aydın said he hopes to continue being a “strong voice for para archers” and demonstrate the importance of athlete representation through his success.
