Julio Cesar Avila elected APC President

Colombian Julio Cesar Avila was elected as Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) President on Wednesday (21 August) following four rounds of voting at the APC General Assembly in Lima, Peru.

He was chosen ahead of fellow presidential candidates Julie Dussliere of USA and Lucha Villar of Peru.

"I am thrilled to have received the support of the APC membership; I am speechless and emotional," said Avila.

"I will work hard to strengthen the relationship between the APC, IPC and the National Paralympic Committees, and look ways to come together to make of the Americas a robust, developed and united region.

"The main goal now is to deliver the best and biggest Parapan American Games in history here in Peru. We are all excited about what Lima 2019 can bring and I believe it will be an outstanding event, the first of its kind held in Peru."

The President was elected by secret ballot by the APC membership which is made up of National Paralympic Committees.

Avila is the fifth person to be elected APC President after Argentina’s José Luis Campo (1997-2005, 2013-2017), Brazil’s Andrew Parsons (2005-2009), Colombia’s Octavio Londoño (2009-2013) and USA’s Julie Dussliere (2018-2019).

He will serve a two-year term with elections next held in 2021.

ELECTION VOTING RESULTS

ROUND 1

Avila 12

Dussliere 11

Villar 4

1 invalid

ROUND 2

Avila 13

Dussliere 12

Villar 3

ROUND 3

Avila 14

Dussliere 13

1 invalid

ROUND 4

Avila 15

Dussliere 10

3 invalid

-ends-

Notes to the Editor

The Americas Paralympic Committee (APC) is the regional organisation, recognised as the sole regional representative of the Americas Region.

For further information, please contact Hernan Goldzycher, APC Communications Co-ordinator, on e-mail: hernan.goldzycher@paralympic.org or call +49 228 2097-218. Alternatively, please visit www.americasparalympic.org/.

Also, you may follow the Americas Paralympic Movement on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ParalympicsAPC, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ParalympicsAPC or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ParalympicsAPC.

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only