Para-equestrian first for official Jonquil Solt

Jonquil Solt,will go awarded the Paralympic Order past times the International Paralympic Committee at a exceptional awards ceremony inwards Athens later this month.

Esteemed para-equestrian official Jonquil Solt is to have the Paralympic Order at the 2013 Paralympic Awards inwards Athens, Greece, on Nov 23.

The award is the highest inside the Paralympic movement, together with is to go bestowed on Solt, former Chair of the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) together with FEI Para Equestrian Committee.

The Paralympic Order is given to those who induce got made telephone commutation contributions to the Paralympic movement, together with induce got illustrated the Paralympic ideals either inwards the sporting earth or through outstanding services to the Paralympic movement.

Trond Asmyr, FEI Director, Dressage together with Para-Dressage, said Solt is the first  person inwards equestrianism to have a Paralympic Order.

“We are delighted that she is beingness recognised for the vital occupation she has played inwards developing Para-Dressage into the international sport it is today, together with for which the equestrian earth volition go forever grateful,” he said.

Solt volition bring together a select grouping of people who induce got made outstanding contributions to the Paralympic movement, including the Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who accepted the respect of the Paralympic Order on National Paralympic Day 1 yr on from London 2012, together with Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Olympic together with Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

Jonquil Solt has been involved inwards Britain’s Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) since 1965, together with inwards 1980 was invited to larn Founder Chairman of its newly formed Dressage Committee.

She was afterwards made Founder Vice-Chairman of the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee (IPEC) inwards 1991, earlier becoming its Chair inwards 1995. During the 12 years of her chairmanship, she travelled the earth promoting together with developing Para-Dressage every bit an international sport.

“At that fourth dimension at that topographic point were iii of us – Dressage rider vehicle together with gauge Inger Bryant, classification skillful Dr Chris Meaden, together with me,” Solt said. “We travelled some the earth together with got people to sympathise the sport more, together with that’s how it grew.

“We worked real difficult to select inwards every bit many countries every bit nosotros could together with prepare everybody. We answered their questions, visited them together with got the sport accepted. At that fourth dimension people were rather afraid of disabled people, merely the back upwards nosotros had was incredible.”

As good every bit raising the profile of Para-Dressage, Solt played a key occupation inwards setting upwards an infrastructure that could back upwards growing national together with international Para-Dressage competitions, including the showtime World Championships inwards the belatedly 1980s. That procedure led to the inclusion of Para-Dressage inwards the Paralympic Games for the showtime fourth dimension at Atlanta inwards 1996, where Solt was President of the Ground Jury.

In 2001, inwards some other major evolution for the sport, Solt co-signed the cooperation understanding which eventually saw Para-Dressage larn an FEI dependent champaign inwards 2006. In doing so, it became the showtime Paralympic sport to larn out the IPC together with bring together an international governing body, with together with on an equal basis with able-bodied athletes.

“That gave me a huge feel of pride. Receiving the Paralympic Order volition too, together with it makes me experience humble, honoured together with extremely appreciative. I’m looking forwards to it,” Solt said.

Three other Paralympic Orders volition go awarded inwards Athens later this calendar month – to Bob Balk, old Chairperson of the IPC Athletes’ Council, Michael Barredo, old President of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), together with Duncan Campbell, founder of wheelchair rugby.

 

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