Manuela Bailao becomes new IPC lead for IKL matters

Manuela Bailao joined the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as Paralympic Games Co-ordinator in February this year and is the organisation’s new lead on all IKL-related matters. In addition, Manuela is looking after projects for accessibility, Games operations and Games delivery. 

Brazilian native Manuela’s academic background is in physical education. The topic of inclusive education raised her interest in sport for people with disabilities. Her career in the Paralympic Movement began in 2010 at the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, where she worked in the NPC’s Sports Department for nine years and liaised with organisers of major multi-sports events on behalf of the Brazilian delegation. In this role, she also managed projects for high-performance athletes, coordinating with different government levels and experts, as well as the athletes themselves, partners, and National and International Federations. 

Tokyo 2020 experience

Manuela was part of the Brazilian delegation at several Paralympic and Parapan American Games, looking after operational aspects. This experience, combined with huge personal curiosity regarding what happens “behind the scenes”, provided her with valuable insights and the big picture of how the Games are run. It also helped her to take on the role of Accreditation Senior Manager for NPCs with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Asked about the next chapter in her career, Manuela said: “Joining the IPC team is a dream come true.” She added: “Being inside an OCOG gave me the opportunity to learn the process from another perspective and understand the dimension of the expression ‘delivery of the Games’, in addition to working in a very diverse international and multicultural environment. After this, I’m excited to contribute to this passionate movement, especially such special projects. I am very much looking forward to working with the IOC and all the OCOGs on how IKL can assist in the delivery of amazing Games.”

Welcome on board, Manuela!