Empowering Excellence, Embracing Inclusion
Bhutan Paralympic Committee
During His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck’s official visit to Japan in May, 2016, the officials of the Organizing Committee for Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, requested HRH for Bhutan’s participation in the Paralympic games scheduled for September, 2020. The BOC was then commanded to establish a Paralympic Committee and seek affiliation with the international and continental governing body.
The Bhutan Paralympic Committee (BPC) is an organization affiliated to the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC), and registered as an autonomous organization with the International and Asian Paralympic Committee, for the promotion of Paralympic Sports in Bhutan. The Bhutan Paralympic Committee was granted membership on 7th September, 2017 by the International Paralympic Committee, during its General Assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The BPC’s mission is to inspire all Bhutanese individuals living with impairments, and provide them with opportunities to participate and excel, in sports.
Sports in Bhutan has developed immensely in recent years with the BOC and National Sports Federations (NSFs) playing an active role in promoting sports for all. However, their plans, programs and activities, largely cover only the able-bodied sporting population and they have not been able to reach and engage with those living with physical impairments. Hence, there is a need to offer equal opportunity for all Bhutanese, irrespective of their abilities, to practice and enjoy sports as part of their daily lives.
Out of the 7 individuals we managed to involve in Paralympic sports like Athletics, Shooting and Archery. During the initial stages of establishing the BPC, we consulted various relevant agencies overseeing disabilities in Bhutan, to study all available data and to engage them in the promotion of sport programmes. However, there was a paucity of information and data, with only a few agencies maintaining records, and that too only reflecting those individuals, who came forward to seek support.
Social inclusion is a key aspect of our national philosophy of Gross National Happiness. As sports can contribute significantly to physical and psychological wellbeing, it is an important medium to promote social inclusion.
Vision and Mission
Vision – Excellence through sports for all
Mission – To inspire all Bhutansese individuals living with impairments and provide them with opportunities to participate and excel in sports.
If we are to ever achieve the dream of making sports fully accessible to all citizens of Bhutan, including those people living with impairments, we have to educate and encourage the general public to come forward and support the participation of our impaired population in sports and also provide a platform for people living with impairments, to participate in, enjoy and perhaps even excel in sports.
History
The Bhutan Paralympic Committee (BPC) is an organization affiliated to the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC), and registered as an autonomous organization with the International and Asian Paralympic Committee, for the promotion of Paralympic Sports in Bhutan. The Bhutan Paralympic Committee was granted membership on 7th September, 2017 by the International Paralympic Committee, during its General Assembly in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The BPC’s mission is to inspire all Bhutanese individuals living with impairments, and provide them with opportunities to participate and excel, in sports.
A New Era of Inclusion
Her Royal Highness Ashi Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck graces launch of Agenda Chikha: Advancing Disability Inclusion in Bhutan. Agenda Chikha is a joint initiative by Bhutan and the United Nations to advance disability inclusion.
Paralympic sports plays an essential role in advancing social inclusion and empowering persons with disabilities. Through Paralympic sports, individuals with disabilities are able to realize their potential, achieve new milestones, breaking down stereotypes and fostering inclusion.
Quick Info
- Name of the committee: Bhutan Paralympic Committee
- Abbreviation: BPC
- Type of Organization: Affiliated to Bhutan Olympic committee and registered as an autonomous organization with the International and Asian Paralympic Committee
- Date of Establishment: 7th September 2017
- Office Address: Thimphu, Bhutan
- Phone: +975 2 327 252
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Official Website:
- Social Media links:
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/184XctueJF/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bhutanparalympic?igsh=MWFja2M1ZXh4ODlpcw==
Key Milestones
- Milestone and major events in the journey- Bhutan made the first debut at the summer 2020 Paralympic games in Tokyo , Japan. Atleletes: Gyeltshen, Shot put thrower. Pema Rigsel, Archer and Chimi Dema, Shotput Thrower.
- Gyeltshen, Shotput Thrower set his personal record at the Tokyo, Japan Summer Paralympic Game. Gyeltshen managed to throw a distance of 6.31 metres.
- Para athlete Kinley Dema makes top 10 world ranking at Paris Paralympic Games in women’s 10m Air Rifle. She scored a point of 616.8
Objectives
- Be the sole organization recognized by the International Paralympic Committee and to represent the Paralympic Movement in Bhutan.
- Contribute to the development of the Vision, Mission, Objects, Purposes and goals of the IPC as the National Paralympic Committee for Bhutan.
- To act as a governing body of the para sports in Bhutan.
- To be responsible for selection and and participation of Bhutan Para-athletes and teams at the paralympic games and other para sports.
- To educate Bhutanese especially the youth about the paralympic movement and the involvement of para-athletes in Para sports.
- To be leading advocate on para sports in Bhutan.
- To discourage all forms of doping in accordance with the rules and regulations of the IPC and in particular to adopt and implement the World Anti-Doping code to ensure that the BPC’s antidoping policies and rules, members and or funding requirements and results management processes conform with the World Anti-doping code and respect all the roles and responsibilities for National Paralympic Committee that are listed within the World Anti-Doping code.
- To be an independent and autonomous organization free from any political, legal, religious and economic pressures that may prevent the BPC from complying with its obligations to the IPC.
President
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Name
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Year
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HRH Princess Eeuphelma Choden Wangchuck
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2025
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Secretary General
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Name
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Year
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Mr. Sonam Karma Tshering
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2025
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Calender 2025
Gallery
About Bhutan Olympic Committee
Discover the history of the Bhutan Olympic Committee and learn about its journey and contributions to sports development.