The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has taken steps to rebrand 10 sports it oversees as an international federation to distinguish them from Paralympic competition.

Sports which have used the IPC prefix will now switch over to the World Para prefix, in a move that will take the next 12 months to complete.

As part of the rebrand, the sports will gain new identities that will clearly depict the sport as well as the impairment in the logos and competition emblems.

The following sports will undergo name changes: IPC Athletics (World Para Athletics); IPC Powerlifting (World Para Powerlifting); IPC Shooting (World Shooting para sport); IPC Swimming (World Para Swimming); IPC Alpine Skiing (World Para Alpine Skiing); IPC Biathlon (World Para Nordic Skiing); IPC Cross-Country (World Para Nordic Skiing); IPC Ice Sledge Hockey (World Para Ice Hockey); IPC Snowboard (World Para Snowboard); IPC Wheelchair Dance Sport (World Para Dance Sport).

In addition, competition names in each sport will adopt a revised format to give greater prominence to the host city.

Alexis Schaefer, commercial and marketing director for IPC, said the decision for the rebrand was three-fold.

“Firstly, we hope using Para will make the sports more distinctive from the equivalent Olympic of able-bodied sports,” he explained. “Secondly, the new look for each sport allows for a more consistent and uniform promotion of Para sport.

“Finally, this move ensures that the Agitos (Paralympic symbol) and the word Paralympic is only used in association with the Paralympic Games.”