For Andrew George William Parsons, Los Angeles means far more than just a name, buildings, people, or the memory of a place. The city showed him his path, and he will return there to write what might seem like a final chapter—though it is merely a pause before a new beginning.
"I was seven years old during the 1984 Olympic Games, and I enjoyed watching Joaquim Cruz win the 800 meters—the only Brazilian champion of those Games.
"When I turned around, I saw my mother crying; she told me about the runner's humble background—how, before finding fame, he had made a living as a street vendor. That was when I understood the power of sport to change lives."
After playing soccer, volleyball, and basketball—albeit without the magic of Pelé, Giba, or Oscar Schmidt—he studied Social Communication and interned at the Brazilian Paralympic Committee. "I knew it then: I wanted to work in this field for the rest of my life."
He went on to chair that body—following his tenure at the Committee of the Americas (CPA)—and joined the leadership of the International Committee (IPC) in 2009. In 2013, he rose to the vice-presidency, and on September 8th, 2017, he was elected to the first of three consecutive terms as the organization's top leader.
"Every day, after waking up, I look in the mirror and tell myself: 'I want to do my bit to transform the world,'" he confides.
"Beyond winning medals, we support human rights movements for people with disabilities, who make up around 15% of the global population.
"When athletes perform at a high level, we help change perceptions regarding this issue. We face no identity crisis, as high-level athletic performance and social impact go hand in hand."
He also acknowledges the importance of bridging the gap between academia and the sports arena—a move realized by the Cuban Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Manuel Fajardo University of Physical Culture and Sports Sciences, in the presence of Parsons and CPA Executive Director Michele Formonte.
"In Brazil, when that coming-together occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, the Paralympic movement grew exponentially," notes the first IPC leader to carry out an official agenda in Cuba.
The success of that philosophy on a global scale is demonstrated by its visibility: during the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympic Games in early 2026, the event garnered over 600 million views on YouTube—a figure surpassing the total for all of 2024, he explains.
His visit to the island had two main objectives: to gain insight into the country's reality and to identify areas where assistance could be provided. "It was important to come for the centenary of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and for the election of Omara Durand to lead the CPC."
He described his conversation with Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez—First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic—as a pleasant one. "He understands the purpose of the Paralympic movement—which goes beyond medals—as being aimed at inclusion."
Reflecting on the experiences gathered over the course of a few hours, the South American stated: "For every star athlete, there are thousands of children who deserve a chance to stay active and be happy—that is the greatest achievement."
He left the country with 110% conviction in the power of sport to benefit humanity, noting: "It allows each individual's potential to be identified. There is excellent instructional work being done here, whereas in other places, students with disabilities are often told to sit out during physical education classes rather than being given guidance."
What remains to be determined is how to establish a more effective presence in the country through the Sport for Mobility program, which includes scholarships, the provision of equipment, support for competition participation, and training projects for medical-functional classifiers, coaches, and administrators.
Regarding the organization of the 2028 Paralympics, he confirmed that the event is entering the operational preparation phase. "Now we must put our plans for infrastructure, transportation, and promotion into action."
The Brazilian executive will experience every moment in Los Angeles—two summers from now—with the intensity and anticipatory nostalgia of someone who knows the end is near. The celebration in the California city will mark the pinnacle of his third and final consecutive term.
That seven-year-old child and this man, nearing five decades of life, will clasp hands to cross the finish line at the Memorial Coliseum together, buoyed by the enduring spirit of Joaquim Cruz, Omara Durand, and all those who remember that history never ends when there is the will to turn life's obstacles into sources of pride and joy.
