Luton swimming official Bob Outtram has been named International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming Technical Delegate to the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Outtram, who is a member of the IPC Sports Technical Council, is charged with ensuring the Beijing Organising Committee delivers the swimming elements of the Games in accordance with the sport’s requirements.

Already an ASA registered referee, judge and timekeeper, the Luton Swimming Club membe became involved in disability swimming in 2004 when he took an IPC Officials course. Soon after he was co-opted onto the IPC Sports Technical Committee and he has since officiated at the IPC World Championships, performed Technical Assistant roles at the Visa Paralympic World Cup and more recently was Technical Delegate at the International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) Games in Taipei.

Outtram has already started preparing for the Games and will attend a test event in Beijing next February. The IPC international judge is looking forward to working at the biggest disability sports event in the world and using the knowledge he has gained through British Swimming. 

“It’s a big privilege to be named Swimming Technical Delegate for Beijing,” he said. “The IPC has developed a team of specialists on its Sports Technical Council and I will be drawing on their skills to help us deliver the best Games yet.”

“It’s an exciting time to be involved in disability swimming. The governance of the IPC has changed considerably and it’s become a much more professional organisation. Coming from British Swimming, which is recognised as a world leader in disability swimming, I’m looking forward to sharing our best practise and helping to raise the bar.”