A
National Paralympic Committee (
NPC) is a national constituent of the worldwide Paralympic movement. Subject to the controls of the
International Paralympic Committee (IPC), NPCs are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the
Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games are a major international
multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities,
amputations,
blindness, and
cerebral palsy. There are
Winter and
Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their respective
Olympic Games, in the same host city.
As of 2012, there are 174 NPC members of the IPC. Only NPCs in good standing may enter athletes in the Paralympic Games. Within countries, some NPCs serve as the national governing body for one or more sports, while others only act as the IPC member with responsibility for Paralympic Games.