British Paralympic Association announce Penny Briscoe as Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020

The British Paralympic Association announced the appointment of Briscoe, who is currently the director of sport at the BPA, with the hope that she can continue to help the team achieve great things in 2020.

Briscoe carried out the role when ParalympicsGB achieved an historic 147 medals including 64 golds to finish second in the medal table at Rio 2016, then oversaw the team that won seven medals including a gold in PyeongChang earlier this year, and expressed her optimism for the future.

"I am incredibly honoured and proud to be asked to be Chef de Mission," said Briscoe, who will be at her ninth Paralympic Games in Tokyo and fourth as Chef de Mission.

"All the team at the BPA are working tirelessly to support a best prepared team at Tokyo 2020 and to ensure athletes and staff can thrive during the Games.

"Ultimately, we want to create an environment where our athletes can deliver the personal best and medal winning performances they, and their support teams, have worked so hard for. It really is a team effort and one which we are totally focussed upon.

"Tokyo 2020 promises to be an immensely competitive Games in the rapidly evolving world of Paralympic sport as rival nations strive to match the achievements of ParalympicsGB."

Tim Hollingsworth, BPA chief executive, believes Briscoe's vast experience will significantly boost ParalympicsGB's chances of success in two years' time.

He said: "It is a real pleasure to confirm Penny's appointment as Chef de Mission for Tokyo 2020.

"It really was one of my easier decisions. Penny has been a hugely important figure in the success of ParalympicsGB and is widely respected worldwide as a leading Chef de Mission and expert in Paralympic sport.

"I am delighted we will continue to benefit from her wealth of experience and unparalleled knowledge to create the best possible environment for our athletes in Tokyo.

"We know the success of ParalympicsGB athletes at the Games is crucial to supporting our broader ambition to use their inspiration and status to challenge perceptions, break down barriers and in the words of our vision: through sport inspire a better world for disabled people."

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will feature 22 sports, including Para taekwondo and Para badminton for the first time, when competition gets underway in August 2020.

Sportsbeat 2018