30 Nov 2007
London winning the 2012 Olympics presents a huge opportunity for Paralympic sport. Phil Lane, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association, explains in the Big Interview how the governing body plans to make the most of the chance.
Profile
Philip Lane, Chief Executive , British Paralympic Association
Lane joined the British Paralympic Association in August 2001 as the new Chief Executive. Within the first six months he represented GB, firstly at the European Paralympic Congress, where former British Paralympic Association Chairman, Dr. Bob Price, was elected President, and then at the International Paralympic Congress where Philip Craven of Great Britain was elected as IPC President. Since then he has been Britain’s Chef de Mission in Salt Lake, Athens and Torino
Other roles include being the Managing Director of Paralympic World Cup Ltd, which runs the multi-sport event in Manchester and Chairman of Proactive East London one of the Sport England sport partnerships that deliver grass-root and community sport to the 10 Olympic/Paralympic boroughs in East London.
Formerly a headteacher he has a first class honours degree in PE and Education from London University, a Master of Science degree in Management, and an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from London Metropolitan University. With a life-long passion for sport of any kind teaching PE as a career was sheer indulgence for this sports fanatic.
However, injury, age and ambition saw a career change culminating in 10 years as a
headteacher in two schools including one formerly run by HM Chief Inspector of Schools (OFSTED).
Throughout sport has been, and is, a consuming influence on his life whether participating in Rugby at club and county level, mountain walking, sailing and adventure sports or just trying to stay fit! Inevitably the lure of coaching was too much to withstand for a teacher.
Rugby has perhaps given him most fulfilment whilst also being a major influence on his life. After injury curtailed his career he began coaching with Saracens, and later Blackheath, at senior level. After qualifying as a RFU Senior Coach in 1988 he became involved in coaching representative youth rugby, firstly with Eastern Counties, then London Division and finally
England. For the last he was six years coach/selector with England Colts [U19] and Head Coach with England U18’s.
Philip said: “My involvement in sport has given me the privilege of working with and meeting elite performers, coaches and administrators from all over the world and in many sports besides rugby. The opportunity to extend this association through the Paralympic movement is one which inspires and challenges both my sporting and professional instincts. My direct involvement with the London 2012 Paralympic Games is the highlight of my career in sport and ignites the pride, the passion and competitive instinct that bind all of us involved in elite sport."
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