Who Are We?

IPAFA is not just a company, it is a movement. It was founded by Olympian Sylvia Sweeney, to facilitate cross cultural understanding. It is comprised of Olympians, Olympic Administrators, Television Producers, Business executives, Entertainment, Marketing and Trans-media professionals; like minded people from various countries around the world. We believe that the Olympic Games is the only venue in which cultures can showcase their excellence for the entire world to see. We believe that if the Olympics re-embraced artists back into the Movement as competitors, that these artists will be able to promote cross cultural understanding. When someone wins in the arts we all win, for having been exposed to the best artist in the world.

Behind the Shadows, In Front of the Light, Mandla Mabila

We Dream of a day when all individuals who affect positive change are valued equally irrespective of their creed, culture or persuasion.

We dream of a world in which obstacles are not arbitrarily placed in front of people, where barriers do not divide nations and where bridges are built between cultures.

We believe in the power of the arts and of artists to break down barriers, scale obstacles and leap the gaps dividing people, cultures and nations. Art, in all its many forms, speaks a universal language. The arts touch humanity at a visceral level and are powerful tools toward cross-cultural understanding and change. We believe this because we have witnessed it.

We have seen the artificial divisions between races melt and be rendered irrelevant when black and white artists take the stage and perform together. We have seen faces light up with recognition when a disabled artist's portrait is exhibited. We have seen musicians from opposite sides of the world find common ground and fluent communication when their instruments are tuned and they begin to play.

But, these are not the images or the events the mass media portrays to its viewers regularly. How can we value what we do not see? Mass media focuses on occidental cultures. Non-industrialized nations are absent in the celebration of excellence. We see their pain but rarely their joy.

IPAFA is committed to changing this picture one frame at a time.