IPC Athletics Classification Research Project Receives Funding
26.10.2007
The Australian Research Council (ARC) awarded Euro 230,350 (= AUD 365.000) to support a classification research project in the sport of IPC Athletics, entitled “Evaluating the Impact of Neuromusculoskeletal Impairment on Athletic Performance” and lead by Dr. Sean Tweedy (University of Queensland, Australia), Dr. John Bourke (Head of Classification, IPC Athletics) and Prof. Yves Vanlandewijck (Chairperson, IPC Sports Science Committee).
“We have every reason to be proud and excited about getting the project to this stage."
The project aims to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition, which is the main purpose of classification in Paralympic sports. Competitive success should be determined by the same factors as able-bodied sports, including training as well as physiological, technical, economical and psychological support. To ensure a sound methodological basis for the project, a taxonomic concept - derived from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) - has been adopted.
To secure the funding of the Australian Research Council, IPC support for the project in its initial phase was vital.
Said Dr. Tweedy: “We have every reason to be proud and excited about getting the project to this stage. We are now in a position to take concrete steps towards developing an evidence-based Paralympic classification system in Athletics. The substantial cash commitment from the ARC – Australia’s peak scientific funding organization – is the evidence that the research project is underpinned by high quality science.”
The project will be discussed in detail during the upcoming IPC Athletics Business Planning Meeting, to be held in Bonn, Germany, from 1 to 4 November.
