Paralympics New Zealand hold visual impairment classification workshops

“We are confident that the specialists trained this weekend will take on the rewarding opportunity to be involved as a classifier and help shape the future growth and develop the profile of para-sport in New Zealand.”

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has run a two half day classifier training workshops in Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand, for vision specialists to become future classifiers in para-sport.

In total, 16 optometrists and ophthalmologists (eye care specialists) took part in the workshops, receiving world class training led by Australia’s Dr Richard Rawson, an ophthalmologist and Head of Classification at the Oceania International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) and an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) classifier.

Dr Rawson is an expert in the field of classification for para-athletes with visual impairments, and works across many different sports internationally.

Marguerite Christophers, Classification Manager at PNZ, said: “The involvement of optometrists and ophthalmologists in the classification of visually impaired para-athletes is vital to increasing participation in para-sport and supporting athlete pathways to medal winning performances.

“We are confident that the specialists trained this weekend will take on the rewarding opportunity to be involved as a classifier and help shape the future growth and develop the profile of para-sport in New Zealand.”

For more information, visit the Paralympics New Zealand website.