Single Classification Approach Drives Committee Meetings

From 19-23 May, the Committees held not only separate meetings with all Committee members and IPC Medical and Scientific Director Dr. Peter Van de Vliet, but also a joint meeting where classification research was discussed from a conceptual point of view. Sound underlying methodology and unique language and terminology were stressed as crucial in the single approach of classification. Several examples of such models which have already been applied elsewhere in different IPC sports or with different impairment groups were presented and served as further discussion instruments for both committees.

The Sport Science Committee spent two days prior to the collaborative meeting evaluating the incoming bids for VISTA 2011, the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games research reports and the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games research applications. Strategies were also discussed concerning the transfer of scientific knowledge to the Paralympic Movement through publications, international sport forums and conferences, and enhanced international co-operation by different research centres and universities.

The Classification Committee met after the joint meeting, initiating the process of a sport-self audit in compliance with the IPC Classification Code, and discussing the various strategies to ensure that classification information serve different stakeholders, including athletes and coaches, national federations, sports, media and spectators.

For more information about Sport Science and Classification, please visit www.paralympic.org -> Classification or -> Sport Science.