IPC Plans to Centralize Vision Impairment Classification Services
Paralympic Games
Author: International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
Published: 2024/08/16
Publication Type: Informative
Contents: Summary – Introduction – Main – Related
Synopsis: The new approach is envisaged to lead to optimised classification services for athletes with vision impairment. Currently, International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), the IPC, and the respective international federations, are all involved in VI classification. However, this combined effort leads to unclear roles and responsibilities across different stakeholders, and sometimes results in duplicated efforts. There are 11 sports included on the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games sport programs which offer competition opportunities for athletes with a vision impairment.
Introduction
Following discussion with its member organisations and detailed planning, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is looking to offer centralised vision impairment (VI) classification services for the Paralympic Movement from 2025 onwards.
Main Digest
By offering international federations a centralized VI classification service, the IPC aims to:
- Conduct all stages of VI classification with an athlete-centered approach, ensuring standardization of assessments
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities and increase collaboration between international federations and the IPC
- Pool resources to invest more in the integrity of VI classification systems, and preventing, identifying and managing cases of intentional misrepresentation
- Support the classifier workforce with more, [...]