The IPC launched a review of the Code in June last year with an initial first round of consultation running until September 30.

During that period, more than 750 submissions from 32 IPC members were received as well as recommendations from the IPC Classification Committee and the IPC Management Team based on dialogue with members.

The first draft of the Code was presented at the IPC Governing Board meeting at its headquarters in Bonn last month and, following discussion, it will now be circulated among members and stakeholders to garner further feedback.

It will then be submitted to the IPC Governing Board before a final draft is published ahead of a motion at the IPC General Assembly in November 2015 where any changes to the Code will be ratified.

The revised Classification Code is scheduled for release in 2017.

"We received a good response to the first round of consultation for the IPC Classification Code and I would like to thank those who took the time to send in their views," said Anne Hart., chair of the IPC Classification Committee.

"We are pleased to now be sharing the first draft of the new Code and inviting further feedback.

"One of the central themes from the responses was to make the Code more accessible and athlete-centred.

"It is important that everyone has an understanding of classification and that is why we have made several changes to the language used and included explanations where possible.

"A number of other amendments have also been made around when and where classification takes place, the role of the IPC, National Paralympic Committees and International and National Federations as well as other administrative changes.

The revised IPC Classification Code aims to make competition as fair as possible between athletes of similar abilities ©AFP/Getty Images



The current Code was adopted by the IPC Governing Board in 2007 and provides policies and procedures for Paralympic classification that aims to create an environment where athletes compete in competitions with equal abilities.

As part of the review process, the IPC opened up two classification research and development centres in The Netherlands and Australia last year.

The Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam will lead a project for the development of sport-specific classification for athletes with a visual impairment while the University of Queensland in Brisbane will be a hub for classification research for persons with a physical impairment.

Plans are in place to establish a third centre that will focus on intellectual impairment.

"Classification remains the lynchpin of fair and equal competition in the Paralympic Movement," said Hart.

"I strongly encourage people to once again engage with us during the second round of consultation to continue working towards a better, stronger and more comprehensive Code."

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