The decision, due to be taken at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur this weekend, will be largely based on the IPC Classification Code, a system that sets eligibility criteria and ensures that an athlete's impairment is relevant to sport performance, minimising the impact of the impairment on the outcome of competition.

The IPC are sent to make an announcement next Sunday (November 22) and, after lobbying hard for the decision for many years, Lane revealed that ParalympicsGB is confident that they will be successful.

Lane said: "We believe that the Paralympic Games can really impact people's lives in a very strong way and that is why we feel it is very important to have the highest amount of disability groups competing at the biggest disability sporting event on the planet.

"ParalympicsGB have lobbied long and hard for the re-inclusion of ID athletes from the very beginning and that is why we would be delighted to see the IPC announce their involvement in the Paralympics, particularly with London 2012 coming up."

Lane believes that although there has been a long delay for a decision on the inclusion of ID athletes at the Paralympics to be made, it is not a decision that can be rushed due to the complexity of the issue.

He said: "It has taken some time for this decision to come about and while the delay is regrettable, there are many issues to overcome in order to make a decision such as this.

"I do believe that the way the IPC have gone about their decision [with long and complex research involving ID athletes] is the right way to go about making a decision of this magnitude.

"When looking at a physical disability, a decision regarding sporting competition is a fairly easy one to make but when looking at an intellectual disability, things are far more complex and careful research must be undertaken to ensure that the right course of action is taken.

"Therefore, I commend the IPC's approach even if it has taken more time than ParalympicsGB would have liked."

 Lane also said that having wanted this decision for so long, ParalympicsGB would be devastated to see the IPC refused to include ID athletes at the Games, a possibility that may yet emerge.

He said: "We would be pretty disappointed if the decision didn’t go our way and ID athletes were not included in the Paralympic Games but things seem to be looking positive and it is my understanding that the IPC are set to include ID athletes in the Games which is fantastic news for ParalympicsGB and for Para-Sport around the world.

"The Paralympics have such a strong affect on all people from all nations and the inclusion of ID athletes in the Paralympics would reaffirm the continuing growth of the Paralympic movement and of Para-Sport. 

"As ParalympicsGB have lobbied for this decision from day one, we would be so pleased as we realise the power sport has to affect all individuals regardless of their impairment."

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