Partners and Events
No.45
September 2005
 
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Progress in Research on Intellectual Disability and Sport
Press release from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Germany
 

Bonn, Germany – From 29 to 30 August, a group of researchers, including representatives of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Sports Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) and independent researchers, met in Bonn to further plans for the development of eligibility and verification systems for athletes with an intellectual disability. The group was joined by representatives of IPC Athletics and IPC Nordic Skiing.
The aim of the meeting was to provide the sports present with current information regarding the research plans and to finalise the methodology of collection and analysis of data at forthcoming INAS-FID competitions in Athletics, Basketball, Swimming and Table Tennis. Possible opportunities to test the system in Nordic Skiing were also discussed.
It was decided that research will be conducted at the INAS-FID Athletics World Championships in Australia (25 September - 1 October) and at the INAS-FID Basketball Open European Championships in Russia (9 - 16 October). Discussion will take place with Table Tennis and Swimming with regard to suitable competitions. The methodology to be used will be based on the Global Games research including performance analyses, general and sport-specific physical tests, skill proficiency tests and tactical analyses. These data will be cross-referenced with diagnosis of intellectual disability by accepted standards.
Over the past few months the IPC and INAS-FID have agreed on a revised Athlete Eligibility Form to be used at both INAS-FID and IPC competitions. The development of a system that will benefit athletes with an intellectual disability has been a main priority of both organisations with much progress being made in the collection and analysis of data aimed at confirming certain aspects of intellectual disability as it relates to sport.


The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the international governing body of sports for athletes with a disability. It supervises and co-ordinates the Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and other multi-disability competitions, of which the most important are World and Regional Championships. The IPC also supports the recruitment and development of athletes at a local, national and international level across all performance levels.


For further information, please contact
Miriam Wilkens,
IPC Media and Communication Director
Tel: +49-228-2097-180
E-mail: Miriam.wilkens@paralympic.org
www.paralympic.org






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