[Sportsandrec] Classification system can be a hurdle for Paralympic athletes

Sun Sep 11 01:27:44 UTC 2016

Bridget, I agree.  Probably the greatest obstacle is finding people to train
with.  

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: SportsandRec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via SportsandRec
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 7:53 PM
To: 'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Classification system can be a hurdle for
Paralympic athletes

Nella,

Agree, depending on the sport, but this particular thread has come down to
running, and as a totally blind runner, I'm not seeing the advantage.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: SportsandRec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Nella Foster via SportsandRec
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 6:10 PM
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Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Classification system can be a hurdle for
Paralympic athletes

Bridget, I really think it would depend on the sport.  Little or no vision
might not be a disadvantage in some things, but could put one at a huge
disadvantange in other events.

Nella

-----Original Message-----
From: SportsandRec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via SportsandRec
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 1:46 PM
To: 'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Classification system can be a hurdle for
Paralympic athletes

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

I know this doesn't work across all disabilities, but when it comes to
visual impairment, there should be no categorization assuming better or
worse ability. A totally blind swimmer, for example, can be just as good,
even better, than a fully sighted swimmer. It has nothing to do with sight
and everything to do with training and conditioning and skill.

I know this isn't the crux of this article, but I do find it interesting
that the classifications are intended to not only determine who is "disabled
enough" to compete in general, but to place athletes based on severity of
disability so they are not competing easier or more difficult than the
competition. This seems a bit antiquated to me.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: SportsandRec [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Gaston Bedard via SportsandRec
Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2016 1:37 PM
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Cc: Gaston Bedard <gasbedard at videotron.ca>
Subject: [Sportsandrec] Classification system can be a hurdle for Paralympic
athletes

Classification system can be a hurdle for Paralympic athletes

'It's really difficult to draw the line' in assessing who is qualified to
compete

By Chris Brown, Chris Corday, CBC News,  September 10, 2016.

 Amy Burk, who is visually impaired, has been a competitive goalball player
for 13 years at an elite level, but was told her vision wasn't poor enough
to play. She appealed and was reinstated.
Amy Burk, who is visually impaired, has been a competitive goalball player
for 13 years at an elite level, but was told her vision wasn't poor enough
to play. She appealed and was reinstated. (Chris Corday/CBC) 

The Paralympics may be attracting decent crowds and loyal fans in Rio de
Janeiro, but the classification system of deciding who competes and against
whom is confounding for them - and even for some athletes.

"I'd love to see it get fixed a little better," said Amy Burk, a Team Canada
goalball player, who's visually impaired.

Goalball involves three players per team throwing a rubber ball that makes
noise as it rolls, with the opposite side trying to pull off diving saves.

Burk, 26, started playing as a young teen and by 2011 was a two-time world
champion. 

But then, with Canada preparing to host the 2015 Para-Pan Am Games in
Toronto she got a shock. 

An assessment determined her impairment wasn't severe enough to qualify her
as a disabled athlete, and she was forced out of the tournament. 
Amy Burk
As an albino, Amy Burk says, her vision can vary. Conditions on the day of
the classification test worked against her. "We are very light sensitive so
it could just be the lighting in the room or little things like that."
(Chris Corday/CBC)

"It's unfortunate to be playing a sport your whole life and then to be told
one day, you can't play anymore," said Burk. She  sat out the Para  Pan-Ams
but after hiring a lawyer and appealing she was reinstated. 

As an albino, Burk  says her vision can vary and conditions on the day of
the classification test worked against her. "We are very light-sensitive so
it could just be the lighting in the room or little things like that." 

CBC Paralympic commentator and former Paralympic swimmer Stephanie Dixon
says Burk's case points to some of the arbitrariness in the way athletes
with disabilities are classified. 

"It's really difficult to draw the line," said Dixon. 

The Canadian Paralympic Committee's website notes the purpose of classes is
to ensure athletes with similar functions and abilities compete against each
other. 

Swimming, for example, with 14 classes, has the most of any sport, ranging
from mild impairment to severe. 

Sometimes swimmers with partial leg amputations will be put in the same
category as those missing a forearm, for example. 

"You have many different types of disabilities competing against each other,
so it's always how the disability affects your performance, not just your
disability," said Dixon. 

Paralympian and 2012 medalist Bethany Woodward is one of several British
athletes who have alleged widespread cheating within the classification
system.

Woodward claimed some athletes at the London games faked or exaggerated
disabilities to get into a more favourable classification where they stood a
better chance of winning. 

British Athletics has said it will investigate the claims after the Rio
games.

Beijing Paralympics Swimming
Canada's Stephanie Dixon prepares to start in the final of the Women's 50
metre freestyle at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. Dixon, a multiple
Paralympic medal winner, says the classification system is generally fair
but can produce some strange results. (Associated Press)

Peter Van de Vliet, head of the International Paralympic Committee's medical
committee, told CBC News the classification system is robust. 

"There has been significant amount of training done for those in charge of
the process so that across the board, the system is fair,  transparent and
understandable." 

Dixon says she also supports the classification system but argues the IPC
needs to ensure situations such as Amy Burk's don't happen - and to keep it
as simple as possible for the benefit of fans.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/paralympics/paralympics-classification-amy-burk-1.3
755689

end of article.

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