Attended by more than 50 workers from across the University, the virtual interactive session looked at key themes within the Classification process including how it is defined, who can compete within different disciplines, and the role support staff can play on the athlete journey.
“Classification impacts Para athletes at all stages of their career, so the better an athlete’s support staff understands Classification, the better placed they are to work effectively with that athlete,” explained Iain Gowans, Classification Manager, The British Paralympic Association.
“It was great to run the workshop for so many Loughborough University staff from such a wide variety of disciplines. We were able to provide a platform to allow staff with more experience of Classification to share their learnings as well as answer some questions that previously staff may have been unsure to ask.”
Participants were also provided with additional supporting material and the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with former Great Britain wheelchair rugby player Andy Barrow.
Nik Diaper, Head of Para Sport, Loughborough University, said:
“To have 50 Loughborough staff attend this workshop really shows the solid commitment to Para sport at Loughborough University. Understanding Classification is integral for anyone working in this field and I would like to offer a huge thank you to the BPA for working together with us to deliver a fantastic session which was really well received by all who attended.”
For more information on the British Paralympic Association click HERE.