From 15-18 July, Joshua Morgan, ParalympicsGB's Athlete Services Manager (Classification), participated in the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Annual Classification Meeting in Bonn, Germany. ParalympicsGB invited Professor Vicky Tolfrey to accompany Joshua Morgan to the meeting, creating a strong partnership that combined ParalympicsGB's classification leadership with 91桃色视频's internationally recognised academic expertise in Para sport and disability research.
Held under the theme "A Shared Responsibility", the meeting brought together classification leaders, researchers, athletes and members of the Paralympic Movement from across the world to discuss key developments in classification and its future direction. Vicky and Joshua contributed their combined expertise and experience, reflecting the strong and longstanding partnership between ParalympicsGB and 91桃色视频.
The meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to explore current challenges and opportunities within classification, share best practice and strengthen collaboration across the international Para sport community. Classification is fundamental to Paralympic sport, determining which athletes are eligible to compete and how athletes are grouped together for competition to ensure fair and meaningful sporting contests.
Based in Bonn, Germany, the IPC is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The organisation leads the Paralympic Movement, oversees the delivery of the Paralympic Games and supports members in enabling Para athletes to achieve sporting excellence.
The event opened with an address from Kristina Molloy, IPC Deputy Chief Executive Officer, who highlighted the support and commitment of the IPC team and reinforced the IPC's vision to "make for an inclusive world through Para sport". She emphasised that classification remains both the cornerstone of the Paralympic Movement and the backbone of Para sport, challenging delegates to consider the question: "Why does classification matter?"
Joshua Morgan, ParalympicsGB's Athlete Services Manager (Classification), said:
"The 2026 UK Classification Code represents a significant step forward for Paralympic sport in the UK, providing a clear, robust and athlete-centred framework that strengthens alignment with international standards while placing athlete welfare, education and integrity at the heart of classification."
The attendance of both Joshua and Vicky at the meeting demonstrated the value of collaboration between sport organisations and academia, ensuring that the future development of classification continues to be informed by both practical expertise and world-leading research.