World Rowing with the support of the Korean Para Rowing Association concluded today a Para Rowing Basic Classification Workshop in Chungju, South Korea organised on the sidelines of the Asian and Oceanian Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta (AOOPQR) hosted in Chungju. This collaborative effort supported by the World Rowing Para Commission and the Classification Advisory Panel was delivered by Roberto Nahon, the Chief International Classifier for the AOOPQR.
Classification is the process by which athletes are grouped into specific sport classes based on their impairments, ensuring that they compete against others with similar functional abilities.
The primary goal of this workshop was to educate and upskill national classifiers who play a pivotal role in identifying potential Para Rowing athletes and classifying them on the national level.
Following the theoretical session, participants observed live technical and medical classification sessions of athletes registered for classification. These observations provided invaluable insights into the practical application of classification criteria. The participants witnessed firsthand how athletes’ functional abilities are assessed, ensuring accurate placement in the appropriate sport class. International Classifiers Helen Blamey and Ram Sack managed the classification practical sessions and offered feedback and discussions with the participants sharing insights, best practices, and experiences, enriching the collective understanding of para-rowing classification.
Certificates of Achievements were awarded to all the participants, who in addition to participation in the Basic in-person Classification Workshop, successfully completed the Introduction to Para Rowing Classification – Online Course available on the World Rowing Academy.
