The aim of the series is to inform and educate anyone who may be part of the classification process, showing the key details and offering a general overview particularly for those new to the subject. 

Developed with World Para Fencing’s Head of Classification, Anita Laszlo, and professional animators, the videos centre around fictional athlete Chris Foil’s journey through the classification process which features a total of four stages.  

They begin with an explanation of the general purpose of classification along with an explanation of the classes and categories specific to wheelchair fencing. 

Chris Foil is then shown as a new athlete and the steps he has to take, along with his National Federation or National Paralympic Committee, for the first stage of classification – the Underlying Health Condition Assessment – which is carried out remotely by International Classifiers. 

Chris Foil provides all the required medical and identification documentation on time and is put forward for an in-person assessment known as the Evaluation Session.  

He is then shown arriving and checking-in at the classification venue for his Evaluation Session, which is split into three sub-sections all shown in the video series. Chris Foil is taken through each stage by International Classifiers, including an Eligible Impairment Assessment, Minimum Impairment Criteria Assessment and Sport Class Assessment. 

All parts of the video are geared towards giving potential athletes and new countries an idea of what they can expect from the classification process start to finish. This includes the medical documentation that is required, terminology they may come across, the personnel they will come into contact with, the layout of the classification room and waiting room, the exercises they may be asked to complete, how they may be observed during competition, and the equipment that they will need to bring and that which will be provided.  

All key steps along the way are included, such as what, when and where to submit the correct medical documentation to enable International Classifiers to complete an Underlying Health Condition Assessment, and what documents to bring to an Evaluation Session. The video series also highlights what happens at each stage if an athlete is not eligible to compete in wheelchair fencing. 

The videos are based on the process detailed in the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Classification Code, which all sports on the Paralympic programme have to comply with. 

Harry Cootes, Acting CEO of World Abilitysport, said: “World Abilitysport and World Para Fencing is really proud to launch this video series, which we believe is a first of its kind at an international level. It is a key element of our classification efforts in recent years which have seen us deliver extensive work in this space, working closely with Members and National Federations. 

“Classification is such a unique but crucial feature of all Para sports. It can sometimes be complex but is always thorough, especially for the people at its centre – athletes and teams. 

“With this video series we aim to break it down into the most important, bite-size steps and provide a good overview of classification as a whole, helping to give some clarity to the topic with those groups in particular in mind.  

“By making it available and accessible to everyone to find on our website and digital channels we hope that it’s a useful tool for the community not only for when they come into contact with the classification system and classifiers, but for potential new athletes thinking about entering the sport as well. Our thanks go to Anita and the animator, Judit Erdélyi, and Dr. Árpád Pethő, who worked hard to bring the vision to life.” 

The classification video series was produced with support from the International Paralympic Committee. It will also be featured on broadcasts at World Cups, regional and World Championships, as well as on social media, as part of increasing understanding and knowledge of wheelchair fencing amongst followers and fans. It has been distributed to all World Abilitysport Members and National Federations and is free for them to use for their own educational efforts. 

On YouTube, English subtitles can be translated by clicking the ‘CC’ button on any of the videos and following the short instructions to choose a preferred language. 

The video is available in three parts or a full version. Please contact [email protected] for original copies of the files if required. Otherwise, the videos can be used by anyone for educational purposes directly from Parafencing.org or YouTube.  

All documentation referenced in the video series can also be found online: https://parafencing.org/classification/