Joint IPC/IDSF Adjudicators' Congress

In 2008, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and IDSF signed an agreement, pledging to collaborate in several areas of common concern. The staging of joint competitions for wheelchair and able-bodied athletes and the general coordination of competition schedules were the priorities for 2009.

In 2010 the focus shift to another important area: the education and certification of adjudicators, with emphasis on using the combined resources of both organisations.

Mrs Grete Andersen from Norway, the IPC Wheelchair DanceSport Chairperson, and Mrs Corrie van Hugten, Netherlands, the IPC Wheelchair DanceSport Technical Committee Head of Competition and Officiating, presented Wheelchair DanceSport - its organisation, development , competition structure and categories - at the first Adjudicators' Congress held jointly by IPC and IDSF in Stuttgart, Germany.

It was most impressive to see the reigning IPC World Champions from Belarus, Ihar Kisilou and Hanna Harchakova, demonstrating Wheelchair DanceSport at its very best and assisting Corrie during her lecture to the attendees.

For many of the the able-bodied adjudicators aspiring certification to judge IPC competitions it was very challenging as they tried to handle a wheelchair themselves. Exceptional skills are required to move forward and backward, and even more so for turning and partnering.             

The principles of some particular judging criteria for Wheelchair DanceSport were explained by Corrie and discussed between all attendees at this first joint congress.

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Published on 23 September 2010