ITTF Pablo Perez Appointed APSO Classification Commission
Pablo Perez Appointed Chair of APSO Athlete Classification Committee
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The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is thrilled to announce that Pablo Perez has been appointed as the Chair of the Athlete Classification Committee (ACC) for the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisations (APSO). This is a huge step forward for ensuring fair play and athlete welfare in Paralympic sports, and we’re excited to see the positive impact Pablo will have.
Championing Fair play: The Athlete Classification Committee
So, what exactly does the athlete Classification Committee do? It’s all about making sure that athletes are competing against others with similar levels of impairment. This committee plays a vital role in the Paralympic Movement, working to refine and improve classification practices across all sports.
Key objectives of the ACC
The ACC has some really vital goals:
Regularly Evaluating Classification Challenges: They’ll be constantly looking at the current issues and hurdles in classifying athletes.
Conducting Educational Workshops: Sharing knowledge and best practices is key,so they’ll be running workshops to educate people involved in the classification process.
Initiating Relevant Studies: The ACC will be diving deep into medical, scientific, and operational issues related to classification to make sure everything is based on solid research.
Promoting Best Practices: The committee will work to share and implement the most effective classification methods across all Paralympic sports.
Fostering Collaboration: By encouraging open dialog and cooperation, the ACC aims to create a unified and consistent approach to athlete classification.
Pablo Perez: A Leader in Para Table Tennis
Pablo brings a wealth of experience to this new role. He’s been deeply involved in Para table tennis for years, overseeing events and classification at the highest levels, including the ITTF World Para Circuit, the World Para Championships, and the last two Paralympic Games.Before his current position at ITTF, Pablo was also a coach for the Spanish Para table tennis national team, an international classifier, and a classification course conductor. His diverse background gives him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in athlete classification.
APSO: Uniting Paralympic Sports
Established in 2017, APSO represents 21 International Federations and sports organizations. They’re a powerful voice, advocating for the interests of Paralympic sports and athletes. The ACC was officially approved by the APSO Executive Board, showing their commitment to fair and accurate athlete classification.
The ACC Team
Alongside pablo, the ACC includes:
Craig Carscadden, World Ability Sport Head of Progress
Simon Goodey, World Rowing Para Rowing Commission Member
Rabia Gulcin, FIS Para Snow Sports Classification Coordinator
Shail Maharaj, World Boccia Classification Committee Member
Isabella Zens, UCI Classification Coordinator
This diverse group of experts will work together to advance classification practices within the Paralympic Movement.
The ITTF extends its congratulations to Pablo Perez on his appointment and looks forward to contributing to advancing classification practices within the Paralympic Movement. We believe his leadership will be invaluable in ensuring fair and equitable competition for all athletes.