The ethics of classification in dynamic wheelchair sports

Jonas Christensen
denmark

Doctoral Candidate 11 (DC 11) Name: Jonas Christensen
Email Address: [email protected]

Personal Information: Jonas Christensen offers a unique perspective to the field of parasports, rooted in substantial practical experience coupled with a master’s degree in Humanities and Social Sport Sciences from the University of Copenhagen.

Having served as an elite consultant for the National Paralympic Committee of Denmark and as national coach in Goalball, Jonas has been directly involved in the day-to-day realities and challenges faced by athletes and organizations in parasports. This direct involvement has provided him with invaluable insights into the practical application of classification systems and the importance of ethical considerations in competitive environments.

Jonas’s work is characterized by a deep commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice. His approach is informed by first-hand experiences, allowing him to contribute meaningfully to discussions on fairness and inclusion in sports, and by leveraging his practical experiences in Paralympic sport and various high-performance environments, he aims to enrich the academic and professional discourse on classification, fairness, and inclusion in sport.

Home University: NSSS

Planned Secondments:
(1) Host University: KU Leuven
(2) Industrial Partner: (TBA)

Supervisors: Prof Dr Sigmund Loland, Prof Dr Yves Vanlandewyck, Prof Dr Mike McNamee, KUL

Project Description: The project will develop a disability-specific ethical framework to satisfy the balance that must be struck between fairness and equality of opportunity alongside pragmatic measures to structure competition in dynamic wheelchair sports (basketball, Rugby, and Tennis).