As well as being a doctor, lecturer and trainer, Kruimer specialised in cerebral palsy classification in his native Netherlands and around the world.

Known for his "superb sense of humour and infectious smile", an IPC statement described how he also had a "vast knowledge of classification, decades of experience and was an expert in bio mechanics and sport for people with an impairment". 

As the former classification and medical director for the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), he is credited with leading the team which modernised the classification system and implemented various innovations which led to changes in the standing and sitting classes.

In addition to the ITTF, he has worked for a variety of other organisations within the Movement including the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), IPC Athletics and IPC Ice Sledge Hockey,

Aart Kruimer played a key role in Paralympic classification in sports such as table tennis ©Getty Images

He was also instrumental in the development of the IPC Classification Code, which was adopted in 2007, while he acted as a senior adviser to the IPC on many classification research projects.

"This is very tragic news as Aart was a hugely popular figure known by many as one of the world's leading classifiers," IPC President Sir Philip Craven said.

"I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.