Training Example: International Paralympic Committee – Review the Data, Give Your Score & Compare to the Real AI Evaluation

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[H2] Sport for Mobility provides 170 Para athletes competition opportunities

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[H2] LA28 reveals competition schedule

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[H2] Rene de Silvestro on winning gold at Milano Cortina 2026

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[H2] IPC concludes first leadership course for retiring Paralympians

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[H2] On the slopes and beyond with Ebba Aarsjoe

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[H2] TOP STORIES

[IMG: From wheelchair basketball to winter sports | Barbara van Bergen]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3]
From wheelchair basketball to winter sports | Barbara van Bergen's story ⛷️

Discover the incredible journey of Dutch Para athlete Barbara van Bergen, from a life-changing accident to competing at the Paralympic Games.

Finding inspiration from US Para athlete Alana Nichols, this powerful story highlights her transition from wheelchair basketball to Para alpine skiing and her passion for the sport and the Paralympic Movement.

Discover more about Para alpine skiing

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[IMG: A Para athletics athlete running in a stadium with his guide]

Impact

[H3]
First year of Sport for Mobility

131 member organisations benefitted from Sport for Mobility initiatives during 2025

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[IMG: Around 50 people pose for a group photo in front of a screen that says]

IPC

[H3]
IPC welcomes International Federations for Open Days

Over 50 representatives from sporting bodies participated in over 135 one-on-one meetings with key staff from IPC departments

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[H2] Games News

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[IMG: An athlete gestures after a lift]

Powerlifting

[H3] Oran 2026: Preview, Paralympic stars and how to follow the African Open

[IMG: A female Para athlete is competing in Para cross-country skiing]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] From avalanche safety to the Paralympic Movement: Aravich on raising awareness

[IMG: A female Para taekwondo athlete takes part in a victory ceremony]

Taekwondo

[H3] Zakia Khudadadi wins European Championship gold

[IMG: A group of people on sledges and standing on an ice hockey rink]

Para Ice Hockey

[H3] Spain opens doors to Para ice hockey and looks for new athletes

[IMG: Six Paralympic skiing athletes are smiling in a group photo while holding the German flag.]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] Germany's top moments at Milano Cortina 2026

[IMG: A female Para powerlifter on the bench press in front of a crowded arena]

Powerlifting

[H3] LA28 Qualification Rankings Published

[IMG: A female Para ice hockey player celebrates on the ice by raising her stick]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] Japan's top moments at Milano Cortina 2026

[H2] General News

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[IMG: A male athlete kisses a Paralympic gold medal]

Cycling

[H3] Remembering Alex Zanardi, Paralympic legend and former F1 driver

[IMG: An image featuring graphics of nine Para athletes holding different sport equipment]

IPC

[H3] IPC announces second call for applications in classification research

[IMG: Image of Paralympic symbol]

IPC

[H3] VISTA 2025 to be held online in May 2026

[IMG: Three male officials wearing suits are posing for a photograph]

Shooting

[H3] ISSF and IPC sign agreement regarding the transfer of shooting Para sport to ISSF

[IMG: An image featuring graphics of nine Para athletes holding different sport equipment]

Japan

[H3] Nippon Foundation Para Sports Support Center makes donation to IPC

[IMG: A collaged image featuring three male winter Paralympians]

IPC

[H3] IPC Athletes' Council announces third winter sport representative

[IMG: LA28 Emblem]

[H3] TO THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE
LA28
PARALYMPIC GAMES

15
-
27
Aug
2028

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[IMG: PLY]

[IMG: IPC Impact]

[IMG: IPC Press Release]

[IMG: About the Paralympic Games]

[H2] About the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are the largest global sporting event for athletes with disabilities and have taken place every four years since the inaugural edition in Rome, Italy, in 1960. In 1976, the first Winter Games were held in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and featured 198 athletes from 16 countries.

Following the 1988 Games in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and the Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992, the Paralympic and Olympic Games have been held in the same city. The next Paralympic Games will be held in LA in 2028 followed by Brisbane in 2032. The next winter edition is Milano Cortina 2026 with the French Alps to follow in 2030 and Salt Lake City in 2034.

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[IMG: About the IPC]

[H2] About the IPC

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. Founded on 22 September 1989 as a non-profit organisation, we aim to be athlete-centred and membership-focussed in all our endeavours.
Through partnerships with more than 200 member organisations, we leverage Para sport to advance the lives of the 1.2 billion individuals with disabilities across the globe.

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[IMG: Paralympics history]

[H2] Paralympics history

Sport for athletes with an impairment has existed for more than 100 years. It was not until after World War II, however, that it was widely introduced. The purpose of it at that time was to assist the large number of war veterans and civilians who had been injured during wartime.
On 29 July 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organised a competition for wheelchair athletes at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Great Britain. Sixteen injured servicemen and women took part in archery at the inaugural Stoke Mandeville Games, which later became the Paralympic Games.

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[IMG: What is classification?]

[H2] What is classification?

Classification is the cornerstone of the Paralympic Movement; it determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. In Para sports, athletes are grouped by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment. This, to a certain extent, is similar to grouping athletes by age, gender or weight.
Classification aims to minimise the impact of the impairment on athletes' performance so that the sporting excellence determines which athlete or team is ultimately victorious. Ensuring that athletes are classified prior to competing is crucial to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the competition.

Read More

[IMG: What are the Paralympic sports?]

[H2] What are the Paralympic sports?

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) recognises a total of 28 Paralympic sports.
The 22 summer sports are Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, blind football, boccia, Para canoe, Para cycling, Para equestrian, goalball, Para judo, Para powerlifting, Para rowing, shooting Para sport, sitting volleyball, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

Winter sports include Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard, and wheelchair curling.

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[IMG: Banner image]

[H1] paralympic games

[H3] The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960.

The Paralympic Games are the pinnacle globing sporting event for Para athletes, showcasing the
very best of Para sport, and providing optimal conditions for a diverse group of Paralympic
athletes to achieve excellence.
Attracting millions of spectators and billions of viewers, the Paralympic Games take
place every four years. The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960, while the
first Paralympic Winter Games were held in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, in 1976.
Following the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games and the Winter Games in Albertville,
France, in 1992 the Paralympic Games have been held in the same city and venues as the Olympic
Games.
The next Paralympic Games will be held in LA in 2028 followed by Brisbane in
2032. The next winter edition will be staged in French Alps in 2030 with the Utah to
follow in 2034.

[H2] Did you know?

The Paralympic symbol, also known as the Agitos from the Latin meaning “I move”, is the visual representation of the Paralympic Movement.

It consists of three elements in red, blue and green encircling a central point. The three colours are the most widely represented in national flags around the world.

[IMG: IPC LOGO]

[H2] legacy

[IMG: Rome Legacy]

[H3] ROME 1960 PARALYMPIC GAMES

Events:
114 in 8 Sports

Countries:
23

Para Athletes:
400

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[H3] ORNSKOLDSVIK 1976 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Events:
53 in 2 Sports

Countries:
16

Para Athletes:
198

Read More

All
Future
Summer
Winter

[IMG: Utah 2034 image]

[H2]
Utah 2034

[IMG: Brisbane 2032 image]

[H2]
Brisbane 2032

[IMG: French Alps 2030 image]

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French Alps 2030

[IMG: LA28 image]

[H2]
LA28

[IMG: Milano Cortina 2026 image]

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Milano Cortina 2026

[IMG: Paris 2024 image]

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Paris 2024

[IMG: Beijing 2022 image]

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Beijing 2022

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Tokyo 2020

[IMG: PyeongChang 2018 image]

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PyeongChang 2018

[IMG: Rio 2016 image]

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Rio 2016

[IMG: Sochi 2014 image]

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Sochi 2014

[IMG: London 2012 image]

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London 2012

[IMG: Vancouver 2010 image]

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Vancouver 2010

[IMG: Beijing 2008 image]

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Beijing 2008

[IMG: Torino 2006 image]

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Torino 2006

[IMG: Athens 2004 image]

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Athens 2004

[IMG: Salt Lake City 2002 image]

[H2]
Salt Lake City 2002

[IMG: Sydney 2000 image]

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Sydney 2000

[IMG: Nagano 1998 image]

[H2]
Nagano 1998

[IMG: Atlanta 1996 image]

[H2]
Atlanta 1996

[IMG: Lillehammer 1994 image]

[H2]
Lillehammer 1994

[IMG: Barcelona 1992 image]

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Barcelona 1992

[IMG: Tignes Albertville 1992 image]

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Tignes Albertville 1992

[IMG: Seoul 1988 image]

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Seoul 1988

[IMG: Innsbruck 1988 image]

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Innsbruck 1988

[IMG: Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984 image]

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Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984

[IMG: Innsbruck 1984 image]

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Innsbruck 1984

[IMG: Arnhem 1980 image]

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Arnhem 1980

[IMG: Geilo 1980 image]

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Geilo 1980

[IMG: Toronto 1976 image]

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Toronto 1976

[IMG: Ornskoldsvik 1976 image]

[H2]
Ornskoldsvik 1976

[IMG: Heidelberg 1972 image]

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Heidelberg 1972

[IMG: Tel Aviv 1968 image]

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Tel Aviv 1968

[IMG: Tokyo 1964 image]

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Tokyo 1964

[IMG: Rome 1960 image]

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Rome 1960

[IMG: Utah 2034 image]

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Utah 2034

[IMG: Brisbane 2032 image]

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Brisbane 2032

[IMG: French Alps 2030 image]

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French Alps 2030

[IMG: LA28 image]

[H2]
LA28

[IMG: Paris 2024 image]

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Paris 2024

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Tokyo 2020

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Rio 2016

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London 2012

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Beijing 2008

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Athens 2004

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Sydney 2000

[IMG: Atlanta 1996 image]

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Atlanta 1996

[IMG: Barcelona 1992 image]

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Barcelona 1992

[IMG: Seoul 1988 image]

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Seoul 1988

[IMG: Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984 image]

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Stoke Mandeville & New York 1984

[IMG: Arnhem 1980 image]

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Arnhem 1980

[IMG: Toronto 1976 image]

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Toronto 1976

[IMG: Heidelberg 1972 image]

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Heidelberg 1972

[IMG: Tel Aviv 1968 image]

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Tel Aviv 1968

[IMG: Tokyo 1964 image]

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Tokyo 1964

[IMG: Rome 1960 image]

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Rome 1960

[IMG: Milano Cortina 2026 image]

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Milano Cortina 2026

[IMG: Beijing 2022 image]

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Beijing 2022

[IMG: PyeongChang 2018 image]

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PyeongChang 2018

[IMG: Sochi 2014 image]

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Sochi 2014

[IMG: Vancouver 2010 image]

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Vancouver 2010

[IMG: Torino 2006 image]

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Torino 2006

[IMG: Salt Lake City 2002 image]

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Salt Lake City 2002

[IMG: Nagano 1998 image]

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Nagano 1998

[IMG: Lillehammer 1994 image]

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Lillehammer 1994

[IMG: Tignes Albertville 1992 image]

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Tignes Albertville 1992

[IMG: Innsbruck 1988 image]

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Innsbruck 1988

[IMG: Innsbruck 1984 image]

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Innsbruck 1984

[IMG: Geilo 1980 image]

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Geilo 1980

[IMG: Ornskoldsvik 1976 image]

[H2]
Ornskoldsvik 1976

[H2] FAQ

Who started the Paralympic Games?

Dr Ludwig Guttmann pioneered the 1948 Stoke Mandeville Games, which were the first organised competition for wheelchair athletes. They are considered the foundation of the Paralympic Movement and the modern Paralympic Games which first took place in 1960 in Rome, Italy.

When did the Paralympic Games start?

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy in 1960.

How many Paralympic Games have there been?

Paris 2024 were the 17th edition of the Paralympic Games while Milano Cortina 2026 will be the 14th edition of the Paralympic Winter Games.

How many sports are in the Paralympic Games?

For the LA28 Paralympic Games there will be 23 sports with Para climbing making it Paralympic debut. The Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games will feature six sports.

How often are the Paralympic Games held?

The Paralympic Games are held every four years.

Which countries hosted the Paralympic Games?

The Paralympic Games have been held in Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the UK, and USA. The Paralympic Winter Games have been held in Austria, China, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, Russia and USA.

[IMG: Showcase Image]

[H2]
Paralympic Sports

There are currently 29 Paralympic sports sanctioned by the IPC; 23 summer and 6 winter sports.

[H2] paralympic sports
Paralympic sports are organised competitive sporting activities which are part of the Paralympic Games sport programme and governed by International Sport Federations or International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD).
Some sports, such as Para archery and wheelchair basketball, were developed out of rehabilitation programmes for World War II veterans.
Paralympic sports comprise summer and winter sports contested at the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games. The number of sports, disciplines and medal events may change from one Paralympic Games edition to another.
There are currently 29 Paralympic sports sanctioned by the IPC; 23 summer and six winter sports. Para climbing is the most recent addition to the Paralympic Games programme. The IPC approved a proposal by the LA28 Organising Committee to include the sport.
The newest winter sport is Para snowboard, which was first introduced at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
paralympic sports
Recognised sports
[IMG: Para Arm Wrestling]
[H4] Para Arm Wrestling
[IMG: Blind Sambo]
[H4] Blind Sambo
[IMG: Para Bobsleigh]
[H4] Para Bobsleigh
[IMG: Para Bowling]
[H4] Para Bowling
[IMG: Para Bowls]
[H4] Para Bowls
[IMG: CP Football]
[H4] CP Football
[IMG: Para Flying Disc]
[H4] Para Flying Disc
[IMG: Para Golf]
[H4] Para Golf
[IMG: Wheelchair Handball]
[H4] Wheelchair Handball
[IMG: Para Hockey]
[H4] Para Hockey
[IMG: Para Karate]
[H4] Para Karate
[IMG: Para Pentathlon]
[H4] Para Pentathlon
[IMG: Powerchair Football]
[H4] Powerchair Football
[IMG: Para Sailing]
[H4] Para Sailing
[IMG: Para Surfing]
[H4] Para Surfing
[H3] summer sports
[IMG: Para Archery]
[H4] para archery
[IMG: Para Athletics]
[H4] para athletics
[IMG: Para Badminton]
[H4] Para Badminton
[IMG: Blind Football]
[H4] Blind Football
[IMG: Boccia]
[H4] Boccia
[IMG: Para canoe]
[H4] Para canoe
[IMG: Para Climbing]
[H4] Para Climbing
[IMG: Para cycling]
[H4] Para cycling
[IMG: Para equestrian]
[H4] Para equestrian
[IMG: Para fencing]
[H4] Para fencing
[IMG: Goalball]
[H4] Goalball
[IMG: Para judo]
[H4] Para judo
[IMG: Para powerlifting]
[H4] Para powerlifting
[IMG: Para rowing]
[H4] Para rowing
[IMG: Shooting Para sport]
[H4] Shooting Para sport
[IMG: Sitting volleyball]
[H4] Sitting volleyball
[IMG: Para swimming]
[H4] Para swimming
[IMG: Para table tennis]
[H4] Para table tennis
[IMG: Para taekwondo]
[H4] Para taekwondo
[IMG: Para triathlon]
[H4] Para triathlon
[IMG: Wheelchair basketball]
[H4] Wheelchair basketball
[IMG: Wheelchair rugby]
[H4] Wheelchair rugby
[IMG: Wheelchair tennis]
[H4] Wheelchair tennis
[H3] winter sports
[IMG: Para alpine skiing]
[H4] Para alpine skiing
[IMG: Para biathlon]
[H4] Para biathlon
[IMG: Para cross-country skiing]
[H4] Para cross-country skiing
[IMG: Para ice hockey]
[H4] Para ice hockey
[IMG: Para snowboard]
[H4] Para snowboard
[IMG: Wheelchair curling]
[H4] Wheelchair curling
[H2] History
Organised sport for persons with physical disabilities developed out of rehabilitation programmes at Stoke Mandeville, UK, by Sir Ludwig Guttman. Following World War II, in response to the needs of large numbers of injured ex-service members and civilians, sport was introduced as a key part of rehabilitation.
Sport for rehabilitation grew into recreational sport and then into competitive sport. In 1948, the Stoke Mandeville Games were organised for the first time as a sports competition for wheelchair athletes. They featured 16 individuals (14 men and two women) competing in Para archery. This was the origin of what evolved into the modern Paralympic Games, which today attracts over 4,400 athletes with physical, vision and intellectual impairments.
[H2] INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
International Sport Federations and International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled serve as the governing bodies for Paralympic sports and administer the sport at a world level. Their responsibilities include technical jurisdiction and guidance over the competition and training venues of their respective sports during the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games.
An International Sport Federation must be recognised by the IPC as the sole representative of a Paralympic sport. Currently, the IPC recognises 18 international federations governing 20 Para sports.
The IPC is responsible for the governance of five sports (Para athletics, Para ice hockey, Para powerlifting, Para swimming and shooting Para sport).
The IPC is also committed to promoting the development of sport opportunities and recognises some international sport federations that are not eligible to be IPC members. These federations contribute to the development of sport opportunities for athletes associated with the Paralympic Movement.
[H2] video

[H2] Latest News

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[IMG: A female Para alpine skiing athlete competes at the Beijing 2022 Paralympics.]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] What are you looking forward to the most at Milano Cortina 2026?

We asked athletes what they are looking forward to at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games and why you should join the spectacle

[IMG: Three male Italian Para ice hockey athletes posing on the ice]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] Meet Italy's Para ice hockey trio working to put on a home Games

With one year to go until the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, Italian Para ice hockey players Andrea Macri, Alessandro Andreoni and Gabriele Lanza shared how excited they are to compete in front of a home crowd

[IMG: Four athletes compete in Para snowboard]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] Milano Cortina 2026 set to be "most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games"

IPC President is expecting world class sport from an event which is already transforming the host nation.

[IMG: Andrew Parsons waves to the crowds at the Games]

Milano Cortina 2026

[H3] Milano Cortina 2026: Q&A with IPC President

“The sport is going to be spectacular, the scenario and the setting will be incredible, and I’m also excited about the legacy”

[IMG: A graphic featuring six Para athletes next to the words]

IPC

[H3] Six Paralympians nominated for 2025 Laureus Sport Awards

Catherine Debrunner, Teresa Perales Fernandez, Yuyan Jiang, Tokito Oda, Matt Stutzman, and Qu Zimo have been shortlisted for the prestigious World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award

[IMG: A male wheelchair curling athlete in action. He is trying to reach a curling stone with a red stick while his teammates are holding onto his wheelchair]

Wheelchair Curling

[H3] Haitao Wang shares legacy of Beijing 2022 and hopes for Milano Cortina 2026

With one year to go until wheelchair curling competitions get underway at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, China’s Haitao Wang shared what it felt like to win gold at Beijing 2022 and his goal of winning his third Paralympic gold medal

[H2] FAQs

WHAT SPORTS ARE IN THE PARALYMPICS?

For LA28 Paralympic Games there are 23 sports and for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games there are six sports.

WHAT SPORTS ARE IN THE WINTER PARALYMPICS?

There are six sports in the Paralympic Winter Games: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

WHAT SPORTS ARE IN THE PARALYMPICS BUT NOT THE OLYMPICS?

The Paralympic sports of boccia and goalball do not have an Olympic equivalent.

WHAT IS THE LARGEST PARALYMPIC SPORT?

Para athletics is the largest sport within the Paralympic Movement in terms of the number of competing athletes, medal events and countries.

WHAT IS THE NEWEST PARALYMPIC SPORT?

Para badminton and Para taekwondo made their debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games and are the two newest sports to have been showcased at a Paralympic Games. For LA28, Para climbing will make its Paralympic debut.

WHAT IS THE OLDEST PARALYMPIC SPORT?

Para archery, Para athletics, Para dartchery, Para snooker, Para swimming, Para table tennis, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair fencing are the oldest Paralympic sport. These eight sports made up the sports programme of Rome 1960, the first modern Paralympic Games.

[H1] PARALYMPIC CLASSIFICATION

[H2] what is classification?

Challenging the interests of Para sport is the threat of one-sided and predictable competition, in which the least impaired athlete always wins.
Classification is the cornerstone of the Paralympic Movement, it determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. In Para sports, athletes are grouped by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment. This, to a certain extent, is similar to grouping athletes by age, gender or weight.
Different sports require athletes to perform different activities, such as: sprinting, propelling a wheelchair, rowing and shooting. As sports require different activities, the impact of the impairment on each sport also differs. Therefore, for classification to minimise the impact of impairment on sport performance, classification must be sport specific.
Classification aims to minimise the impact of the impairment on athletes’ performance so that the sporting excellence determines which athlete or team is ultimately victorious. Ensuring that athletes are classified prior to competing is crucial to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the competition.
It is important to underline that the competitive structure provided by classification systems is not only key for elite sport but also necessary for promoting grassroots participation in Para sports for people with an impairment.

[H2] HOW DOES classification WORK?

Athlete Evaluation
Classification is carried out through a process called “Athlete Evaluation” that comprise procedures for the assessment of athletes and the allocation of Sport Class and Sport Class Status.
Athlete Evaluation answers three fundamental questions:
1. Does the athlete have an Eligible Impairment for this sport?
2. Does the athlete’s Eligible Impairment meet the Minimum Impairment Criteria of the sport?
3. Which Sport Class should the athlete be allocated in based on the extent to which the athlete is able to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport?

Imagen

[IMG: Classification page]

First Step: Determining if an athlete has an Eligible Impairment
Any athlete wishing to participate in Para sport competition must have an Underlying Health Condition that leads to a permanent Eligible Impairment.
The Paralympic Movement offers sporting opportunities for athletes with an impairment belonging to one of ten Eligible Impairment types.

[H2]
[H2] ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENT TYPES IN THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT

[H2] IMPAIRMENT TYPE

[H2] DESCRIPTION

Impaired Muscle Power

Athletes with Impaired Muscle Power have a Health Condition that either reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles in order to move or to generate force.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Impaired Muscle Power include spinal cord injury (complete or incomplete, tetra-or paraplegia or paraparesis), muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome and spina bifida.

Impaired Passive Range of Movement

Athletes with Impaired Passive Range of Movement have a restriction or a lack of passive movement in one or more joints.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Impaired Passive Range of Movement include arthrogryposis and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint.

Limb Deficiency

Athletes with Limb Deficiency have total or partial absence of bones or joints as a consequence of trauma (for example traumatic amputation), illness (for example amputation due to bone cancer) or congenital limb deficiency (for example dysmelia).

Leg Length Difference

Athletes with Leg Length Difference have a difference in the length of their legs as a result of a disturbance of limb growth, or as a result of trauma.

Short Stature

Athletes with Short Stature have a reduced length in the bones of the upper limbs, lower limbs and/or trunk.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Short Stature include achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, and osteogenesis imperfecta.

Hypertonia

Athletes with Hypertonia have an increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch caused by damage to the central nervous system.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Hypertonia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.

Ataxia

Athletes with Ataxia have uncoordinated movements caused by damage to the central nervous system.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Ataxia include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Athetosis

Athletes with Athetosis have continual slow involuntary movements.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Athetosis include cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and stroke.

Vision Impairment

Athletes with Vision Impairment have reduced, or no vision caused by damage to the eye structure, optical nerves or optical pathways, or visual cortex of the brain.
Examples of an Underlying Health Condition that may lead to Vision Impairment include retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy.

Intellectual Impairment

Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour in which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This Impairment must be present before the age of 18.

Imagen

[IMG: Daniel Dias of Brazil competes in the Men]

ⒸBuda Mendes/Getty Images

The 10 Eligible Impairments are often referred to as three distinct groups: a) physical impairments, comprising the eight impairments that cause activity limitations that are biomechanical in nature – impaired muscle power, impaired range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, and short stature; b) vision impairment and c) intellectual impairment.
Each Paralympic sport defines which Eligible Impairment types they provide sporting opportunities for in their classification rules.
While some sports provide competition opportunities for athletes with all ten Eligible Impairments (e.g. Para athletics, Para swimming), other sports are specific to one Eligible Impairment (e.g. goalball is a sport for athletes with vision impairment) or a selection of Eligible Impairments (e.g. equestrian para-dressage, para-cycling).
The assessment of whether or not an athlete has an Eligible Impairment for a sport must be conducted by the International Sport Federation governing that sport. It is important to note that the presence and permanency of one of the sport’s Eligible Impairments is a prerequisite to participate in para sport, but not the sole criterion.
Second Step: Determining if the athlete meets the Minimum Impairment Criteria for a sport
Each sport’s classification rules describe how severe an Eligible Impairment must be for an athlete to be considered eligible to compete. These criteria are referred to as Minimum Impairment Criteria.
Minimum Impairment Criteria must ensure that an athlete’s Eligible Impairment affects the extent to which the athlete is able to execute the specific tasks and activities fundamental to the sport.
Examples of Minimum Impairment Criteria are a maximum height defined for athletes with short stature, or a level of amputation defined for athletes with limb deficiency.
Minimum impairment criteria should be defined on the basis of scientific research, which assesses the impact of impairments on the sport’s activities. As sports require different activities, the Minimum Impairment Criteria are also specific for each sport. Consequently, an athlete may meet the criteria in one sport, but may not meet the criteria in another.
If an athlete is not eligible to compete in a sport, this does not question the presence of a genuine impairment. It is a sport ruling.
Third Step: Deciding an athlete’s sports class
After an athlete has been designated as eligible for a sport, the classification panel will assess which Sport Class the athlete will compete in. There are some sports that only have one Sport Class (e.g. Para ice hockey or Para powerlifting). On the other hand, due to the different disciplines (running, jumping, throwing events) and because the sport includes athletes of all 10 Eligible Impairments, Para athletics have over 50 Sport Classes.
A Sport Class groups athletes with a similar activity limitation together for competition, so that they can compete equitably. This again means that Sport Classes are different by sport. It also means that a Sport Class does not necessarily comprise athletes with the same Eligible Impairment. If different impairments cause similar activity limitation, athletes with these impairments are allowed to compete together. This is why, for example, in athletics wheelchair racing events, you will see athletes with paraplegia and leg amputations racing together.
Determining in which Sport Class should the athlete compete in is a multi-staged process, often consisting of so called physical and technical assessments followed by an observation in Competition before final Sport Class is allocated and a Sport Class Status is designated.
Due to, for example, the progressive nature of some impairments and their impact on certain activities, athletes are sometimes classified a number of times throughout their career. Also, when the medical condition of an athlete changes, athletes need to inform the sport and ask for re-assessment.
The assessment of whether or not an athlete complies with Minimum Impairment Criteria for a sport, the allocation of a Sport Class and designation of a Sport Class Status is undertaken by a classification panel. Classification panels include a minimum of two classifiers. Classifiers are trained experts – physicians, physiotherapists, coaches, sport scientists, psychologists, ophthalmologist, and have a complimentary knowledge about impairments and their impact on the respective sports. Classifier’s qualifications and required competencies are determined by each International Sport Federation.

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