General talk The completely un-PC Paralympics threaad

The completely un-PC Paralympics threaad

Just tuned in to watch some Paralympics this evening and it struck me as a very odd competition. Now, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against people with disabilities. And where else in the world can you be as unpolitically correct as you need to be, in order to seriously and impartially discuss a topic, than on an adult oriented forum for whore mongering, no?

So what I'm getting at is I just don't get how the competition can even be remotely fair? It's not like every disabled person is born with the same disability, and therefore you can put all those in the same category and let them compete fairly against each other!

Case in point, I was watching the men's 100m backstroke final. In the lineup, there was a guy from China who had 1 arm, another guy from South Africa I think had 1 leg, another guy had a deformed arm, and others who looked like they had all 4 perfectly normal limbs intact. The winner was a British guy who had all 4 normal limbs and outwardly appeared to be just a regular bloke. Won it by a comfortable margin, and boy did he celebrate! I mean what the hell?? Do they qualify for this thing simply by saying they have a mental issue or something?

The women's final was an even bigger joke. I couldn't see a single contestant that had an obvious disability. Every single one of them had all their limbs intact... Which can only mean that they must've blown all the other contestants with real physical disabilities out of the water (sorry for pun) in the heats and semis!

This thing is nothing but a halfhearted attempt by the PC people trying to look like they're giving disabled people a shot, but they're actually mocking them by not putting any thought into the event!

Yeah I don't understand all the categories of disability.
I am sure there is some rhyme or reason to it.
Anyway there was a really hot girl who had half a leg missing.
I would do her in a heartbeat. I'm an equal opportunity type of guy.
After all an extra foot isn't gonna make any difference one way or another when you are getting down and dirty.
Anyway I think all the Paralympians are awesome.
They have got a huge amount of courage and determination and all of them are 10 times better athletes than I will ever be even with my two arms and two legs.

It's about including and giving people an opportunity to perform in a sport that they like on the world stage.

Reminds me of a guy at high school who use to play soccer, footy and what ever dumb game we made up with us, one day slipped on a wet sandwich and had his kneecap do a 180°. Confined to a walking stick at age 16 and would sit and watch us play soccer so we felt bad and tried to include him in what we could

They are athletes .. like we can be assholes

EXPLANATORY GUIDE TO PARALYMPIC CLASSIFICATION
PARALYMPIC SUMMER SPORTS
DECEMBER 2019
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INTRODUCTION
The language in this guide has been simplified in order to avoid complicated medical terms. They do not replace the 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code and accompanying International Standards, but have been written to better communicate how the Paralympic Classification system works.
1 WHAT IS CLASSIFICATION?
Classification provides a structure for competition. Athletes competing in Para sports have an impairment that leads to a competitive disadvantage. Consequently, a system has been put in place to minimise the impact of impairments on sport performance and to ensure the success of an athlete is determined by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. This system is called classification.
Classification determines who is eligible to compete in a Para sport and it groups the eligible athletes in sport classes according to their activity limitation in a certain sport.
2 TEN ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS
The Paralympic Movement offers sport opportunities for athletes with physical, vision and/or intellectual impairments that have at least one of the following 10 eligible impairments:
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Impairment
Explanation
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, tetraplegia1 or paraplegia2 or paraparesis3), muscular dystrophy4, post-polio syndrome5 and spina bifida6.
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 arthrogryposis7 and contracture resulting from chronic joint immobilisation or trauma affecting a joint.
1 This is another term for quadriplegia, meaning paralysis of all four limbs
2 Paralysis of the legs and lower body
3 Partial paralysis of the legs
4 A hereditary condition marked by progressive weakening and wasting of the muscles
5 This is a condition that affects polio survivors after an initial acute attack of the polio virus.
6 Spina bifida occurs when the spine and membranes around the spinal cord don’t close completely during pregnancy.
7 This is a condition caused by a limitation on joint motion during pregnancy, causing joint contractures – a condition of shortening and hardening of muscles, tendons or other tissue, often leading to malformed
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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 dysmelia8).
Leg length Athletes with leg length difference have a difference in the length of their difference 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 arms, legs and/or trunk. Examples of an underlying health condition that may lead to short stature include achondroplasia9, growth hormone dysfunction10, and osteogenesis imperfecta11
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 palsy12, traumatic brain injury and stroke.
For the purposes of this document, hypertonia will be referred to as muscle tension for the rest of this document.
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.
For the purposes of this document ataxia will be referred to as “uncoordinated movements” for the rest of this document.
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.
For the purposes of this document athetosis will be referred to as “involuntary movements” for the rest of this document.
Vision impairment
Athletes with a 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
or rigid joints. The limited motion can be caused by neurologic deficits, muscle defects, connective tissue defects or lack of room in the womb.
8 Dysmelia is an abnormality present at birth which is characterised by missing or shortened limbs. For the purposes of this document, dysmelia will be referred to a “missing or shortened limbs at birth”.
9 Achrondroplasia is a hereditary condition that is characterised by short limbs and a normal torso.
10 Growth hormone dysfunction occurs when the pituitary glad does not produce enough growth hormone.
11 Osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone diseases, results in bones that break easily.
12 Cerebral palsy is a condition marked by impaired muscle co-ordination, typically caused by damage to the brain before or at birth.
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lead to vision impairment include retinitis pigmentosa13 and diabetic retinopathy14.
For further details please see the International Standard for Eligible Impairments (link) or Classification Rules and Regulations of each Para sport.
OTHER SIMPLIFICATIONS
Arm refers to the area from the shoulder to the hand. For the purposes of this document, we will use the term “arm” when referring to the arm.
Leg refers to the area from the hips to the toes. For the purposes of this document, we will use the term “leg” when referring to the leg.
3 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS
Classification systems differ by sport and are developed by the International Federations (IF) governing the sport. The IF is also responsible to review the system from time to time.
IFs decide which eligible impairments their sport will cater for. Some Paralympic sports are only designed for athletes with one eligible impairment type. Goalball, for example, is only open to athletes with a vision impairment. Other sports, such as athletics and swimming, are open to athletes with any of the 10 eligible impairments.
IFs also decide how severe an impairment must be for an athlete to be eligible to compete in their sport. For an athlete to be eligible the impairment must be severe enough that it impacts his or her sport performance. This is called the ‘Minimum Impairment Criteria’. If an athlete fails to meet the Minimum Impairment Criteria, it does not question the presence of a genuine impairment. It merely means that that athlete does not meet the eligibility rules to compete in a particular sport under the IF Sport Rules.
Since different sports require different abilities, each sport logically requires its own classification system. For example, an impairment of the arms affects performance in a running event in athletics to a lesser extent than it affects performance in swimming.
The only exception to the sport-specific character of classification is the classification for athletes with a vision impairment. This system, with the exception of Shooting Para Sport, is still a medical system and the sport class allocated therefore applies across all other sports (but the naming of the class may differ). For further details, see the next section.
13 Retinitis Pigmentosa is a group of rare, genetic disorders that involve the loss of cells in the retina, which is the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.
14 Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes affecting the blood vessels in the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eyes.
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Intellectual Impairment
Athletes with an intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life. This Impairment must be present before the age of 18.
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4 VISION IMPAIRMENT
The following is the general structure used for the classification of athletes with a vision impairment (with exception for VI-shooting).
B1: The clarity of these athletes vision is very low and/ or they have no light perception.
B2: Athletes with a B2 sport class have a better clarity of vision than athletes competing in the
B1 sport class and/ or a visual field of less than 10 degrees diameter.
B3: Athletes with a B3 (or equivalent) sport class have the least severe vision impairment eligible for Paralympic sport. They have a better clarity of vision than athletes competing in the B2 sport class and/or a visual field of less than 40 degrees diameter.
Although these are the standardised sport classes for athletes with a vision impairment the names they are given will differ by sport.
5 SPORT CLASSES
A sport class is a category which groups athletes depending on how much their impairment impacts performance in their sport. Therefore, a sport class is not necessarily comprised of one impairment type alone, but can be made up of athletes with different impairments. However, these different impairments affect sport performance to a similar extent. For example, you will find athletes with paraplegia and double above-knee amputation competing in the same sport class in athletics because their different impairments have a comparable effect on their ability to race 1,500m in a wheelchair using arm propulsion.
In individual sports, athletes should compete against athletes in their own sport class to ensure the impact of impairment is minimised. In national events and smaller international competitions athletes in different sport classes may compete together for one medal, because there are not enough athletes for each sport class to create a competitive event. In these cases, and in some sports, athletes in different sport classes are given a ‘coefficient’ or correction score to account for the different levels of activity limitation.
Some Para sports only have one sport class, such as Para Powerlifting. To compete in these sports, the athletes only need to meet the minimum impairment criteria.
In some team sports, the players are allocated points, which indicate their activity limitation. A lower score indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher score. A team is not allowed to have more than a certain maximum sum of points on the field of play at the same time in order to ensure equal competition with the opposing team.How is a sport class allocated to an athlete?
A sport class is allocated through athlete evaluation by a panel of classifiers. Each IF trains and certifies classifiers to conduct athlete evaluation in its sport.
Classifiers assessing athletes with the various physical impairments listed above either have a (Para) medical background and/or are technical experts in their sport. Classifiers for athletes with a vision impairment have a background in ophthalmology or optometry. Psychologists and sport experts are responsible for the classification of athletes with an intellectual impairment.
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Athlete evaluation takes place before competitions. Therefore, athletes who need to be evaluated arrive at the competition a few days early. Depending on the type and severity of the impairment an athlete might undergo athlete evaluation several times throughout his or her career. Some impairments change over time, e.g. clarity of vision might decrease over time or muscle tension may increase. Also, junior athletes may not yet have reached skeletal maturity by the time of their first evaluation (e.g. in swimming). In these cases, classifiers can decide that the athlete must be seen again at the next competition or at set timeframes (e.g. (bi-)annual review).
Decisions taken by classification panels can be challenged under specific conditions. The 2015 IPC Athlete Classification Code and accompanying International Standards define protest and appeal procedures, which need to be adhered to.
6 CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS OF PARALYMPIC SUMMER SPORTS
This section provides a general overview of the classification systems, the information and examples provided are not the sole profile of the sport class. Each sport system uses a numerical weighting system to divide athletes into classes. For further detail on the specifics of the classification systems please consult the relevant sport classification rules.
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ARCHERY
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
(*): not at the Paralympic Games
SPORT CLASSES:
Paralympic archers compete in two sport classes:
W1:
✓ Involuntary movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓*
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Archers in this sport class compete in a wheelchair because their impairment includes the loss of leg and trunk function. Also, their arms show a loss of muscle strength, co-ordination or range of movement. For example, one condition that might fit this sport class profile is tetraplegia.
OPEN:
Athletes may have an impairment in the legs and use a wheelchair or have a balance impairment and shoot standing or resting on a stool. Open category athletes may shoot in recurve or compound competitions, under standard rules, and the category is featured at the Paralympic Games.
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ATHLETICS
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
✓ Short stature ✓ ✓ Vision Impairment ✓
In athletics the sport class consists of a prefix “T” or “F” and a number. The prefix T stands for “track” and jumping events, and F stands for “field.” It indicates for which events the sport class applies, either for track/jump or for field events.
VISION IMPAIRMENT – SPORT CLASSES T/F11-T/F13
Athletes with a vision impairment compete in three sport classes from T/F 11 (B1) to T/F 13 (B3) as described in Section 4. In order to ensure a fair competition, athletes in the T/F 11 sport class are required to wear eyeshades.
INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT - SPORT CLASS T20/F20
Athletes in this sport class have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory which impacts sport performance in general.
Moreover, the impairment of T/F20 athletes has been proven to have an impact on performance in the different disciplines. For example: 1,500m runners have difficulties in pacing, while in long jump the impairment makes the anticipation of the take-off board more difficult.
CO-ORDINATION IMPAIRMENTS - SPORT CLASSES F31, T32/F32-T38/F38
The 30s sport classes are allocated to athletes with involuntary movements, uncoordinated movements and/or muscle tension – often conditions associated with cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury. The impairments typically affect the ability to control legs, trunk, arms and/or hand function. You will see athletes in the sport classes 31-34 compete in a seated position, e.g. in wheelchair racing or using a throwing chair. By contrast, athletes in the sport classes 35-38 show a better function in their legs and better trunk control and therefore compete standing, e.g. in running events, long jump or throwing events.
SHORT STATURE - SPORT CLASSES T40/F40, T41/F41
Athletes with short stature compete in the sport classes T/F40-41. There are two classes depending on the body height of the athlete and the proportionality of the arms, with athletes in sport class T/F41 being taller than athletes in sport class T/F40.
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LIMB DEFICIENCIES - SPORT CLASSES: T42/F42 - T46/F46, T47; T/F61-64
These sport classes are designated for athletes with limb deficiencies, such as amputations or missing or shortened limbs from birth. All athletes in the 40s classes compete standing and do not use a wheelchair.
In the sport classes 42-44 the legs are affected by the impairment and in the sport classes 45-47 the arms are affected, for example by above or below elbow amputations.
Athletes with a leg deficiency who compete with a prosthesis are competing in classes T/F61- 64.
For example, a shot putter with leg length difference competes in sport class F42. A shot putter with a single above knee amputation wearing a prosthesis competes in sport class F63.
IMPAIRED MUSCLE POWER OR IMPAIRED RANGE OF MOVEMENT - SPORT CLASSES T51-54; F51-57
In the 50s sport classes, all athletes compete in a seated position, either in wheelchair or on a throwing chair, due to impaired muscle power, restricted range of movement, limb deficiency or leg length difference. A lower number indicates a higher activity limitation.
Athletes competing in wheelchair racing events for T51-54 sport classes differ with regard to theirarm,shoulderandtrunkfunctionswhicharepertinen tforpushingawheelchair. Athletes in classes T51-52 have activity limitations in both legs and arms. Athletes in class T53 have full function in the arms, but have severely restricted trunk function. Athletes competing in T54 have partial to complete trunk function and may demonstrate some leg function.
For field events, the group of wheelchair athletes compete in more differentiated classes.
Athletes in sport classes F51-53 have limited shoulder, arm and hand function to different degrees and usually no trunk or leg function. This profile is, for example, seen with athletes with spinal cord injury resulting in tetraplegia. Athletes in the class F54 have normal function in their shoulders, arms and hands, but generally no trunk or leg function.
Throughout the sport classes F55-57 the trunk and leg function increases, which is an advantage in throwing events. An athlete in the F55 class has partial to full abdominal muscle activity, but no leg function. Athletes in class F56 can partially bend their hips and legs in addition to having trunk function, while athletes in class F57 demonstrate the additional ability to extend and abduct the hips. Athletes in class F57 may be able to stand and walk with or without an assistive device, but have to at the very least comply with the defined minimum impairment criteria.
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BADMINTON
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
There are six sport classes in Badminton. WHEELCHAIR 1 WH 1
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
✓ Short stature ✓ Vision Impairment
Players in this class requires a wheelchair to play badminton. Players in this Sport Class usually have an impairment in both their legs and trunk.
WHEELCHAIR 2 WH 2
A player in this class could have an impairment in one or both legs and minimal or no impairment of the trunk.
STANDING LOWER SL 3
In this class a player must play standing. The player could have an impairment in one or both legs and poor walking/running balance.
STANDING LOWER SL 4
A second standing class where the player has a lesser impairment compared to Sport Class SL 3. The player could have an impairment in one or both legs and a minimal impairment in walking/running balance.
STANDING UPPER SU 5
The player in this class has an arm impairment due to muscle tension/uncoordinated movement/involuntary movements paralysis of one side of the body (hemiplegia15)/ paralysis affecting symmetrical parts of the body e.g. arms, face, legs (diplegia16) / paralysis restricted to one limb or region of the body (monoplegia17), limb deficiency, Impaired Passive Range of Motion (PROM) or Impaired Muscle Power.
15 For the purposes of this document hemiplegia will be referred to as paralysis of one side of the body for the rest of this document.
16 For the purposes of this document diplegia will be referred to as paralysis affecting symmetrical parts of the body hereinafter.
17 Monoplegia will be referred to as paralysis affecting on limb or area of the body for the remainder of this document.
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SHORT STATURE SH 6
These are players who have a short stature.
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BOCCIA
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
Short stature Vision Impairment
There are four sport classes in boccia, BC1-4. All players compete in wheelchairs due to a loss of leg function and trunk stability, caused by a lack of muscle co-ordination, muscle power and control.
BC1
Athletes in sport class BC1 have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk due to co-ordination impairments, and are typically dependent on a powered wheelchair. They can grasp and throw the ball and do not use assistive devices. Athletes with some leg control are allowed to propel the ball with their foot.
BC2
Boccia players in sport class BC2 have better trunk control and arm function than the players in BC1. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhand and underhand and with a variety of grasps. They are not eligible for assistance.
BC3
Athletes competing in sport class BC3 have significantly limited function in their arms and legs, and poor or no trunk control due to cerebral or non-cerebral origins. Besides, they are unable to consistently grasp or release the ball and to help them propel the ball onto the court, they use a ramp and other assistive devices to roll the ball with the help of a Sport Assistant.
BC4
While the sport classes BC1-2 include athletes with muscle tension, involuntary movements or uncoordinated movements, sport class BC4 comprises athletes with impairments that have no cerebral origin. Among possible health conditions are progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass (muscular dystrophy), spinal cord Injuries or amputations affecting all four limbs. Players throw the ball usually with a pendulum swing, sometimes using both hands or arms. They may use a glove to sustain their grip of the ball.
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PARA CANOE
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ Uncoordinated
movements
Short stature Vision Impairment
Athletes can compete in two types of boat, kayak (K) and va’a (V). The kayak is propelled by a double blade paddle, while the va’a is an outrigger canoe propelled by a single-blade paddle. These athletes all have a physical impairment. Kayak and Va’a are different disciplines, each with a specific classification (KL and VL respectively) which is based on the same principle.
KL1
Athletes in this sports class have very limited trunk and no leg function.
KL2
Athletes in this sports class have partial trunk and leg function; they are able to sit upright in the kayak. Along with this, they will have limited leg movement during paddling.
KL3
Athletes in this sports class have trunk and partial leg function, they are able to sit with their trunk bent forward in the kayak and able to use at least one leg/prosthesis.
VL1
The athletes allocated in this sport class have no dynamic trunk function which is defined as not being able to sit upright on a bench with the legs hanging whilst the thighs and/or pelvis are secured and not bending the trunk forwards, backwards, sideways or rotating. These athletes should also not have any leg function.
VL2
Athletes with partial trunk and leg function, able to sit upright in the Va’a but might need a special backrest, limited leg movement during paddling.
VL3
This class will include the athletes with full dynamic trunk function or almost full dynamic trunk function.
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CYCLING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements ✓ Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓ Athletes with physical impairments either compete on handcycles, tricycles or bicycles. Athletes
with a vision impairment compete on tandems with a sighted “pilot.” HANDCYCLE SPORT CLASSES: H1- H5
There are five different sport classes for handcycle, and lower numbers indicate a more severe activity limitation.
Athletes classified in handcycle classes H1-4 compete on a hand bike where a reclining position is mandatory. Athletes competing in the H1 class do not have any trunk and leg function and have limited arm function, e.g. because of spinal-cord injuries. Athletes in the H4 class have no leg function but good trunk and arm function.
Athletes classified in the Handcycle class H5 compete from a kneeling position (HK) and can thus use their arms and trunk to accelerate the handcycle. Athletes in this sport class might have leg amputations, paraplegia or mild to moderate involuntary movements or uncoordinated movements.
TRICYCLE SPORT CLASSES T1, T2
Tricycle athletes are divided into two classes, T1 and T2. Athletes in the Tricycle division are unable to ride a bicycle due to lack of balance and/or restriction in pedalling due to muscle tension, uncoordinated movements or involuntary movements. The sport class T1 is allocated to athletes with more significant balance, co-ordination impairments and problems controlling movements than athletes competing in sport class T2.
CYCLING SPORT CLASSES C1-C5
Athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle (with approved adaptations) compete in the five sport classes C1-5. The sport class profiles include athletes with limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of motion and impairments affecting co-ordination, such as uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements. Sport class C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe activity limitation, while the sport class C5 is allocated to athletes with minimum impairments.
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
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For example, cyclists with a double below-the-knee amputation who use a prosthesis are likely to compete in the sport class C3, while an athlete with a below knee amputation and a prosthesis on one leg would compete in the sport class C4.
TANDEM SPORT CLASS TB
Cyclists with a vision impairment race tandem with a sighted cycler (pilot) in front. Cyclists in this sport class must meet the criteria as set out in the B3 profile described in section 4 to compete, therefore B1, B2 and B3 athletes compete together in one event.
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EQUESTRIAN
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
✓ Short stature ✓
Vision Impairment ✓
In Para equestrian dressage riding there are five grades for athletes with different physical and vision impairments which are grouped on the basis of different medical profiles. Lower grades indicate more severe activity limitations and higher grades include athletes with less severe activity limitations.
GRADE I
Athletes in grade I have severe impairments affecting all limbs and the trunk. The athlete usually requires the use of a wheelchair in daily life. They may be able to walk with an unsteady gait. Trunk and balance are severely impaired.
Profiles: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 12a, 13
GRADE II
Athletes in grade II have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal impairment of the arms or moderate impairment of the trunk, arms and legs. Most athletes in this grade use a wheelchair in daily life.
Profiles: 4, 6, 9, 10a, 11a, 12b, 31a
GRADE III
Athletes in grade III have severe impairments in both legs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the arms, legs and trunk. Some athletes in this grade may use a wheelchair in daily life.
Profiles: 8, 10b, 11b, 14, 17a, 18a, 27, 31b, 32
GRADE IV
Athletes in grade IV have a severe impairment or deficiency of both arms or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature. Athletes in grade IV are able to walk and generally do not require a wheelchair in daily life.
Grade IV also includes athletes with a vision impairment as described in the B1 sport class in Section 4.
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Profiles: 15, 17b, 18b, 19a, 21, 25, 26a, 28, 36 GRADE V
Athletes in Grade V have a mild impairment affecting the range of movement or muscle strength or a deficiency of one limb or a mild deficiency of two limbs.
Grade V also includes athletes with a vision impairment as described in the B2 sport class in section 4.
Profiles: 16, 19b, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26b, 37a
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FOOTBALL 5-A-SIDE
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
Involuntary movements
Muscle tension
Uncoordinated movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓
Only athletes who have a B1 sport class as described in section 4 may compete in football 5-a- side. This classification applies to the field players. In addition, each team has a sighted, able- bodied goalkeeper, who does not need to undergo classification. To ensure fair competition all players (except for the goal keeper) must wear eyeshades.
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GOALBALL
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASS:
Involuntary movements
Muscle tension
Uncoordinated movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓
Athletes competing in goalball all have varying degrees of vision impairments ranging from the B1 to B3 sport classes as described in Section 4. In order to ensure a fair competition between the teams, all players must wear eyeshades during the game.
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JUDO
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
Involuntary movements
Muscle tension
Uncoordinated movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓
Judoka all have varying degrees of vision impairments ranging from the B1 to B3 sport classes as described in section 4. Therefore B1, B2 and B3 athletes compete together in one event.
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POWERLIFTING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASS:
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
✓ Short stature ✓
Vision Impairment
There is only one sport class in powerlifting, but the athletes compete in different weight categories.
Powerlifting is open to athletes with all eight eligible physical impairments. All athletes have an impairment in their legs or hips, which would prohibit them from competing in able-bodied (standing) weightlifting. In powerlifting, they therefore compete in the bench press.
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ROWING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
PR1
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓
Includes rowers with minimal or no trunk function who primarily propel the boat through arm and shoulder function. These rowers have poor sitting balance, which requires them to be strapped to the boat/seat.
PR2
Includes rowers that have functional use of their arms and trunk but have weakness/absence of leg function to slide the seat.
PR3
Include rowers with residual function in their legs which allows them to slide the seat. This class also includes athletes with a vision impairment.
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SHOOTING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
(*): not a Paralympic discipline
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓*
In shooting, there are three different sport classes for Paralympic disciplines (pistol, rifle). These sport classes are specific to the event the athlete competes in – either pistol or rifle events.
SPORT CLASS SH1 (PISTOL)
In this sport class athletes can support the full weight of the pistol themselves. As the pistol is held with one hand only, athletes in this sport class have an impairment affecting one arm and/or the legs, for example resulting from amputations or spinal cord injuries. Some shooters compete in a seated position, while others will compete in a standing position as defined in the sport rules.
SPORT CLASS SH1 (RIFLE)
In this sport class athletes can support the full weight of the rifle themselves. As the rifle is held with both hands, athletes in this sport class have an impairment in their legs, for example amputations or paraplegia. Some athletes will compete in a seated position, while others will compete in a standing position.
SPORT CLASS SH2 (RIFLE)
In this sport class athletes have an impairment that affects their arms, meaning they are not able to support the full weight of the rifles themselves. Athletes therefore compete using a shooting stand to support the weight of the rifle. Athletes competing in this sport class have impairments such as arm amputations or congenital impairments affecting the muscle power/movement in their arms. Some SH2 shooters have impairments in both the arms and legs, such as tetraplegia. The majority of athletes in this sport class compete in a seated position.
In addition, there is a specific classification system for the discipline ‘trap shooting’ (not a Paralympic Games discipline) and for VI-shooting (rifle, not a Paralympic Games discipline):
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SPORT CLASS SG-S (TRAP):
Athletes with poor balance and/or trunk stability compete from a wheelchair in a standard seated position. Athletes have an impairment in the leg(s), but no functional limitation in the arms.
SPORT CLASS SG-L (TRAP):
Athletes with good balance and trunk function compete from a standing position. Athletes have an impairment in the leg(s), but no functional limitation in the arms.
SPORT CLASS SG-U (TRAP):
Athletes with good balance and trunk function compete from a standing position. Athletes have an impairment in the non-shooting arm.
SPORT CLASS SH-VI (RIFLE):
VI-Shooting: athletes must have either a clarity of vision above 1.1 logMAR or a contrast sensitivity poorer or equal to 1.4logCS.
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SITTING VOLLEYBALL
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
✓ Short stature Vision Impairment
There are two sport classes in sitting volleyball, called VS1 and VS2. The impairment of athletes in sport class VS2 is generally less severe than the impairment of athletes competing in sport class VS1.
SPORT CLASS VS1
These athletes have impairments that significantly affect the core functions in sitting volleyball. For example, through-ankle or higher amputation, severe cases of missing or shortened limbs from birth, stiff knee due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint (ankylosed), muscle tension, uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements, etc.
SPORT CLASS VS2
These athletes have impairments that affect the core functions in sitting volleyball to a lesser degree. For example, amputation through the foot/feet (Lisfranc amputation), stiff (ankylosed) ankle due to abnormal adhesion and rigidity of the bones of the joint, amputation of four digits on one hand, less severe muscle tension, uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements, etc.
SPORT-TECHNICAL RULES
There can be two players with sport class VS2 on the team. To ensure a fair competition between two teams, a team may only have one VS2 player on the court at a time. The other five players must have sport class VS1.
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SWIMMING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
✓ Short stature ✓ ✓ Vision Impairment ✓
The sport class names in swimming consist of a prefix “S” or “SB” and a number. The prefixes stand for the strokes and the number indicates the sport classes. The prefixes stand for:
S: freestyle, butterfly and backstroke events
SB: breaststroke
SM: individual medley. The prefix “SM” is given to athletes competing in individual medley events. It is not a sports class, but an entry index and calculated as (3xS + SB)/4; for classes S1-4 who have a 3-discipline medley, the formula is (2S + SB)/3).
SPORT CLASSES S1-S10 PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
There are ten different sport classes for athletes with a physical impairment, numbered 1-10. A lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation than a higher number.
Athletes with different impairments compete against each other, because sport classes are allocated based on the impact the impairment has on swimming, rather than on the impairment itself.
To evaluate the impact of impairments on swimming, classifiers assess all functional body structures using a point system and ask the athlete to complete a water assessment. The total number of points then determines the athlete’s S and SB sport classes. Due to the different demands of S and SB events, swimmers are often allocated different S and SB sport classes. The SM sport class is calculated from the S and SB sport class.
The following are general examples of impairments and resulting functional abilities described in each sport class profiles. The below combinations of S and SB sport classes are the most common combinations, but it is possible that that athlete has another combination of sport classes, for example S7 and SB 7.
S1 SB1
Swimmers in this sport class have a significant loss of muscle power or control in their legs, arms and hands. Some athletes also have limited trunk control. This may be caused by tetraplegia, for example. Swimmers in this class usually use a wheelchair in daily life.
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S2 SB1
Swimmers in this sport class mainly rely on their arms for swimming. Their hand, trunk and leg function is limited due to tetraplegia or co-ordination problems, for example.
S3 SB2
This sport class includes athletes with amputations of both arms and legs. Swimmers with reasonable arm strokes but no use of their legs or trunk, and swimmers with severe co-ordination problems in all limbs are also included in this sport class.
S4 SB3
Swimmers who can use their arms and have fair function in their hands, but who cannot use their trunk or legs swim in this sport class. Athletes with amputations of three limbs could also swim in this sport class.
S5 SB4
Swimmers with short stature and an additional impairment, with loss of control over one side of their body (hemiplegia) or with paraplegia compete in this sport class.
S6 SB5
This sport class includes swimmers with short stature or amputations of both arms, or moderate co-ordination problems on one side of their body, for example.
S7 SB6
This sport class is for athletes with one leg and one arm amputation on opposite sides, or a paralysis of one arm and one leg on the same side.
Moreover, swimmers with full control over arms and trunk and some leg function can compete in this class.
S8 SB7
Swimmers who have an amputation of one arm are eligible to compete in this sport class. Also, athletes with significant restrictions across hip, knee and ankle joints could compete in this sport class.
S9 SB8
Athletes in this sport class, for example, swim with joint restrictions in one leg or with double below-the-knee amputations.
S10 SB9
This class describes minimal physical impairments of eligible swimmers. These include the loss of one hand or a movement restriction in one hip joint.
SPORT CLASSES S/SB11-13 VISION IMPAIRMENT
Athletes with a vision impairment compete in three sport classes from S/SB11 (B1) to S/SB13 (B3) as described in section 4. In order to ensure a fair competition athletes in the S/SB11 sport class are required to wear blackened goggles. To ensure safety all S/SB11 swimmers must use a
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tapper. Swimmers in the S/SB12 and S/SB13 sport classes may choose whether or not they wish to use one.
SPORT CLASSES S/SB14 INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT
S14 swimmers have an intellectual impairment, which typically leads to the athletes having difficulties with regards to pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory, which impact on sport performance in general. Moreover, S14 swimmers show a higher number of strokes relative to their speed than able-bodied elite swimmers.
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TABLE TENNIS
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
✓ Short stature ✓ ✓ Vision Impairment
In table tennis, players with physical impairments compete in sport classes 1-10 and athletes with an intellectual impairment compete in sport class 11.
Below is a detailed breakdown of all 11 sport classes. SITTING CLASSES:
Athletes in the sport classes 1-5 compete in a wheelchair. SPORT CLASS 1
Class 1 players have no sitting balance and a significantly affected playing arm, for example due to tetraplegia. Players often use the support of their non-playing arm to maintain their sitting balance.
SPORT CLASS 2
Players in this sport class also have no sitting balance, and their playing arm is moderately affected. Like the players in sport class 1, they tape the racket to the hand to make up for limited grip function.
SPORT CLASS 3
Players in sport class 3 have full hand and arm function. With their good arm function, they can manoeuvre the wheelchair while maintaining good balance of their upper body. The athlete’s impairment may result from spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy.
SPORT CLASS 4
Class 4 players have some sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands. They can move to the front to meet their opponent’s serve.
SPORT CLASS 5
This sport class includes athletes who compete in a wheelchair, and have normal sitting balance, arm and hand function. With the good trunk function, they can stretch out to the sides to hit the ball. The sport class includes athletes with lower spinal cord injuries.
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STANDING CLASSES:
Athletes in sport classes 6-10 compete standing. SPORT CLASS 6
Class 6 players have impairments affecting both arms and legs and play standing. The sport class includes, for example, athletes with uncoordinated movements, involuntary movements or muscle tension which affects the legs and the playing arm. These impairments impact the balance and the quality of strokes.
SPORT CLASS 7
Class 7 players either have significant impairments of both legs or the playing arm, or impairments affecting arms and legs moderately (e.g. CP paralysis of one side of the body or paralysis affecting symmetrical parts of the body (e.g. arms, face or legs)). For example, a player with an amputation of the playing arm above the elbow could compete in this sport class.
SPORT CLASS 8
Athletes with a moderate impairment of their legs or moderately affected playing arm compete in this sport class. An athlete with muscle weakness in one leg due to polio would for example compete in this sport class.
SPORT CLASS 9
Class 9 players have mild impairments affecting the legs or the playing arm. Athletes with a stiff knee (i.e. CP with a weakening of one side of the body (hemiparesis) or paralysis affecting one limb or area of the body) or restricted elbow of the playing arm compete in this sport class. Also, athletes who have significant impairments in the non-playing arm compete in this sport class. This will impact serving the ball.
SPORT CLASS 10
Players in this sport class have relatively mild impairments, such as a stiff ankle or wrist of the playing arm. Players with short stature may also play in sport class 10
SPORT CLASS 11 INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT
Table tennis players with an intellectual impairment typically have difficulties with: pattern recognition, sequencing, and memory which all have an impact on table tennis skills, tactics and performance.
TAEKWONDO
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
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Leg length difference ✓ Short stature Intellectual impairment ✓ Vision Impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
Para Taekwondo competitions has two disciplines Kyorugi and Poomsae. Classes competing in Kyorugi will have the “K” prefix. Classes competing in Poomsae will have the “P” prefix. The following Sport Classes are used for Para Taekwondo.
Currently only Kyorugi events for sport class K44 and for certain weight categories are part of the Paralympic Games program. These medal events however are also open to athletes in sport class K43.
CLASS K43
Athletes have restrictions on both sides of their body in the arm below the elbow joint. CLASS K44
Athletes have restrictions on one side in the arm or leg.
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PARA TRIATHLON
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements
Short stature
Vision Impairment ✓
In Para triathlon there are six different sport classes for athletes with physical impairments. Those competing in a wheelchair compete in PTWC1 and PTWC2, and those running are numbered PTS2-5. A lower number indicates a more severe activity limitation. There are three other sport classes for athletes with a vision impairment named PTVI1, PTVI2 and PTVI3.
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
PTWC1 AND PTWC2 (WHEELCHAIR RACING PARA TRIATHLETES)
Para triathletes in this class swim, cycle on a handbike and compete in a racing wheelchair for the run section. This class includes athletes with, but not limited to, impairments of muscle power, range of movement, limb deficiency such as single or double leg amputation, spinal cord injuries resulting in paraplegia or tetraplegia. The two classes PTWC1 and PTWC2 have a different activity limitation based on trunk and hip functionality and compete together in the PTWC event using a start interval system.
PTS2-5 (AMBULANT PARA TRIATHLETES)
PTS2
This class includes athletes with a severe degree of activity limitation resulting from impairments of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, muscle tension, uncoordinated movements and or involuntary movements, impaired muscle power or range of movement. Health conditions could include severe cerebral palsy, paralysis of one side of the body from birth, above the knee amputation, etc. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use an approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
PTS3
This class includes athletes with a significant degree of activity limitation resulting from impairments of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, muscle tension, uncoordinated movements and or involuntary movements, impaired muscle power or range of movement. Health conditions could include athletes with significant spastic paralysis of one side of the body, cerebral palsy, double below-knee amputation, impaired arm and legs, etc. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use an approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
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PTS4
This class includes athletes with a moderate degree of activity limitation resulting from impairments of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, muscle tension, uncoordinated movements and or involuntary movements, impaired muscle power or range of movement. Health conditions could include a moderate spastic cerebral palsy, complete brachial-plexus18 on one arm, through the shoulder amputation, one below-the-knee amputation, etc. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use an approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
PTS5
This sport class includes athletes with a mild degree of activity limitation such as athletes with, but not limited to, a below the elbow arm amputation, partial loss of arm muscle power, leg deficiency, etc. This class includes athletes with a mild degree of activity limitation resulting from impairments of but not limited to, limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of movement. Health conditions could include athletes where the arm is missing or shortened below the elbow (from birth), clubfoot, through the wrist amputation, partial brachial-plexus on one arm, through the ankle amputation, etc. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use an approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
VISION IMPAIRMENT
Athletes with a vision impairment belong to either one of the three sport classes from PTVI (B1) to PTVI3 (B3) as described in section 4. They compete together in a PTVI event using a start interval system.
Para triathletes in this class must swim, ride a tandem cycle and run with the same guide throughout the entire race. :
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18 The brachial plexus is the network of nerves that sends signals from your spinal cord to your shoulder, arm and hand.
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WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
✓ Short stature Vision Impairment
Wheelchair basketball players are allocated one of eight sport classes from 1.0 to 4.5. Sport class 1.0 describes the most significant activity limitation.
All athletes compete in a wheelchair and have an impairment affecting their legs and arms. Players, for example, have amputations or paraplegia. Not all the players are wheelchair users in daily life.
While most athletes have normal arm and hand function, the main differences between athletes of different sport classes are trunk control and sitting balance, which allows them to lean forward and sideways to catch and pass the ball.
SPORT CLASS 1.0
Players in sport class 1.0 have no trunk control and thus cannot bend forward or sideways or rotate to catch and pass the ball. To keep a stable position, the backrest of the wheelchair is a bit higher and the athletes are strapped to the wheelchair.
SPORT CLASS 2.0
These players can lean forward and rotate their body to some extent, allowing them to catch the ball within a larger radius. Like their team members in sport class 1.0, their wheelchairs have a higher backrest and strapping for trunk support.
SPORT CLASS 3.0
This profile describes players who can fully rotate and lean forward, but cannot lean to the sides. As they do not need sitting support, their wheelchair has a low backrest.
SPORT CLASS 4.0
While 4.0 players can move forward and rotate like their team members in sport class 3.0, they can partially lean to the sides as well. Often players in this sport class can lean to one side only, for example, because an impairment in one leg would cause a loss of balance to the other side.
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SPORT CLASS 4.5
Players in this sport class have the lowest degree of eligible impairment and have no restriction in trunk rotation or leaning forward or sideways. Players with a foot amputation or a 6 cm leg length difference would be eligible for this sport class.
An athlete can also be allocated the sport classes 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5. The activity profile of these “half-pointers” fits in between the profiles of the lower and higher class.
SPORT-TECHNICAL RULES
Each team of five players is only allowed to have 14 points on the field of play at the same time.
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WHEELCHAIR FENCING
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
Short stature Vision Impairment
All wheelchair fencers compete in one of the following five classes, which are in turn grouped into three event categories:
CLASS 1A
Athletes without sitting balance who also have a restriction in the fencing arm.
CLASS 1B
Athletes without sitting balance and restrictions in the fencing arm which are less severe to Class 1A.
CLASS 2.
Athletes with fair sitting balance and a normal fencing arm, e.g. paraplegic athletes (type T1 - T9) or incomplete tetraplegics with a minimally affected fencing arm and good sitting balance.
CLASS 3
Athletes with good sitting balance, without support of legs and normal fencing arm. CLASS 4
Athletes with good sitting balance with the support of legs and normal fencing arm.
CATEGORIES
Currently at official IWF (International Wheelchair Fencing) competitions, the sport classes are combined into the following three categories for each event:
• Category A: sport classes 3 and 4.
• Category B: sport class 2
• Category C: sport classes 1A and 1B
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WHEELCHAIR RUGBY
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES:
✓ Involuntary movements ✓
✓ Muscle tension ✓
✓ Uncoordinated ✓ movements
Short stature Vision Impairment
There are seven different sport classes ranging from 0.5 to 3.5 depending the severity of activity limitation.
SPORT CLASS 0.5
Players in sport class 0.5 have significantly impaired movement in their shoulder, arms and hands, for example due to tetraplegia or similar neurological health conditions. These players typically catch the ball by scooping it into their lap and throw the ball with a 2-handed flick pass or bunt pass. Their main role on the court is as a defender.
SPORT CLASS 1.0
Athletes in this class have more balanced shoulder strength than players in the 0.5 sport class so their arms are held closer to their body when they are pushing. These players may inbound the ball but are not major ball handlers due to having an impairment affecting their elbow, wrist and hand function. The typical role on court is a defender.
SPORT CLASS 1.5
A player in sport class 1.5 has fair arm function around shoulders, elbows and wrists, which allows the player to be an excellent defender. A 1.5 player will also handle the ball more frequently, but typically they show some weakness in the wrist and hands, which leads to limited ball security and accuracy in passing the ball. Some athletes in this class may also have asymmetrical arm function, so that they mainly handle the ball with their stronger arm only.
SPORT CLASS 2.0
The athletes in this class have good shoulder strength and stability which allows for very effective pushing. However, there is often impairment or loss of finger function which limits ball security and overhead passes. Athletes with limb deficiency that includes the loss of hands and forearms may also appear in this sport class. These players often play the role of ball handler on court and have very good speed in wheelchair activities.
SPORT CLASS 2.5
Players in this sport class have good shoulder, elbow and wrist strength. They might have some trunk muscle control present which improves their balance in the wheelchair and improves the
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efficiency of their wheelchair activities. These players may have some ability to use their fingers, and this can enhance the security and accuracy of overhead passes and also improve their ability to catch the ball. Well balanced strength in the arms means that these players can manoeuvre the wheelchair very effectively. These players are good ball handlers and fairly fast offensive players.
SPORT CLASS 3.0
Players in this sport class have excellent shoulder, elbow and wrist strength. For players who have neurological health conditions, there will usually be some finger or thumb weakness present. For players with limb deficiency, they may have partial loss of the palm of the hand including fingers/thumb. Players in this sport class generally have strong ball security in all positions, including overhead, both with one or two hands. Players in this sport class often have some activity in their trunk muscles that enhances both their ball control and wheelchair activities. They can dribble the ball very effectively. Typically, their role on court is as very good ball handlers and fast play makers.
SPORT CLASS 3.5
A 3.5 player has excellent arm strength and good hand strength, which makes the player a major ball handler and a fast play maker in the team. Players in this sport class often have some trunk muscles, which helps them to rapidly accelerate their wheelchair. This will also typically allow them to have a high and upright sitting position in their wheelchair. For players with a limb deficiency, they may have partial loss of the palm of the hand and fingers/thumb. You will see 3.5 players perform controlled one-handed, long-distance passes with a high degree of accuracy.
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WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
ELIGIBLE IMPAIRMENTS:
Impaired muscle power
Impaired passive range of movement Limb deficiency
Leg length difference Intellectual impairment
SPORT CLASSES
✓ Involuntary ✓ movements
✓ Muscle tension ✓ ✓ Uncoordinated ✓
movements ✓ Short stature
Vision Impairment
There are two sport classes in wheelchair tennis and all players have in common that they have an impairment that affects at least one leg.
SPORT CLASS: OPEN DIVISION
Players are eligible to compete in the Open division if they have a permanent physical disability that results in substantial loss of function in one or both legs that meets or exceeds the sport’s minimum eligibility criteria.
SPORT CLASS: QUAD DIVISION
Players who meet the eligibility criteria above but who also have a permanent physical disability that results in substantial loss of function in one or both arms, and where at least three limbs are affected, are eligible to compete in the Quad division. They have limited ability to handle the racket or to move in the wheelchair, so you will find that players may require racket taping and / or an assistive device in order to play.
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7 WANT TO LEARN MORE?
If you would like to learn more about classification, please take a look at the following documents.
IPC CLASSIFICATION CODE
This is the most important document governing the Paralympic Movement with regard to classification. It helps to support and co-ordinate the development and implementation of accurate, reliable and consistent sport-focused classification systems. The IPC Classification Code was first published in 2007, with a second edition being published in 2017 and is part of the IPC Handbook.
IPC POSITION STATEMENT ON BACKGROUND AND SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE FOR CLASSIFICATION IN PARALYMPIC SPORT
This position statement, which was written by Prof. Sean Tweedy and Prof. Yves Vanlandewijck (leading researchers in classification), explains what evidence-based classification means and how classification systems can be based on scientific evidence. The IPC officially committed to evidence-based classification, when this position statement was approved by the Governing Board in 2009.
INTRODUCTION TO THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT
If you want to learn more about the history of the Paralympic Movement and classification, from the beginnings in Stoke Mandeville to today’s London 2012 Paralympic Games, then the article “Introduction to the Paralympic Movement” by Sean Tweedy and P. David Howe will be interesting for you.
The article is available in the following book:
Y.C. Vanlandewijck & W.R. Thompson (Eds.): The Paralympic Athlete. Wiley-Blackwell: IOC Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science.
SPORT-SPECIFIC CLASSIFICATION RULES
Each IF is responsible for publishing classification rules and regulations. You can find these from the respective IF websites, which you are linked from the sport section of the IPC website.
For news and videos about the Paralympic Movement, information about the IPC structure and classification, please visit the IPC website.
You may also find the classification section on the website interesting.
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Thanks for the clarification bro AH!

Fucken hell can you atleast giving us a quick summary 🤣🤣

That must be the most gargantuan post ever posted in a forum. :surprise:

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJBlows

Fucken hell can you atleast giving us a quick summary 🤣🤣

Allow me to summarise. There's only one big elephant in the room: intellectual impairment being allowed to compete again. Research a little and you will find this category has a sordid past.
In short, a Spanish basketball team in 1996 was found to have cheated by having 10 out of 12 in their team certified as intellectually impaired when they were just normal blokes, promptly won the competition and got found out.

The IPC decided then and there to stop allowing this category to compete, rightly stating that it is impossible to accurately police the category. That would've been all good, done and dusted, BUT about a decade later they were "lobbied" (read: politically motivated) to reinstate them, they caved in to the pressure and so here we are again...

It's a circus to watch it. The other physically impaired contestants don't stand a chance.

I think it's also to give hope to other disabled ppl that they can still achieve

They should actually have a handicap, no pun intended, Like difficulty multiplier based on the person's disability

So it's not who finishes the race first but the one Ruth the fastest time after the multiplier

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggurat

That must be the most gargantuan post ever posted in a forum. :surprise:

Nah, Caffery AR's were much longer! :-)

All the athletes at Paralympics get a gold medal in my mind. Some of the efforts put tears in my eyes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raybo

Nah, Caffery AR's were much longer! :-)

All the athletes at Paralympics get a gold medal in my mind. Some of the efforts put tears in my eyes.

That's exactly why it is so painful to watch. They trained hard for years even with their physical disabilities, only to be beaten by lopsided competition that are not even disabled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggurat

That must be the most gargantuan post ever posted in a forum. :surprise:

We should all thank the forum allowing a long post like that to happen. There used to be a limit of 10,000 words per post. Way back I had to split one of my review into two parts !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raybo

Nah, Caffery AR's were much longer! :-)

All the athletes at Paralympics get a gold medal in my mind. Some of the efforts put tears in my eyes.

Agree with you Raybo, they're inspirational

You can always change the chanel

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4647

You can always change the chanel

I'd rather change the dior.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldfishMan

I'd rather change the dior.

That would have gone over his head, very good:grimace:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHLUNGOR

We should all thank the forum allowing a long post like that to happen. There used to be a limit of 10,000 words per post. Way back I had to split one of my review into two parts !

Firstly, you have written a 10,000 word review? :surprise: I couldn't manage that even if I was reviewing a Saudi Arabian hareem.

Secondly, when the paraolympics are over, in the interests of bandwidth and carbon footprint you should delete the post and replace it with a small memorial as to what was once there.

Thirdly, in setting a 10,000 word post limit the forum has an optimistic regard for the literary talent of the contributors. One however, that is profoundly not in evidence. :D :D

Ok I need to clarify something, was this post made tongue in cheek, with a touch of ignorance, or is this genuine?

I spent a lot of time with elite athletes, Olympic, commonwealth, world and Euro championships levels, trained elite footballers at 3 different clubs etc, but also spent a heap of time with paras in the lead up to Athens.

You will never meet a more dedicated, determined, hilarious and beautiful group of people in your life. The paras is everything the Olympics should be. Of all the work I did I cherish my paras work above all else. Just an amazing and inspirational group. Imagine being born with one arm, one lung, horrendous scoliosis etc and still running 10.8 for 100m and having a single digit handicap in golf. They are unbelievable athletes make no mistake. You haven't lived until you've been in a car with a one armed driver, driving manual while texting... I remember one night crying laughing while listening to the story of how a guy with one leg and his mate with one arm climbed on top of the Canadian teams roof and stole their Moose head mascot. There is no can't with these people. No "woe is me". They just do it, not for money or glory or fame, but for the sense of achievement only they can truly understand.

Sorry, love my para boys and girls...

Quote:

Originally Posted by asiafever

Ok I need to clarify something, was this post made tongue in cheek, with a touch of ignorance, or is this genuine?

I spent a lot of time with elite athletes, Olympic, commonwealth, world and Euro championships levels, trained elite footballers at 3 different clubs etc, but also spent a heap of time with paras in the lead up to Athens.

You will never meet a more dedicated, determined, hilarious and beautiful group of people in your life. The paras is everything the Olympics should be. Of all the work I did I cherish my paras work above all else. Just an amazing and inspirational group. Imagine being born with one arm, one lung, horrendous scoliosis etc and still running 10.8 for 100m and having a single digit handicap in golf. They are unbelievable athletes make no mistake. You haven't lived until you've been in a car with a one armed driver, driving manual while texting... I remember one night crying laughing while listening to the story of how a guy with one leg and his mate with one arm climbed on top of the Canadian teams roof and stole their Moose head mascot. There is no can't with these people. No "woe is me". They just do it, not for money or glory or fame, but for the sense of achievement only they can truly understand.

Sorry, love my para boys and girls...

.

I tried to be brief and to the point.

Nicely said sir

The olympics being quite moribund and something you can see in any other myriad of platforms and programming .. yawn

The para games and the athletes a whole other space , which does not get close to the recognition .

to a prev poster about scandal and unfair .. the olympics and and other able bodied sport rife with it … where’s Russia this time around ? Poor ole Lance etc ..

Pull your heads in, nobody was trying to put down any Paralympian. The opposite, I was calling out what looked like unfair competition by having people with apparently no disabilities to compete against those that really do.
I dug a bit more and found this recent article from ABC that explains the classifications in more layman's terms. I guess they have thought about it, but it sure is complicated!:
"What are the classifications for the Tokyo Paralympics? How do they work? - ABC News" https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100378012

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldfishMan

Pull your heads in, nobody was trying to put down any Paralympian. The opposite, I was calling out what looked like unfair competition by having people with apparently no disabilities to compete against those that really do.
I dug a bit more and found this recent article from ABC that explains the classifications in more layman's terms. I guess they have thought about it, but it sure is complicated!:
"What are the classifications for the Tokyo Paralympics? How do they work? - ABC News" https://amp.abc.net.au/article/100378012

"This thing is nothing but a halfhearted attempt by the PC people trying to look like they're giving disabled people a shot, but they're actually mocking them by not putting any thought into the event!"

Perhaps doing the research on classifications before making the above statement would have been advisable?

Quote:

Originally Posted by asiafever

"This thing is nothing but a halfhearted attempt by the PC people trying to look like they're giving disabled people a shot, but they're actually mocking them by not putting any thought into the event!"

Perhaps doing the research on classifications before making the above statement would have been advisable?

Yeah I'll take it on the chin, didn't do my research before posting, my bad.

Just got a little overly emotional when I saw the British guy who looked like he didn't have any disabilities beat everybody else so comfortably. When there were people with 1 arm or 1 leg in the field doing their utmost to get there. Just didn't seem fair to me that they put physically impaired people into the same field as mentally impaired but clearly physically fit people.
BUT if the spirit is to compete and notto win the medal, my argument is moot.