The Paralympic Games begin on August 28 and we explain how the classification system works.
The classification of the Paralympic Games is very important and is subject to certain very specific rules. Not all disabilities are accepted and when they are accepted, they are divided into different categories to allow for the most complete sporting fairness. The distribution is not only by disability, but by functional capacity. Each sport has its own classification criteria and are regularly assessed by doctors. In general, the classification system follows a common logic:
Letter : It is composed of one or two letters that refer to the sport, named in English. Example S for Swimming, 2 different letters in Para athletics, T for Track and F for Field, and finally another example PR for Para Rowing. In some sports, the letters can also correspond to a particularity. In badminton, the “WH1” event will refer to athletes in wheelchairs. In cycling, there are also categories linked to the type of bike used. Thus, the categories “H1” to “H5” group together riders on “handbikes”, or hand bikes during road events.
Figure : The second component of the classification is the number associated with these letters. The higher the number, the “weaker” the handicap and vice versa.
The classification of all sports
Para-athletics
- Classes 11-13 : Visually impaired or blind athletes.
- Class 20 : Athletes with intellectual disabilities.
- Classes 31-38 : Athletes with cerebral palsy (classes 31 to 34 are for wheelchair events, and classes 35 to 38 are for those competing standing).
- Classes 40-41 : Short athletes (dwarfism).
- Classes 42-44 : Athletes with lower limb amputations (standing competitor).
- Classes 45-46 : Athletes with upper limb amputations (standing competitor).
- Classes 47-49 : Athletes with disabilities in the trunk or upper limbs.
- Classes 50-58 : Athletes using a wheelchair (specific classes depending on the level of spinal injury).
Para-swimming
- Classes S1-S10 : Athletes with physical disabilities (S1 being the most severe).
- Classes S11-S13 : Visually impaired or blind athletes (S11 being for the totally blind).
- S14 classes : Athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Wheelchair basketball
- Players are ranked on a points system based on their function, ranging from 1.0 (severe handicap) to 4.5 (minimal handicap).
- Each team must not exceed a total of 14 points on the field at any given time.
Wheelchair rugby
- Players are ranked according to a points system ranging from 0.5 (severe handicap) to 3.5 (minimal handicap).
- As in basketball, there is a limit to the total number of points on the court.
Para-cycling
- C1-C5 : Cyclists with a physical or neurological disability (C1 being the most severe).
- T1-T2 : Cyclists using a tricycle.
- B : Visually impaired or blind cyclists, competing on a tandem with a sighted pilot.
- H1-H5 : Cyclists using a handbike (H1 being for the most severe disabilities).
Wheelchair Fencing
- Class A : Athletes with a disability affecting at least one lower limb
- Class B : Athletes who cannot have voluntary mobility of the trunk.
- Athletes are classified as B1 (blind) to B3 (visually impaired).
Goalball
- All players are either blind or severely visually impaired and wear masks to level the playing field.
Wheelchair Tennis
- Open Class : Athletes with impairments affecting at least one leg.
- Quad Class : Athletes with impairments affecting the upper and lower limbs.
Para-shooting
- SH1 : Athletes able to hold a rifle/pistol without support.
- SH2 : Athletes requiring support for their weapon.
Para table tennis
- Classes 1-5 : Athletes using a wheelchair (1 being the most severe).
- Grades 6-10 : Athletes competing standing (6 being the most severe).
- Class 11 : Athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Weightlifting
- No functional classification is used here, but athletes are classified only by body weight category.
- Among the functional limitations: orthopedic handicap / cerebral palsy / original neurological handicap / paraplegia and tetraplegia / progressive neurological handicap
- There are twenty weight classes: ten for men and ten for women.
Boccia
- BC1-BC4 : Athletes with cerebral palsy or other severe disabilities affecting motor skills (BC1 being the most severe).
Para-triathlon
- PTWC : Athletes using a wheelchair.
- PTS2-PTS5 : Athletes with physical disabilities (PTS2 being the most severe).
- PTVI : Visually impaired or blind athletes.
Para-dressage
- Grades IV : Graded according to functional capacity, with Grade I being the most severe
Para-badminton
- Classes WH1-WH2 : Wheelchair athletes (WH1 for more severe disabilities, WH2 for less severe).
- Classes SL3-SL4 : Athletes with disabilities affecting walking or balance (SL3 for more severe disabilities, SL4 for less severe).
- Class SU5 : Athletes with upper limb disabilities.
- Class SS6 : Small athletes.
Para-canoe
- KL1-KL3 : Athletes classified according to their functional ability in kayaking (KL1 being the most severe).
- VL1-VL3 : Athletes classified according to their functional capacity in the canoe (or va’a canoe, VL1 being the most severe).
Para-taekwondo
- K41-K44 : Athletes classified according to their upper limb disability (K41 being the most severe).
- P31-P34 : Athletes with cerebral palsy (P31 being the most severe).
Para-rowing
- PR1 (AS) : Athletes who primarily use their arms and shoulders to row. They have minimal or no trunk control, requiring them to be strapped to the boat seat.
- PR2 (TA) : Athletes who use their arms and shoulders, as well as their core, to row. They cannot use their legs for thrust while rowing.
- PR3 (LTA) : Athletes who can use their legs, trunk, and arms to row. This group includes athletes with visual impairments, amputations, or other physical disabilities.
Para-judo
- Classes B1-B3 : Para-judo is practiced by athletes with visual impairments. The classes are:
- B1 : Athletes who are totally blind or have insufficient light perception.
- B2 : Athletes with very reduced visual acuity (up to 2/60) or a very restricted visual field.
- B3 : Athletes with slightly better visual acuity (up to 6/60) or a slightly wider visual field.
Sitting volleyball
- Open Classes : Unlike other Paralympic sports, sitting volleyball uses a simplified classification. There are two main categories:
- “Minimally Disabled” (MD) Athletes : Athletes with minor disabilities, such as partial amputations or less severe impairments. A maximum of two athletes with this classification are allowed on the field at any one time.
- Athletes with more severe disabilities : These athletes make up the majority of players on the field and must have more significant lower limb impairment.
Para archery
- Open Classes : There are two main categories in para archery, based on the functional abilities of the athletes:
- W1 : Wheelchair athletes with upper and lower limb limitations. They can use a bow with a trigger and a support to hold the bow.
- Open (W2 and ST) : Athletes who can shoot standing or sitting (wheelchair). Archers in this category may have functional limitations of the lower limbs, but retain full capacity of the upper limbs