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4. Football five-a-side

Eligible impairment types: 

• Visual impairment

Sport classes

Only athletes who have a B1 sport class as described here may compete in football five-a-side. To ensure fair competition all players (except for the goalkeeper) must wear eyeshades. This classification applies to the visually impaired field players. In addition, each team has a sighted, able-bodied goalkeeper, who does not need to undergo classification.

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4. Equestrian

Eligible impairment types: 

• Impaired muscle power
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency
• Leg length difference
• Athetosis
• Hypertonia
• Ataxia
• Short stature
• Visual impairment

Sport classes

In equestrian dressage riding there are five sport classes called grades for athletes with physical and visual impairments. Lower grades indicate more severe activity limitations and higher grades include athletes with less severe activity limitations.

Physical impairments

Grade Ia

Athletes in grade 1a have severe impairments affecting all limbs and the trunk. The athlete usually requires the use of a wheelchair in daily life.

Grade Ib

Athletes in grade Ib have either a severe impairment of the trunk and minimal impairment of the upper limbs or moderate impairment of the trunk, upper and lower limbs. Most athletes in this class use a wheelchair in daily life.

Grade II

Athletes in grade II have severe impairments in both lower limbs with minimal or no impairment of the trunk or moderate impairment of the upper and lower limbs and trunk. Some athletes in this class may use a wheelchair in daily life.

Physical or visual impairment 

Grade III

Athletes in grade III have a severe impairment or deficiency of both upper limbs or a moderate impairment of all four limbs or short stature. Athletes in grade III are able to walk and generally do not require a wheelchair in daily life. Grade III also includes athletes with visual impairment as described in the B1 sport class here.

Grade IV

Athletes in Grade IV have a mild impairment of range of movement or muscle strength or a deficiency of one limb or mild deficiency of two limbs. Grade IV also includes athletes with visual impairment as described in the B2 sport class here.

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3. Classification
4. Boccia

Eligible impairment types: 

• Impaired muscle power
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency
• Athetosis
• Hypertonia
• Ataxia

Sport classes

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 and control.

BC1 

Athletes in sport class BC1 have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk due to co-ordination impairments. 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 the BC1 and BC3 sport class. The abilities of their arms and hands often allow them to throw the ball overhand and underhand and with a variety of grasps.

BC3

Athletes competing in sport class BC3 have a significantly limited function in their arms and legs, and poor or no trunk control due to cerebral or non-cerebral origins. To help them propel the ball onto the court, they use a ramp and other assistive devices to roll the ball.

BC4

While the sport classes BC1-3 include athletes with hypertonia, athetosis or ataxia, sport class BC4 comprises athletes with impairments that have no cerebral origin. Among possible health conditions are muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injuries or amputations affecting all four limbs. Players throw the ball usually with a pendulum swing, sometimes using both hands and arms. They may use a glove to sustain their grip of the ball.

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3. Classification
4. Cycling

Eligible impairment types: 

• Impaired muscle power
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency
• Leg length difference
• Intellectual impairment
• Athetosis
• Hypertonia
• Ataxia
• Short stature
• Visual impairment

Sport classes

Athletes with physical impairments either compete on handcycles, tricycles or bicycles. Athletes with a visual impairment compete on tandems with a sighted “pilot”.

Handcycling 

Sport classes: H1 - H5

There are five different sport classes for handcycling and lower numbers indicate a more severe activity limitation.

Cyclists in the sport classes H1-4 compete in a reclined position. While athletes competing in the H1 class have a complete loss of 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.

Cyclists in the H5 sport class sit on their knees 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 athetosis or ataxia.

Tricycle 

Sport classes T1, T2

Tricycle athletes are divided into two classes, T1 and T2. Due to impairments affecting their balance and co-ordination they ride a tricycle to increase stability. The sport class T1 is allocated to athletes with more significant co-ordination problems or loss of muscle power than athletes competing in sport class T2.

Bicycle 

Sport classes C1 - C5

Athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle compete in the five sport classes C1-5. The sport class profiles include amputations, impaired muscle power or range of motion and also impairments affecting co-ordination, such as ataxia and athetosis. Sport class C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe activity limitation, while the sport class C5 is allocated to athletes who meet the minimum impairment criteria.

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 visual 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 here to compete, therefore B1, B2 and B3 athletes compete together in one event.

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3. Classification
4. Athletics

Eligible impairment types: 

• Impaired muscle power
• Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency
• Leg length difference
• Intellectual impairment
• Athetosis
• Hypertonia
• Ataxia
• Short stature
• Visual impairment

Sport classes

In athletics the sport class consists of a prefix “T” or “F” and a number. The prefix T stands for “track” and F stands for “field.” It indicates for which events the sport class applies, either for track or for field events.

Visual impairment - Sport classes T/F11 - T/F13 

Athletes with a visual impairment compete in three sport classes from T/F 11 (B1) to T/F 13 (B3) as described here. 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, or having a slower reaction time, 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: 1,500 metre runners have difficulties in pacing, while in long jump the impairment makes the anticipation of the take-off board more difficult.

Ataxia, athetosis and hypertonia - Sport classes F31, T32/F32 - T38/F38 

The 30s sport classes are allocated to athletes with athetosis, ataxia and/or hypertonia - 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. The lower the number is, the more significant the activity limitation. 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 upper limbs, with athletes in sport class T/F41 being taller than athletes in sport class T/F 40.

Limb deficiencies - Sport classes T42/F42 - T46/F46, T47

These sport classes are designated for athletes with limb deficiencies, such as amputations or dysmelia. In the sport classes 42-44 the lower limbs are affected by the impairment and in the sport classes 45-47 the upper limbs are affected, for example by above or below elbow amputations. For example, a shot putter with a single above knee amputation competes in sport class F42. All athletes in the 40s classes compete standing and do not use a wheelchair.

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. Again, a lower number indicates a higher activity limitation.

Athletes competing in wheelchair racing events for T51-54 sport classes differ with regard to their arm and shoulder functions which are pertinent for pushing a wheelchair. Athletes in class T53 have full function in the arms, but similar to classes T51 and 52, do not have trunk function. Athletes in classes T51-52 have activity limitations in both lower and upper limbs. Unlike athletes in the sport classes T51-53, 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 demonstrate some hip flexion and adductor muscle activity in addition to 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 ambulate with or without an assistive device, but have to at the very least comply with the defined minimum impairment criteria.

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2. Paralympics
3. Classification
4. Archery

Eligible impairment types: 

• Impaired muscle power 

• Impaired passive range of movement

• Limb deficiency

• Leg length difference 

• Athetosis 

• Hypertonia 

• Ataxia

Sport classes

Paralympic archers compete in two sport classes: 

W1

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

Archers who historically competed in the W2 and ST sport classes have been merged together as their impairments have an equal impact on the outcome of competition. 

Archers in this sport class may have a strong activity limitation in their trunk and legs and compete in a wheelchair. Their arms, however, show normal function. This profile would likely apply to paraplegic archers. 

Also in this sport class athletes compete in a standing position, they require some standing support because of poor balance. They either have a leg-length difference, limb deficiency or impairments that also affect their arms and trunk.