The 2024 Paralympics explained: How the event classification system works

jean-luc mounier

Thu, 29 Aug 2024, 1:58 pm·1-min read

The first events of the Paris Paralympics kicked off early on Thursday, introducing many viewers unfamiliar with parasports to C4-5 track cycling races, SL3 badminton matches and S9 swimming heats. Based on the type and degree of impairment, the Paralympics’ classification system is designed to ensure fair competition between Paralympians. Here’s how it works.

While they share most venues with the Olympic Games, the Paralympics are a separate entity, with their own history, logo, culture and technical language.

In boccia, one of two Paralympic sports that have no Olympic equivalent, players throw or roll leather balls as close as they can to a small ball called a “jack”. In blind football, defenders must signal themselves to the ball carrier by shouting “Voy”, which means “I’m going” in Spanish. Para table tennis allows players to adapt the grip of their racket, using an orthosis (an external device or apparatus) to fix it to their hand if they are unable to hold the handle.

To ensure fair competition, athletes are grouped by type of impairment – physical, visual or intellectual – and how much of an impact it has on their ability to compete. All Paralympians undergo an assessment by a panel of experts to determine which category they should compete in based on the degree and nature of their disability.