Classification Process in Para Athletics

Everyone is born with unique qualities. Some people are good at studying, while others are good at sports or art. Everyone has their own talents and contributes to the diversity of the world.

Likewise, in the Olympic arena, every athlete, able-bodied or disabled, possesses unique strengths and abilities that set them apart from others.

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But do you know how to select a single gem among thousands of competitors to represent their country on the world stage? It is a rigorous selection process that requires fierce competition and years of dedication and hard work. Below is the complete criteria for selecting Paralympic athletes to represent their country at the Paralympic Games.

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Classification process for the 2024 Paralympic Games

There are a number of criteria that must be met to determine if an athlete is eligible to compete in an upcoming competition. These criteria are:

1) Evaluating the Athlete

Athlete assessment is the process of classifying athletes in para-sport. Assessment involves evaluating athletes to determine their eligibility and assigning them to the appropriate sport level based on their ability.

This assessment answered three key questions:

• Does the athlete have a recognised disability that qualifies him or her to participate in para sports?
• Does the athlete’s injury meet the specific severity requirement to participate in the sport?
• At what level of sport should athletes be placed based on their ability to perform the fundamental tasks of the sport?

This process ensures that athletes are grouped fairly for competition taking into account their abilities and limitations.

Let’s answer the first question: Does the athlete have a recognized disability that qualifies them to participate in para sports? Therefore, to be eligible for evaluation, the athlete must have an underlying health condition that results in a permanent, qualifying disability.

The table below sets out the different types of disabilities that are suitable for participation in Paralympic sports.

Injury Type	describe	Examples of underlying health conditions
Impaired muscle strength	Athletes with impaired muscle strength have a health condition that reduces or eliminates their ability to voluntarily contract their muscles to move or generate force.	Spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida
Impaired passive range of motion	Athletes with impaired passive range of motion have limited or absent passive motion in one or more joints.	Joint contractures, contractures caused by long-term immobilization or trauma
See more : Can You Find the Hidden Cat Within 12 Seconds? Explanation and Solution To The Optical Illusion Limb defects	Athletes with limb impairments have all or part of a bone or joint missing due to trauma, disease or congenital limb impairment.	Traumatic amputation, bone cancer amputation, limb disability
Leg length difference	Athletes with leg length inequality have differences in leg length due to limb growth disorders or trauma.	Limb growth disorder, trauma
Short stature	Athletes with short stature have shorter bones in the upper extremities, lower extremities, and/or trunk.	Achondroplasia, growth hormone dysfunction, osteogenesis imperfecta
Hypertonia	Athletes with hypertonia have increased muscle tension and decreased muscle extensibility due to damage to the central nervous system.	Cerebral palsy, brain injury, stroke
Ataxia	Athletes with ataxia have uncoordinated movements due to damage to the central nervous system.	Cerebral palsy, brain trauma, stroke, multiple sclerosis
Athetosis	Athletes with athetosis experience continuous, slow, involuntary movements.	Cerebral palsy, brain injury, stroke
Visual impairment	A visually impaired athlete has reduced vision or blindness due to damage to the eye structure, optic nerve or pathways, or visual cortex.	See more : Optical Illusion Eye Test: Within 15 Seconds, Can You Locate The Bug In This Image? Retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy
Intellectual disability	Athletes with intellectual disabilities have limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that affect everyday conceptual, social, and practical adaptation.	This damage must exist.

2) Determine whether an athlete meets the minimum impairment criteria for a sport

Each para-sport has specific standards that determine the minimum level of disability required for an athlete to be eligible to participate in that sport. These standards are called Minimum Disability Criteria (MIC).

The purpose of MIC is to ensure that an athlete’s injury does not significantly affect their ability to perform the essential tasks and activities of their sport. For example:

• Maximum height limit for short athletes
• Specific Amputation Levels for Athletes with Limb Impairments
• The MIC was developed based on scientific research evaluating the impact of different injuries on sports.
• Since sports require different skills and movements, MIC is tailored for each sport.

Therefore, an athlete may meet the MIC requirement for one sport but not another, depending on how their disability affects their performance in that sport. If an athlete is deemed unsuitable for a sport based on the MIC, this does not negate the presence of their disability but rather reflects the specific requirements of that sport.

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3) Athletes’ choice of sport

Once an athlete is determined to be eligible to play in a sport, the classification panel will determine which level of sport the athlete will play.

Sport classes group athletes with similar activity limitations to ensure fair competition. This means that sport classes vary from sport to sport, and athletes at the same class do not necessarily have the same type of impairment.

The process of determining an athlete’s sport class is a multi-step process that typically includes a physical and technical assessment followed by observation during competition before assigning a final sport class and sport class status.

An athlete may need to be reclassified several times during their career, especially if the severity of their disability increases or changes. If an athlete’s medical condition changes, they must notify the sport organization and request a reevaluation.

Medical diagnosis forms and documents

The medical diagnosis table for all athletes is as follows:

• Physical impairment: The athlete and his/her National Paralympic Committee (NPC) are responsible for submitting the Medical Diagnosis Form (MDF) and all relevant medical documentation via the SDMS online system.
• Vision Impairment: Athletes and their NPCs must submit a Vision Impairment Medical Diagnosis Form (MDF) and all necessary supporting medical documentation via the SDMS online system.
• Intellectual Disability: Athletes with intellectual disabilities must meet the VIRTUS II 1 qualification criteria and be listed on the VIRTUS International Qualification Master List. Athletes and NPCs are responsible for submitting the TSAL-Q form through the SDMS online system.

Paralympic Track and Field Courses

Para athletics has a comprehensive classification system that groups athletes with similar activity limitations into different sporting classes to ensure fair competition.

Sport levels are divided according to the type and degree of qualifying disability, such as visual impairment (T11-13), intellectual disability (T20), coordination impairment (T35-38), short stature (T40-41), limb impairment or impaired muscle strength (T42-47, T61-64) and wheelchair racing (T32-34, T51-54).

The numerical value represents the degree of damage, the lower the number, the more serious the damage.

This ensures that the athlete’s success is based on their skill, fitness, and preparation, rather than the severity of their injury.

Classification Rules and Regulations

According to the International Paralympic Committee’s classification rules and regulations are as follows:

Paris 2024 Paralympic Games qualification rules

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Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
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