Para sport words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 25 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

International federation

The body the IPC recognises as the sole worldwide representative of a para sport on the Paralympic programme. Each one must write classification rules that comply with the Code, and they set the sport classes and minimum impairment criteria for its sport.

Underlying health condition

A verifiable health condition, such as a disease, disorder, injury or trauma, that may lead to an eligible impairment that the sport caters for. It is checked first, in stage 1 of classification, from medical documents.

Impairments

Impaired muscle power

A reduced or absent ability to contract muscles to produce force, linked to a condition affecting the nervous system or the muscles themselves.

Impaired passive range of movement

A reduced ability for a joint to be moved passively, linked to a condition affecting bones, joints, connective tissue or soft tissue.

Limb deficiency and limb length difference

Total or partial absence of a limb, or an unusual limb size, from trauma, illness or a congenital cause affecting the bones or joints. It includes limb deficiency, leg length difference and arm length difference.

Short stature

A reduced total body length from reduced length of the bones of the arms and legs, which may include a shorter trunk. It does not count if the shorter stature is only the result of limb deficiency or limb length difference.

Coordination impairment

One or more of three movement disorders caused by the central nervous system that stop an athlete producing a full range of skilled movement fluidly, quickly and accurately: hypertonia or spasticity, motor ataxia, and dyskinesia (athetosis, dystonia, chorea).

Intellectual impairment

The eligible impairment for athletes with an intellectual impairment. It is one of the seven eligible impairments, and only some sports include it.

Minimum impairment criteria

The least level of impairment, from an eligible impairment, that an athlete must have to take part in a para sport. Each international federation sets them for its sport, and they are checked in stage 3 of classification.

Also called: MIC
See also: Para sport, International federation, Eligible impairment, Classification

The ruleWhat are minimum impairment criteria?

Non-eligible impairment

An impairment that does not fall within the categories the Paralympic Movement recognises, so it cannot qualify an athlete for para sport on its own.

Classification process

Stages of classification

Four stages run by the international federation: stage 1 checks for an underlying health condition from medical documents; stage 2 confirms an eligible impairment that fits it; stage 3 checks the minimum impairment criteria; stage 4 allocates a sport class and a sport class status. Stage 1 always comes first.

The ruleHow is a para athlete classified?

Evaluation session

Stages 2, 3 and 4 of classification: the eligible impairment assessment, the minimum impairment criteria assessment, and the allocation of a sport class and status.

Classifier and classification panel

A classifier is an official certified by an international federation to evaluate athletes. A classification panel is the set of classifiers that runs an evaluation session and decides an athlete's sport class and sport class status. A chief classifier directs classification at a competition.

Observation assessment

Observation of an athlete in competition by a classification panel, as part of deciding their sport class, so that the panel can finish judging how far the impairment affects the skills of the sport. It takes place at the athlete's first appearance in a sport class.

The ruleHow is a para athlete classified?

Protest

A formal challenge to an athlete's sport class or sport class status. It can be made by a national federation or by the international federation, and it is decided by a protest panel, which is a classification panel set up for the purpose.

Medical review

A request to the international federation to review an athlete's sport class on medical grounds. If a request is accepted, the athlete is given the status review at the next available opportunity.

Intentional misrepresentation

Intentionally misleading, or trying to mislead, an international federation about any part of classification. Examples are forged medical documents, deliberately underperforming in an evaluation session, or deliberately tiring oneself out beforehand.

The ruleWhat happens if a para athlete fakes their impairment?

Classification master list

The list each international federation must publish and keep current, with each athlete's name, gender, year of birth, nationality, sport class and status and any designations such as new (N), classification not completed (CNC) or not eligible.

Sport class and status

Confirmed status

The status a classification panel gives when it is satisfied that the athlete's sport class is unlikely to change, given the nature of the impairment and its effect on the skills of the sport.

Review status

Review at the next available opportunity applies, for example, to athletes classified by a sole classifier, to borderline athletes, or after an accepted protest. Review with a fixed review date applies when another evaluation is needed but not within the current year or season, and the date is normally no more than four years after the last session.

Also called: R-NAO, R-FRD
See also: Protest, Fixed review date

Fixed review date

The date, no earlier than the end of the current calendar year or season, after which an athlete must attend a new evaluation session. It is typically no more than four years after their previous one.

Also called: FRD
See also: Evaluation session

The ruleWhat does Confirmed status mean in para sport?

First appearance

An athlete's first time competing in an event in a particular sport class. Observation in competition takes place then, and the panel decides the final class and status afterwards.

Competition terms

Combined class event

An event in which athletes from different sport classes compete against each other. An international federation may allow this, for example when there are too few athletes in one class, if its rules say which classes may combine and why. 'Competing up' means taking part against athletes whose impairments have less effect on the sport.

Adaptive equipment

Any implement or technical aid adapted to the needs of an athlete to reduce the impact of an impairment, and permitted by the federation's rules. Glasses and corrective lenses do not count as adaptive equipment.

Covered competition

A competition to which a federation's classification rules apply, as set out in those rules. Athletes must be classified to take part in it.