How para-sport classification works

This is the system behind every para sport on SportsMaze.

1. Classification decides who may compete in a para sport, and groups eligible athletes into sport classes by how much their impairment affects the sport's key tasks.
2. There are seven eligible impairments: five physical ones (such as limb deficiency or short stature), vision impairment and intellectual impairment.
3. Each sport sets its own minimum criteria, the least impairment an athlete must have to compete in it.
4. Athletes who meet them get a sport class, which groups them with others similarly affected. So a result compares like with like.

How a class is given

Classification runs in four stages, from checking medical documents to giving the sport class. Every class carries a status, such as confirmed or due for review.