Para sports
Para sport is a term that describes sport offered as part of the Paralympic Movement. There are 28 Para sports contested at the Paralympic Games (22 Summer and 6 Winter). In addition, there are Para sports recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) but not currently contested at the Paralympic Games.
Many Para sports, for example, Para athletics, Para cycling, and Para alpine skiing, are comparable to their equivalent Olympic sport, with similar rules and scoring. However, there are also a number of Para sports which are specific to the Paralympic Movement such as Boccia, Wheelchair rugby and Goalball.
Summer Para sports
Winter Para sports
Para sports not currently contested at the Paralympic Games
As well as the 28 Paralympic sports, there are Para sports recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) which are not currently contested at the Paralympic Games. These are Para sports whose international federations contribute to the development of sport opportunities for Para athletes and have organisational goals that are compatible with the Vision and Mission of the IPC. Some of these used to be at the Paralympic Games and may be included for the first time in future.
Para sports in this category include:
- Para armwrestling (more on World Armwrestling Federation)
- Para bobsleigh and Para skeleton (more on International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation)
- Para lawn bowls (more on International Bowls for the Disabled)
- Para climbing (more on International Federation of Sport Climbing)
- CP football (more on International Federation of CP Football)
- Para dance sport (more on International Paralympic Committee)
- Wheelchair Ultimate and Wheelchair Disc Golf (more on World Flying Disc Federation)
- Para golf (more on International Golf Federation)
- Wheelchair handball (more on Wikipedia)
- Para hockey
- Para karate (more on World Karate Federation)
- Para pentathlon (more on Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne)
- Powerchair football (more on Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association)
- Para sailing (more on World Sailing)
- Para surfing (more on International Surfing Association)
Sports which used to be at the Paralympic Games but aren't today
There are a number of discontinued summer Para sports. These include:
- Basketball ID
- Football ID
- Football
- 7-a-Side
- Lawn bowls
- Sailing
- Snooker
- Dartchery
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Intellectual impairment sport
Virtus is the International Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment. Many different sports are contested at Virtus events. To compete in Virtus events, there are three eligible groups:
- II1 (Intellectual Impairment)
- II2 (Significant Intellectual Impairment)
- II3 (Autism)
Some athletes with an intellectual impairment in the II1 category are also eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic sports with an intellectual impairment classification are Para athletics, Para swimming, Para table tennis and Para taekwondo.
