Classification of the Games
Classification
All sports of the Paralympics work very hard against individuals with similar disabilities as themselves to play in the games, but, everyone has a different disability and it affects them in a different way; therefore, they would have to get classified in order to be in the correct sport class that meets their level of disability. The International Paralympic Committee explains classification and how "...it determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped together for competition. In Para sports, athletes are grouped by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment" (International Paralympic Committee). The committee compares Paralympic classification to general classifications which uses gender, weight, and age to classify athletes into groups.
Athletes, regardless of the level of disability they have, should be allowed to be evaluated in order to be classified for every sport. I think that classification for athletes with any type of disability definitely is a must; although, since athletes are most likely playing for one sport, maybe two, they should only be classified for those sports - why put them through extra, unnecessary testing for other sports, when they do not need it. In my opinion, it should be an option whether they want to be classified for every sport, rather than it being mandatory. Athletes should be allowed, but not forced to be classified for every sport there is.
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"Classification determines which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how those athletes are then grouped together for competition in order to minimise the impact of the athletes' impairments on sport performance. This is done to safeguard the integrity of fair competition" (World Para Athletics, 2023).
The Paralympic Games were created after the Olympic Games for individuals with disabilities who physically were not able to participate in the sports/events that the Olympic Games held. Since these games were made specifically for those with disabilities, they should stay that way. I believe that everyone else should not be able to partake in the Paralympics, unless they have a disability or impairment and are classified into a group that is eligible to compete in the Paralympics. The Paralympics give people with disabilities a chance to compete and bring home the gold to their own countries. Taking it back to the 1940's, German Neurologist, Ludwig Guttman, started these games because he "was looking for a way to help his paraplegic patients, all World War II veterans, rehabilitate more quickly" (The History of the Paralympic Games). This shows Guttman's point that he wanted a way for those who could not perform physically, to have an equal opportunity to perform against athletes like them.
Classification is the answer to the question of how a fair playing field is created with so many different disabilities. The reason why para athletes are able to participate fairly in their sport, is mainly because of classification. There are a numerous amount of categories that they get tested in, in order to be placed in the right division.
1. Determine if the athlete has an eligible impairment
- Must have a permanent eligible impairment out of the ten impairments
- These criteria are specific for each sport
- There are over 50 sport classes
- Different impairments cause limitations for a sport
- Determined by a classification panel
References
IPC classification - paralympic categories & how to qualify. International Paralympic Committee. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.paralympic.org/classification
Mainguy, M. (2022, September 1). The history of the Paralympic Games. Paris 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.paris2024.org/en/the-history-of-the-paralympic-games/
World Para Athletics Classification & Categories. International Paralympic Committee. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2023, from https://www.paralympic.org/athletics/classification
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