Classification

Classification is the process by which Paralympic athletes are placed in the most appropriate group for competing following an assessment of their impairment.

Its core purpose is to enable athletes with Eligible Impairments to participate in meaningful Para sport competition, by minimising the influence of an athlete’s impairment and ensuring that the outcome of competition is determined by factors other than impairment.

To codify, benchmark and raise standards in this critical area ParalympicsGB have published the UK Classification Code. The UK Classification Code also supports the implementation of the IPC Classification Code and its International Standards.

• Read the new UK Classification Code (there is also a plain text version)
• Read the IPC Classification Code and its International Standards

The Paralympic Movement offers sport opportunities for athletes that have at least one of the following 7 eligible impairments:

1. Impaired Muscle Power

2. Impaired Passive Range of Movement

3. Limb Deficiency and / or Limb Length Difference including:

• Limb Deficiency
• Leg Length Difference; and/or
• Arm Length Difference.

4. Short Stature

5. Coordination Impairments, including:

• Hypertonia/Spasticity
• Motor Ataxia
• Dyskinesia (athetosis, dystonia, chorea)

6. Vision Impairment

7. Intellectual Impairment

Each International Federation (IF) defines which of the 7 eligible impairments they provide sports opportunities for. Some sports, like athletics and swimming provide opportunities for all eligible impairments while others, such as judo or goalball are limited to one impairment.

Discover which eligible impairments are available in each Paralympic Sport

The classification process can include the following:

Medical documents: the athlete must provide medical documents to confirm their diagnosis

Physical assessment: all athletes complete medical tests such as strength, range of movement and coordination tests for athletes with a physical impairment, visual acuity and visual field tests for athletes with a vision impairment, and cognitive tests for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Technical assessment: some athletes will be required to complete key sports specific exercises and skills for example dives, turns and stroke technique in swimming or passing the ball and pushing their wheelchair in Wheelchair Rugby.

Observation during competition: some athletes will be observed by classifiers while they are competing.

Both the IPC and ParalympicsGB consider it best practice for athletes to undergo national classification prior to presenting for international classification. National classification aims to mirror each international federation’s classification rules, practices and outcomes. National classification serves to determine whether an athlete meets the sport’s minimum eligibility criteria as early as possible in their career and allows athletes competing in the UK to benchmark themselves against international competition standards.

ParalympicsGB employs an Athlete Services Manager, Joshua Morgan, to work with our NGBs to support and develop sustainable, credible and robust national sport specific strategies and programmes.

National Classification is delivered by the sports UK National Governing Bodies and International Classification is led by sports International Federations.

Classification processes of each Paralympic Sport share common features, but as the functional activities of each sport or discipline vary, the process are specific to each sport.

Classifiers are a type of technical official, like judges, umpires, referees and timekeepers, but specific to Paralympic sport. International Classifiers are trained and accredited by the sports International Federation while the National Classifiers are trained and accredited by the sports National Governing Bodies.

A typical classification panel for athletes with a physical impairment is made up of one medical classifier (often a physio) and one technical classifier (can be a qualified coach or a bio-mechanic with experience in that sport). Athletes with a visual impairment are classified by optometrists and ophthalmologists. For athletes with an intellectual impairment, the role of a medical classifier is filled by a psychologist.

The classifiers administer a range of sport and impairment specific tests that measure the athlete’s impairment against the sport’s classification rules.

Interested in becoming a classifier?

Register your interest: Become a classifier expression of interest form

Intentional misrepresentation is one of the biggest risks to the integrity of Paralympic sport as the general public and athletes must believe that an athlete’s classification is based on honesty.

Intentional misrepresentation is a contravention of the rules and is considered an offence when either an athlete or athlete support personnel:

• attempts to deceive the classification panel during classification evaluation;
• deliberately presents at classification evaluation in a way that is inconsistent with how they present for competition;
• fails to make a medical notification as to a change in circumstances that will or may affect a sport class; and/or

knowingly assists, covers up or disrupts the evaluation process with the intention of deceiving or misleading the classification panel.

Anyone with relevant information of genuine concerns of Intentional Misrepresentation(IM) should report those concerns either to their sport’s National Governing Body, or where there are reasons those concerns cannot be shared with the National Governing Body (NGB) of the sport, information should be sent to classification@paralympics.org.uk

If you want to report concerns anonymously, you can do so by clicking on the following link: Report Concerns Anonymously

It’s important to say that the more detail you provide increases the opportunity for an investigation to take place, but there is always the opportunity to retain anonymity while reporting something to us via this link.

The information you share will reach the ParalympicsGB Athlete Services Manager, who will take all such concerns seriously and follow the processes set out in ParalympicsGB IM Policy

These actions may include:

• cross-referencing this information alongside information previously received
• forwarding this information to the respective NGB, with our recommendation for action and maintaining oversight of follow-up actions taken by the NGB commissioning Sport Resolutions to investigate the claims

Factsheets

• Athlete Rights & Responsibilities under the UK Classification Code
• Athlete Support Personnel Rights & Responsibilities under the UK Classification Code
• Paralympic Sport Eligible Impairments
• Spotlight on: Classification Code
• National and International Classification
• Intentional Misrepresentation
• Eligible Impairments by Sport

Animation Videos

• ParalympicsGB Classification Explainer - YouTube
• Classification: Minimising Distraction - YouTube
• The Classification Process
• Protest and Appeals in Classification