The Paralympic classification system is unjust. It's time for an urgent overhaul
1 year, 8 months ago

The Paralympic classification system is unjust. It's time for an urgent overhaul

ABC  

I still get chills when I think about that day in Athens, almost 20 years ago, when I won my first Paralympic gold medal. Working the system to lock in funding At the national level, I believe the way Paralympic sport is funded is part of the problem. In cycling for example, you've got these incredible able-bodied athletes that suffer from a level of cerebral palsy, annihilating the field of people like me who have an upper limb disability. Loading YouTube content Athletes misrepresenting their abilities is as bad as drugs in sport Then there's the separate issue of athletes faking the level of their disability so they can be classified below where they should be and improve their chances of winning medals. Under the current system for classifying a Paralympic athlete's disability, someone like me would be up against riders with almost full functionality.

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History of this topic

The Paralympics are supposed to be fair and inclusive, but often fail to be
3 months, 2 weeks ago

The Paralympics are supposed to be fair and inclusive, but often fail to be

Al Jazeera  

As a Paralympic athlete, I have experienced firsthand how an outdated system of disability classification benefits some and undermines others. Unlike able-bodied sports where doping is the primary issue, Paralympic athletes can manipulate the classification system by exaggerating or faking their disabilities. For example, Indian discus thrower Vinod Kumar, who won a bronze medal in the 2021 Summer Paralympics, was …

Why this disabled Briton won’t be watching the Paralympics
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Why this disabled Briton won’t be watching the Paralympics

The Independent  

This year, Channel 4’s Paralympics marketing promises to challenge people to “view Paralympians as elite, world-class athletes, not as competitors ‘overcoming’ their disabilities”. The campaign, “Considering What”, says it “captures the reactions of people as they watch Paralympic sport who, although well intentioned, are misguided and don’t appreciate Paralympians for what they are: world class athletes”. The campaign is a …

Paralympics classification demystified: What the letters and numbers at the Games mean
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Paralympics classification demystified: What the letters and numbers at the Games mean

ABC  

The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world – and at their heart lies classification – an essential, but often confusing system. The 10 impairment types are: Limb loss/limb difference Hypertonia Ataxia Athetosis Short stature Muscle weakness Joint movement restriction Leg length difference Vision impairment Intellectual impairment Some sports, like swimming, are open to all impairment …

Paralympics in crisis as international and Australian athletes game the system
1 year, 8 months ago

Paralympics in crisis as international and Australian athletes game the system

ABC  

Paralympic athletes are deliberately exaggerating their impairments in a bid to win medals, a Four Corners investigation has found. "There are still athletes, currently, who are misrepresenting their abilities, not only in this country, but throughout the world," former chief classifier with the IPC and medical director for the Australian Paralympic team Jane Buckley said. In para-cycling, the three-wheeled trike …

The Paralympics: Spotlight shines only briefly
3 years, 3 months ago

The Paralympics: Spotlight shines only briefly

The Hindu  

“Sport is the spotlight for people with disabilities.” Puffed-up phrases like this are heard from sports officials throughout the Paralympics. Speaking to DW, the president of the International Paralympic Committee went further still: “For a long time the Paralympics were in the shadow, but now the Games are a driver for social change.” But can social change really be measured? …

What are the classifications for the Paris Paralympics and how do they work?
3 years, 4 months ago

What are the classifications for the Paris Paralympics and how do they work?

ABC  

One word you will hear often referring to athletes and sports at the Paris Paralympics is classifications — but what are they and how do they apply to the Games? Eligible impairments Impairment of muscle power Impaired passive range of movement Limb difference Leg length difference Short stature Hypertonia Ataxia Athetosis Vision impairment Intellectual impairment Paralympic classification can be confusing …

Paralympics Classification: Here is Everything You to Know About the Sports Played and Their Divisions
3 years, 4 months ago

Paralympics Classification: Here is Everything You to Know About the Sports Played and Their Divisions

News 18  

Here are the different classifications under which athletes will compete at the Tokyo Paralympics: Archery Archery is open to athletes with an eligible physical impairment. BC1: Athletes in sport class BC1 have severe activity limitations affecting their legs, arms and trunk due to co-ordination impairments, and are typically dependent on a powered wheelchair. BC4: While the sport classes BC1-2 include …

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