Paralympic sports

We will be matching people who show sporting potential with the below sports. Prior experience in these sports is not required.

Para-archery

Para-archery is a sport that requires strength, concentration, and precision. Athletes can compete individually and in mixed teams. There are classifications for athletes with physical impairments, including standing and wheelchair classes.

Para-athletics

Para-athletics includes a range of track and field events. On the track, athletes race over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and marathon, either in ambulant or wheelchair events as well as long jump and high jump for ambulant athletes. In the field, athletes compete in club throw, discus throw, javelin throw and shotput, either ambulant or seated. There are classifications for athletes with a physical, vision, or intellectual impairment.

Para-badminton

Para-badminton is a sport that requires agility, technical skill, and strategy. Athletes can compete individually (singles) and in pairs (doubles and mixed doubles). There are classifications for athletes with a wide range of physical impairments, including short stature, standing, and wheelchair classes.

Blind football

Blind football is an outdoor sport played between two teams with four players who are blind, as well as a sighted or vision impaired goalkeeper. Additionally, each team has a guide behind the opponent’s goal to direct the players when they shoot. It is a fast-paced game requiring athletes to have high-level technical skills on the ball, and speed and endurance with and without the ball.

Boccia

Boccia is a game of strategy, with technique and tactics that tests each competitor’s degree of muscle control and accuracy to throw, kick, or use a ramp device, to propel leather balls on a hard flat surface, as close as possible to a white ball which serves as the target. There are classifications for athletes with a range of physical impairments. Boccia is played both individually and in teams. It is fun, engaging and is a great game for those who did not think there was a sport for them.

Para-canoe

Para-canoe is a sport that requires strength, speed, skill, and determination. Races are contested over 200m in two types of boats, kayak and va'a. The kayak is propelled by a double-blade paddle, while the va'a is an outrigger canoe which has an ama (second pontoon) as a support float and is used with a single-blade paddle. Both kayak and va'a have classes of events for men and women with physical impairments.

Para-cycling

Para-cycling includes both Endurance and Sprint disciplines. Both Road and Track Endurance Cycling require endurance, strength and speed. Track Sprint Cycling events are short in duration and require speed and power. In road cycling, athletes compete on a tandem bike, standard bike, three-wheeled trike, or handcycle, depending on their impairment. Track cycling is contested in a velodrome and is for athletes who compete on a tandem or standard bicycle. Athletes compete in individual and team-based events. There are classifications for athletes with physical or vision impairments.

Para-equestrian

Para-equestrian dressage is a sport that requires balance, control, precision, and harmony. Athletes compete individually and in teams, and are judged on the quality and accuracy of their riding and horsemanship. There are classifications for athletes with physical or vision impairments at the World Championships and Paralympic Games.

Goalball

Goalball is a unique sport developed specifically for athletes with a vision impairment. It is a dynamic game that requires technical skill, strength, and accuracy. With 3 opposing players at each end of an 18m court, players try to throw a ball (with audible bells inside), past the team at the other end. The team that scores the most goals wins.

Para-judo

Judo requires skill, strength, fitness and determination. It is the world’s most popular martial art for athletes with visual impairments. It is based on the same skills, movements, tactics and respect as the sighted version of the sport, and athletes truly rely on their senses and instincts to overcome their opponent. Competitors are split into weight categories and two classes – one for those who are blind and another for those who are partially sighted. Judo athletes learn to fall safely, throw their opponents, and/or immobilise them on the ground by hold downs, armbars and strangles.

Para-powerlifting

Para Powerlifting represents the ultimate test of upper body strength with athletes competing in the bench press discipline. Competitors must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless on the chest, then press it upwards to arm’s length with locked elbows. Athletes are given three attempts, and the winner is the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms. Para-powerlifting is open to male and female athletes with physical impairments, athletes compete in one sport class across 10 different weight categories per gender.

Para-rowing

Para-rowing is an outdoor water sport that requires strength, stamina, and perseverance. Athletes race over 2000m, and compete individually or in teams. There are classifications for athletes with vision or physical impairments.

Para-shooting

Para-shooting requires accuracy, control, and mental strength. Paralympic athletes use pistols or rifles to shoot at a target from a set distance, and compete individually and in teams. There are classifications for athletes with a range of physical impairments.

Para-swimming

Para-swimming is a sport that requires technical skill, determination, and perseverance. Depending on their class, athletes can contest the 50m and 100m backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, and 150m and 200m individual medley. For teams, there is also options for the 4x50m and 4x100m Freestyle and 4x100m Medley Relays. There are classifications for athletes with physical, vision, and intellectual impairments.

Para-table tennis

Para-table tennis is a sport that demands skill, precision, and strategic thinking. Players use a bat to hit a ball over a net, aiming to land it on their opponent's side and score points when their opponent cannot return the ball. Competitions include both individual and team events. The sport features classifications to accommodate athletes with physical or intellectual impairments, ensuring fair and competitive play.

Para-taekwondo

Para-taekwondo is a martial art sport that requires skill, strength, accuracy, coordination, and determination. Athletes compete against other athletes in their weight division, aiming to outscore their opponents by earning points based on landing kicks to their opponent’s body with sufficient power and accuracy. Athletes compete individually but train in a team environment. There are classifications available for athletes with an physical impairment.

Para-triathlon

Para-triathlon is an outdoor sport that requires stamina, determination, and skill. Athletes compete in a continuous race of three disciplines: swimming, cycling, and running. Athletes compete individually (or with a guide). There are classifications available for athletes with a vision or physical impairment, including standing and wheelchair classes.

Sitting volleyball

Sitting volleyball is an indoor sport that requires skill, strength, and strategy. Athletes sit on the ground and hit a ball over the net aiming to ground the ball on the opponent's side. Athletes compete in teams of six players. There are classifications for athletes with physical impairments.

Wheelchair basketball

Wheelchair basketball is an indoor sport of technical skill and agility. Athletes aim to shoot the ball into the opposing team’s basket. Athletes compete in teams. There are classifications available for athletes with a range of physical impairments.

Wheelchair fencing

Wheelchair fencing is a sport that requires skill, accuracy, and determination. Athletes compete in wheelchairs that are fastened to the floor and earn points from ‘touches’ on their opponent. Athletes compete individually and in teams. There are classifications available for athletes with physical impairments.

Wheelchair rugby

Wheelchair rugby is a fast paced, contact team sport played on a basketball court that requires ball and chair skills, and tactical ability. The aim is to carry the ball through an opposition’s defence over the goal line, and the team that scores the most goals wins. It is a mixed team sport played by males and females with a maximum of 4 players on the court at one time. There are classifications available for athletes with physical impairments.

Wheelchair tennis

Wheelchair tennis is an outdoor sport that requires skill, accuracy, and stamina. Athletes use a racquet to hit the ball over the net to the opposition's side, and score points when the opposition is unable to return it. Athletes compete in singles or doubles. There are classifications available for athletes with physical impairments.

Para-alpine skiing

Para-alpine skiing is a winter sport that requires power, speed, agility, and technical skill. Para-alpine ski events include slalom, giant slalom, super G and downhill. Para Alpine requires bravery as speeds above 100km can be reached. Athletes compete individually. There are classifications available for athletes with physical or vision impairments.

Para-biathlon

Para-biathlon is a winter sport that requires precision, determination, and stamina. Para-biathlon combines target shooting and cross-country skiing. Athletes compete individually and in relay events. There are classifications available for athletes with physical or vision impairments.

Para-cross-country skiing

Para-cross-country skiing is a winter sport that requires determination and stamina. Athletes race either standing or seated (in adapted sit-skis) in events over a range of distances. Athletes compete individually and in teams for relay events. There are classifications for athletes with physical and vision impairments.

Para-ice hockey

Para-ice hockey is a winter sport that requires agility, accuracy, and speed. Athletes compete in teams. Each team attempts to outscore its opponent by shooting the puck across the ice and into the opposing team’s goal while preventing the opposing team from scoring. There are classifications for athletes with physical impairments.

Para-snowboard

Para-snowboard is a winter sport that requires speed, determination, and technical skill. Athletes compete in two disciplines: snowboard cross and banked slalom. Athletes compete individually and in teams. There are classifications for athletes with physical impairments.

Wheelchair curling

Wheelchair curling is a winter sport that requires precision, determination, and technical skill. Athletes compete in teams. The teams take turns to deliver stones down the ice to get closer to the centre of the target (or “house”) than their opponent. There are classifications for athletes with physical impairments.

Para-bowls

Para-bowls is a game of skill, strategy, concentration and precision. It tests a person’s accuracy and distance control. It’s easy to grasp but difficult to master. It can be played individually and as part of a team. The aim of the game is to get closer than your opposition to a small white ball target called the jack. There are classifications for people with physical impairments and low vision.