What disabilities actually let athletes qualify for Paralympics as mental impairments are included

While the Olympics came to an end earlier this month (11 August), we've got the next batch of sporting events to look forward to as the Paralympics is set to kick off next Wednesday (28 August).

Now, there are currently 28 Paralympic sports sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) - 22 summer and six winter.

As we gear up to watch people across the globe battle it out for gold, the IPC has shared exactly what disabilities actually let athletes qualify for the Paralympics as mental impairments are also included.

The 2024 Paralympics is set to kick off next Wednesday (28 August). (NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images)

What are the 10 'Eligible Impairments'?

The IPC states that there are '10 Eligible Impairments' which are often referred to as three distinct groups.

Group A is categorised by physical impairments, comprising the eight impairments that 'cause activity limitations that are biomechanical in nature' including impaired muscle power, impaired range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, hypertonia (too much muscle tone resulting in stiff limbs), ataxia (a group of disorders impairing balance and speech), athetosis (a movement disorder characterised by involuntary writing movements), and short stature.

Group B is vision impairment and Group C is intellectual impairment.

Intellectual impairment is defined by the IPC as: "Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment have a restriction in intellectual functioning and adaptive behaviour in which affects conceptual, social and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life.

"This Impairment must be present before the age of 18."

The IPC states that there are '10 Eligible Impairments'. (NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images)

How do the 'Eligible Impairments' affect classification?

"Each Paralympic sport defines which Eligible Impairment types they provide sporting opportunities for in their classification rules," the official website explains.

So, while some sports provide competition opportunities for athletes with all ten Eligible Impairments (e.g. Para athletics, Para swimming), other sports are specific to one Eligible Impairment (e.g. goalball is a sport for athletes with vision impairment) or a selection of Eligible Impairments (e.g. equestrian para-dressage, para-cycling).

The IPC adds: "The assessment of whether or not an athlete has an Eligible Impairment for a sport must be conducted by the International Sport Federation governing that sport.

"It is important to note that the presence and permanency of one of the sport’s Eligible Impairments is a prerequisite to participate in para sport, but not the sole criterion."

An athlete’s eligible impairment has to affect their ability to do a chosen sport. (NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images)

Why does an athlete’s 'Eligible Impairment' have to affect their ability to do a chosen sport?

The IPC told Tyla: "Each Paralympic sport has a minimum impairment criteria as part of its classification rules. These rules ensure that an athlete’s eligible impairment actually affects their ability to do a chosen sport.

"So, for example, a missing digit is unlikely to slow an athlete down when it comes to running the 100m and therefore would not meet the minimum impairment criteria."

They added: "To compete at the Paralympic Games, in addition to having an eligible impairment that meets the minimum impairment criteria for a specific sport, you also need to be a top class athlete and qualify for the Games, just like the Olympics.

"Having a disability alone does not get you a ticket to the Paralympic Games."