What is Athlete Classification, and why does it exist?
Athlete Classification is the process that determines an athlete's eligibility to compete in Para sport and, where applicable, the Sport Class into which they are allocated — so that competition outcomes are determined by athletic performance rather than by the impact of an Eligible Impairment.
What is Athlete Classification?
Athlete Classification is a structured process, governed by each international federation's classification rules, that groups athletes according to the impact of an Eligible Impairment on their sporting performance. Its purpose is to ensure that the outcome of competition is determined by factors such as training, tactics, technique and fitness — not by the impairment itself.
The principle is not unique to Para sport. Established sport already uses comparable category systems to preserve meaningful competition — weight categories in judo and boxing, age-group categories, and categories by sex. Athlete Classification applies the same underlying principle, adapted to the effect an Eligible Impairment has on the specific demands of a given sport.
Which impairments are eligible?
To take part in Para sport, an athlete must have a health condition that leads to an impairment recognised under one of ten Eligible Impairment types, grouped into three categories: physical, vision and intellectual.
Not every sport caters for every Eligible Impairment, and the exact criteria — how much impairment is enough, and how it is assessed — vary by sport and federation.
Classification is sport-specific
There is no single global classification system. Each international federation defines its own classification rules, Sport Classes and procedures, following the standards set out in the IPC Classification Code.
That means the same underlying impairment can lead to a different Sport Class — or a different eligibility outcome — depending on the sport. Classcope is built around this reality: rather than describing one federation's system, it connects the classification rules of multiple sports and federations in one place.
Common questions
Who can compete in Para sport?
Only athletes with an eligible impairment that meets a sport's Minimum Impairment Criteria can compete in that sport's Para category. Having a disability is not, on its own, enough — the impairment has to be one of the recognised Eligible Impairment types and has to meet the threshold that sport sets.
When and where are athletes classified?
Classification generally takes place before an athlete competes at a sanctioned event, following the procedure set out by that sport's federation. Depending on the sport, this can happen at a dedicated evaluation session or alongside competition itself.
Who classifies athletes?
Classification is carried out by trained and accredited classifiers appointed by the relevant international federation — not by coaches, athletes or Classcope. Panels typically include medical and technical classifiers, and sometimes others depending on the impairment type.
Ready to check your case?
Check whether you might meet a sport's Minimum Impairment Criteria, then find your potential Sport Class. This never replaces Athlete Evaluation — it just gives you a clearer starting point.