Why Many Disabled People are Excluded from The Paralympics 2024 

At Evenbreak, we’ve discussed whether The Paralympics are Good or Bad for Disabled People. But did you know that many disabled people would simply not be eligible to participate in the Paralympics? Read on to find out more about the history of the Paralympic movement and why many disabled athletes do not fit the criteria to compete. 

History of the Paralympic Movement

The word “Paralympic” comes from the Greek “para” (meaning “beside” or “alongside”) combined with “Olympic.” It signifies that the Paralympics are parallel to the Olympics, highlighting how the two movements exist alongside each other.  (1)

The first Paralympics took place in 1949, although disabled sporting events had been occurring as early as 1888. (2) The Paralympic movement originated after World War II at a hospital for war veterans. The first para-athletes were primarily wheelchair users, and the first Paralympics were open to athletes with spinal cord injury only. The athletes were categorised based on the medical model of disability by the level of their injury.  

Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have been held in the same year as the Olympic Games. Despite several countries withdrawing from the 1976 Paralympics due to South Africa’s participation, that year marked the first inclusion of amputees and visually impaired athletes. (3) The 1976 Summer Games grew to include 1,600 athletes from 40 countries, with athletes still classified by diagnosis rather than by sport. (4)

IPC Established

The 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul marked a significant milestone for the Paralympic movement, taking place right after the 1988 Summer Olympics in the same city and using many of the same venues. On September 22, 1989, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was established as a global governing body for the movement. In 2001, the IPC and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) formalized an agreement, initially extended through 2020, and further extended in 2018 to 2032. 

Eligibility 

According to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), there are currently 10 eligible impairment types in Para Athletics. This includes Impaired Muscle Power, Impaired Passive Range of Movement, Limb Deficiency, Leg Length Difference, Short Stature, Hypertonia, Ataxia, Athetosis, Vision Impairment, and Intellectual Impairment. Read more about the IPC’s classification.  (5) 

Who is Excluded? 

Despite the broad range of impairments recognised by the IPC, many disabled individuals find themselves excluded from the Paralympics. Those with conditions that fall outside the 10 recognised impairment types, especially invisible disabilities, are ineligible to compete, or limited by the categories. This includes people with Down’s Syndrome, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions, and some forms of physical disabilities that do not meet the strict classification criteria. 

Although the Paralympics strive for inclusion, the IPC announced fewer swimming events at the Paris 2024 Games, cutting participation for athletes with higher support needs, such as quadriplegia or cerebral palsy. (6)

Since 2021, both The Spanish Paralympic Committee (CPE), and Florence Garrett, the captain of the Down Syndrome Swimming Team for Great Britain, have been calling for the IPC to allow more athletes with Down’s Syndrome to compete. (7) Due to the classification system of impairment, many athletes with Down’s Syndrome are unable to compete.

After London 2012, the IPC reclassified eligibility. This directly affected existing athletes such as two-time Paralympic archery champion Danielle Brown, who was told she was no longer eligible to compete. “I was a disabled person but not disabled enough. London did some amazing things for the Paralympic movement and broke down so many walls, but I also think it built up other walls.” she told BBC Sport. (8)

Paralympics Inclusion 

In more positive news, Valentina Petrillo will be the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Paralympics. She has called her participation “an important symbol of inclusion.” (9) The IPC’s President Andrew Parsons called for the sporting world to “unite” on its transgender policies. (10)

While the Paralympics has made significant strides in promoting inclusivity, the stringent classification system still leaves many disabled individuals on the sidelines and a hangover of athletes being categorised based on the medical model of disability. These exclusions highlight the ongoing challenges in creating a truly inclusive sporting event that represents the full diversity of the disabled community. As discussions around these issues continue, it’s crucial to consider the Social Model of Disability, and how the Paralympic movement can evolve to better serve all disabled athletes. 

Annie Hyde (They/Them), Senior Marketing Coordinator

References:

1. Paralympics History – Evolution of the Paralympic Movement 
2. A brief history of the Paralympics (nationalgeographic.com)
3. Toronto 1976 (paralympic.org) 
4. Classification in the Paralympics: the relationship between impairment and participation – Jaeken – 2020 – Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology – Wiley Online Library
5. World Para Athletics Classification & Categories (paralympic.org)
6. The Paralympics strive for inclusion. But some rules unfairly exclude athletes with severe disabilities (theconversation.com) 
7. IPC urged to allow more athletes with Down’s syndrome to compete at Paralympics (insidethegames.biz) 
8. Paralympics losing their inclusivity, says former archer Danielle Brown – BBC Sport 
9. First trans Paralympic athlete says she is a ‘symbol of inclusion’ (thepinknews.com) 
10. Valentina Petrillo: Italian sprinter set to be first openly transgender athlete to compete at Paralympic Games | The Independent