One major Olympic sport will be missing from the Paralympics
Topics: Paralympics, Sport
Kya Buller
Featured Image Credit: Adnan Farzat/NurPhoto/Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC
Topics: Paralympics, Sport
We're all on the edge of our seats waiting for the Paralympics to start - despite one sport being notably missing.
The 2024 Paralympics will commence in Paris on 28 August and last until the 8 September.
The majority of Paralympic sports are mirrored at the Olympics, including swimming, cycling and athletics, but things such as prosthetics, wheelchairs and human guides are added to aid the athletes.
But it has been noted among fans that one major Olympic sport is set to be missing.
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There will be no gymnastics events at the 2024 Paralympics.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, former wheelchair racer, said: "The sports that are included have developed over time and are based on the number of athletes from a minimum number of continents.
"Many disabled people will take part in this sport but I would imagine that there are not enough at this current moment in time."
UK Sport has added that sports require regional and international championships to qualify for the Paralympics.
Tony Garrett, the BBC Paralympics reporter, noted it is just 'not practical' for some events, such as gymnastics but as well as boxing, to include in the Paralympics.
There are currently 28 Paralympic sports sanctioned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) - 22 for the summer games and six for the winter.
As viewers get ready to watch athletes from all over the world compete for gold medals, the IPC has shared which disabilities actually let those qualify for the Paralympics, with mental impairments also being included.
The IPC has confirmed there are '10 Eligible Impairments', often referred to as three distinct groups.
Group A: 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: Vision impairment.
Group C: Intellectual impairment.
The IPC has defined intellectual impairment 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 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."
The governing body 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."