On the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has unveiled key details about the sports program, budget, and venue plan, while also highlighting a crucial technical aspect: equity in the allocation of quotas and the sophistication of the classification system. With 4,400 athletes, 552 medal events, and 23 sports, LA28 is shaping up to be the most gender-balanced edition yet, with an increase in women’s events and the inclusion of mixed competitions that reflect the diversity of the Paralympic movement.
However, behind these figures lies a regulatory framework that defines who can compete and under what conditions. The Paralympic classification system is not based solely on medical diagnoses, but rather on how a disability impacts athletic performance. Its goal is to ensure fair competition, making sure that differences between athletes come down to ability, training, and strategy—not to their physical, sensory, or cognitive limitations.
A functional structure for fair competition
The classification process begins with verifying a permanent disability eligible for competition, as determined by each international federation according to the specific criteria of their sport. There are ten recognized types of disability, grouped into physical, visual, and intellectual categories, but not all sports accept every type. Some disciplines, like athletics or swimming, are more inclusive, while others—such as goalball or powerlifting—are designed for a specific group. Additionally, each sport sets “Minimum Disability Criteria” to determine how severe the condition must be to allow participation, meaning not all athletes with disabilities are automatically eligible.
Once the requirements are met, athletes are assigned a “sport class” based on the functional impact of their disability. These classes allow athletes with different diagnoses to compete together if their limitations produce a similar performance level. The process, which may involve periodic evaluations throughout an athlete’s career, is overseen by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. With this approach, Los Angeles 2028 will not only cement the greatest gender balance in Paralympic history but also reinforce a competition model that celebrates diversity and focuses on athletic merit.
