The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has awarded EUR 900,000 to six classification research projects, an investment that directly impacts the reputation and credibility of its competitions and the value of every Paralympic medal. Rather than rewarding athletes who reach the podium, the funding will strengthen the system designed to ensure that everyone competes on a level playing field. In other words, it is an investment in the health of the sport itself.
The grants are part of the Sport for Mobility programme, funded by the Toyota Mobility Foundation, and will support research into physical, intellectual and vision impairments. The projects will run for between 12 and 31 months, with individual grants of up to EUR 250,000. Their aim is to strengthen the scientific evidence that underpins classification decisions across Paralympic sports.
Classification is far more than a technical issue
In Paralympic sport, classification determines which athletes compete against one another based on the extent to which their impairment affects performance in a specific sport. It is not simply about grouping athletes according to medical diagnoses, but about minimising the impact of impairment so that results are determined by talent, preparation and sporting performance.
That is why any uncertainty surrounding the system can affect the entire competition. An inaccurate classification does not only change an athlete’s chances of success. It can influence a final, alter a podium and cast doubt on the legitimacy of a medal. The IPC itself describes classification as the cornerstone of Paralympic sport, and these six projects are intended to reinforce the scientific foundations that support its decision-making.
IPC Chief Executive Officer Mike Peters highlighted the “exceptional” quality of the applications received and praised the collaboration between international federations and academic institutions. IPC Classification Director Tea Cisic also pointed to the growing interest shown by both sporting organisations and the scientific community, while acknowledging that the quality of the proposals had to be balanced against the IPC’s priorities and the funding available.
A different way of investing Olympic revenues
The announcement comes at a time when the Olympic Movement is increasingly debating how athletes should be rewarded financially. World Athletics opened a new chapter at Paris 2024 by awarding USD 50,000 to each of the 48 Olympic gold medallists in athletics, representing a total investment of USD 2.4 million. For Los Angeles 2028, the federation has already confirmed that silver and bronze medallists will also receive prize money, although the amounts have yet to be announced.
The IOC has taken a different approach. Starting with Milano Cortina 2026, every athlete who competes at the Olympic Games will be eligible to receive a USD 10,000 grant to support either their sporting career or their transition beyond elite competition. The programme will be backed by a USD 140 million fund for each edition of the Olympic Games and will not depend on sporting results. The only requirement will be to have qualified for the Games.
The philosophy is almost the opposite of rewarding medals alone. It makes no distinction between the Olympic champion and the athlete who finishes last because it recognises that becoming an Olympian is, in itself, a remarkable achievement. At some point, a line has to be drawn, and participation is a reasonable place to acknowledge years of training, financial sacrifice and personal commitment.
The IPC has drawn that line somewhere else. Its EUR 900,000 will reward neither podium finishes nor participation, but the conditions under which results are achieved. It is a less visible investment than handing a cheque to a champion, yet one that is especially significant in Paralympic sport: before rewarding a medal, it is essential to ensure that it has been won within a system that is fair, transparent and scientifically robust.
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