The Paralympics Sport List features some of the most competitive and inspiring events globally. These sports allow athletes with various disabilities to compete at the highest level with remarkable skill, determination, and passion. Whether you are a student, sports enthusiast, or newcomer to adaptive sport, this guide explains everything in easy everyday language.

To set the mood, here’s a quick story:

Anecdote:
When I first watched wheelchair basketball, I expected the game to be slow. Within seconds, a player blocked a shot, spun sharply, and passed the ball across the court at lightning speed. The stadium roared, and I realized that Paralympic sports are not “different”—they are electrifying and full of excitement.

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Top 30 Paralympic Sports 2022: List of Disciplines and Sports

The Paralympic Games host a variety of adaptive sporting events. Some are similar to the Olympics, while others are unique to Paralympic athletes. In 2022, the program included both winter and summer sports, each with multiple disciplines.

Currently, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) officially recognizes 29 sports:

• 23 Summer sports

• 6 Winter sports

Every sport uses classification systems to ensure fair competition among athletes with similar functional abilities.

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Paralympic Sports for Visually Impaired Athletes

Athletes with visual impairments participate in several exciting sports using special adaptations. The most popular include:

Goalball

Designed exclusively for visually impaired athletes, the ball contains bells so players can track it by sound.

Blind Football (5-a-side)

Players wear eye shades for fairness, and the ball emits sound. The goalkeeper is sighted.

Para Swimming

Has classifications S11–S13 for visually impaired swimmers.

Tandem Cycling

Blind athletes ride with a sighted pilot on a tandem bike.

These sports demonstrate that teamwork, trust, and sensory awareness create a unique and powerful level of athletic performance.

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Paralympic Sports Categories – How Events Are Organized

To maintain fair competition, the IPC divides athletes into three main classification categories:

• Physical Impairments

• Visual Impairments

• Intellectual Impairments

Each category is further divided into functional classes, based on ability rather than the disability name. This system ensures fairness, balance, and inclusivity.

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Summer Paralympic Games – Sports Breakdown

The Summer Paralympic Games include 22 sports, many adapted from the Olympics. Some of the most popular are:

Wheelchair Basketball

A fast-paced game using specialized wheelchairs. Players follow almost the same rules as Olympic basketball.

Para Swimming

Athletes compete in freestyle, butterfly, backstroke, and breaststroke, with adapted starting methods.

Para Athletics (Track & Field)

Includes running, wheelchair racing, long jump, discus, and javelin.

Sitting Volleyball

Played on a smaller court with a lower net, athletes must stay in contact with the floor while hitting the ball.

Blind Football (5-a-side)

Relies heavily on sound, communication, and teamwork.

Boccia

A precision ball game for athletes with severe physical disabilities. Requires strategy, accuracy, and focus.

Para Cycling

Includes handcycles, tandem bikes, tricycles, and modified bicycles.

Para Archery

Originally developed to rehabilitate World War II veterans.

Goalball

Played in complete silence, exclusively for athletes with visual impairments.

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Paralympic Winter Sports – Full List

The Paralympic Winter Games feature six sports:

• Para Alpine Skiing

• Para Snowboard

• Para Ice Hockey

• Para Biathlon

• Para Cross-Country Skiing

• Wheelchair Curling

These events are fast, thrilling, and require specialized equipment for cold conditions.

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Paralympic Games History – How It All 

The Paralympics Games history started in 1948 when Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organized the first sports competition for British World War II veterans with spinal injuries.

• By 1952, the Games went international.

• The 1960 Rome Paralympics became the first Olympic-style event.

• Since 1988, the Paralympics have been held in the same city as the Olympics, symbolizing bravery, equality, and global unity.

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How Many Paralympic Sports Are There?

If you are wondering how many Paralympic sports are there, the answer is:

✔️ 29 total IPC-sanctioned sports
✔️ 23 Summer sports
✔️ 6 Winter sports

The latest addition is Para Climbing, set to debut at LA 2028.

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Where Will Future Olympic & Paralympic Games Take Place?

According to the IOC and IPC:

• 2026 Winter Olympics & Paralympics: Milan–Cortina, Italy

• 2028 Summer Olympics & Paralympics: Los Angeles, USA

• 2030 Winter Games: Bidding underway

• 2032 Summer Olympics & Paralympics: Brisbane, Australia

These locations may change as host agreements are finalized.

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Final Thoughts

The striking, wide, and inspiring list of Paralympic sports proves that disability is not a limitation. It opens new ways to compete, move, and shine.

From wheelchair basketball to goalball, para cycling, and para athletics, every sport demonstrates bravery, skill, and excellence.

FAQ – List of Paralympic Sports

1. How many Paralympic sports are there?

There are 29 official Paralympic sports recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

• 23 Summer sports

• 6 Winter sports

Each sport is divided into disciplines and classification categories to ensure fair competition among athletes with similar levels of physical, visual, or intellectual impairments. Some of the newest additions include Para Climbing (LA 2028) and Para Snowboard (introduced in 2014 Winter Games).

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2. Is cricket in the Paralympics?

No, cricket is not part of the Paralympic Games. Although Para cricket exists and is played internationally (especially in countries like India, Pakistan, and Australia), it has not been included in the official Paralympic program. Only sports approved by the IPC are featured at the Games.

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3. What is the largest Paralympic sport?

The largest Paralympic sport in terms of participation and events is Para Athletics.

• It includes track events (sprints, middle-distance, wheelchair races), field events (javelin, discus, long jump), and combined events.

• Para Athletics attracts hundreds of athletes from around the world at every Games, making it the most diverse and widely contested sport at both Summer and Winter Paralympics.

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4. What is the Class 11 Paralympic Games?

Class 11 refers to a classification in Para Table Tennis for athletes with intellectual impairments.

• Athletes in this class compete under specific rules designed for fairness, including adapted scoring and competition formats.

• Class 11 ensures that athletes with intellectual disabilities have equal opportunities to participate at the Paralympic level.

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5. What is the age limit for the Paralympics?

There is no strict upper age limit for competing in the Paralympics. Athletes must:

• Meet the minimum age requirements, which vary by sport (usually 14–16 years depending on the sport).

• Be classified as eligible by the IPC based on their impairment.

This means that both teenagers and experienced athletes can compete together if they meet the standards of their sport and classification.

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6. Who is considered the father of the Paralympic Games?

The father of the Paralympic Games is Dr. Ludwig Guttmann.

• In 1948, he organized the first sports competition for British World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England.

• This event evolved into the first official Paralympic Games in Rome, 1960, marking the start of a global movement for athletes with disabilities.

• Today, Dr. Guttmann is celebrated for using sport as a tool for rehabilitation, inclusion, and empowerment.