by Stuart Weir
The WPC just began in Dubai, UAE on 7 November, photo by Getty Images ?IPC
The 2019 World Para Athletics Championships got underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Nov. 7, with more than 1,400 athletes from about 120 nations involved. The nations include Russia, which is not banned from Para sport. 528 women are competing, the largest number ever The host stadium is called ” The Dubai Club for People of Determination”. People of Determination, incidentally is a technical term in the UAE for people with special needs or disabilities who are referred to as ‘people of determination’ in recognition of their achievements in different fields.
Para Athletics is regulated by a complex set of classification rules, which determine who is eligible to compete and also aim to ensure that athletes in a particular classification have approximately the same amount of activity limitations. There are four types of competition running, jumping, throwing and wheelchair racing.
The classifications are
TRACK AND JUMP (PREFIX T FOR TRACK)
DISCIPLINE: Running and jumping (20 classes)
SPORT CLASSES (Impairment types):
- T11-13 (Vision impairment)
- T20 (Intellectual impairment)
- T35-38 (Co-ordination impairments (hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis))
- T40-41 (Short stature)
- T42-44 (Lower limb competing without prosthesis affected by limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement)
- T45-47 (Upper limb/s affected by limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement)
- T61-64 (Lower limb/s competing with prosthesis affected by limb deficiency and leg length difference)
DISCIPLINE: Wheelchair racing (7 classes)
SPORT CLASSES (Impairment types):
- T32-34 (Co-ordination impairments (hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis))
- T51-54 (Limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement)
THROWS (PREFIX F FOR FIELD)
DISCIPLINE: Standing throws (19 classes)
SPORT CLASSES (Impairment types):
- F11-13 (Vision impairment)
- F20 (Intellectual impairment)
- F35-38 (Co-ordination impairments (hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis))
- F40-41 (Short stature)
- F42-44 (Lower limb competing without prosthesis affected by limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement)
- F45-46 (Upper limb/s affected by limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement)
- F61-64 (Lower limb/s competing with prosthesis affected by limb deficiency and leg length difference)
DISCIPLINE: Seated throws (11 classes)
SPORT CLASSES (Impairment types):
- F31-34 (Co-ordination impairments (hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis))
- F51-57 (Limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement)
