Athletes with a disability may experience a competitive disadvantage in sport. To ensure fair competition, a system called classification has been developed to minimise the impact of impairments on performance. This helps make sure an athlete’s success is determined by their skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability, and mental focus.

In some ways, classification is similar to other sporting categories such as weight, gender, or age. It provides the structure needed for fair and meaningful competition in Para sport.