Sport Week: Classification in para-archery

Athletes in para-archery compete in two sport classes: W1 and open.

W1

Archers in this sport class compete in a wheelchair because their impairment includes the loss of leg and trunk function. Also, their arms show a loss of muscle strength, coordination or range of movement. For example, one impairment that might fit this sport class profile is tetraplegia.

Open

Archers who historically competed in the W2 and ST sport classes have been merged together as their impairments have an equal impact on the outcome of competition. Archers in this sport class may have a strong activity limitation in their trunk and legs and compete in a wheelchair. Their arms, however, show normal function. This profile would likely apply to paraplegic archers.

Also in this sport class, athletes compete in a standing position, and they require some standing support because of poor balance. They either have a leg-length difference, limb deficiency or impairments that also affect their arms and trunk.

Athletes with these impairments are eligible to compete in para-archery:

Impaired muscle power

Athetosis

Impaired passive range of movement

Hypertonia

Limb deficiency

Ataxia

Leg length difference

Helpful links

IPC classification webpage.

World Archery’s classification information.

Editor’s note: Each sport on the Rio 2016 Paralympic programme will have a dedicated week of featured content published on paralympic.org. Every week a new sport will be featured and the series will run until September’s Games, helping the public understand more about the 22 sports being contested in Rio.

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Sport fans from around the world can now buy their Paralympic tickets for Rio 2016 from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs).

The IPC’s Global ATR is Jet Set Sports, and Rio 2016 tickets and packages can be purchased on the CoSport website.

Residents of Brazil can buy 2016 Paralympics tickets directly from the Rio 2016 website.