The sports below are adapted so athletes with cerebral palsy can compete fairly, each within their own sport class.
Athletics covers track races and field events such as shot put, discus, club throw and long jump. Athletes are grouped into sport classes, so a race or throw is decided by training and effort, not by how much a person’s cerebral palsy affects them.
Frame Running lets athletes who find walking or balance difficult run on their own feet. The runner is supported by a three-wheeled frame with a saddle and chest plate, and there are no pedals: all the power comes from the athlete.
Boccia is a precision ball sport played seated. Players throw, kick or use a ramp to roll leather balls as close as they can to a white target ball, called the jack. It was designed for athletes with cerebral palsy and rewards careful thinking as much as accuracy.
CP Football is a seven-a-side game played on a smaller pitch, with a few rule changes to suit the players, such as no offside. Teams must include players from different sport classes, so everyone gets game time.
Para swimming follows the same strokes and distances as other swimming, with races grouped by sport class. Water supports the body and makes it a great sport for building strength and confidence.
Badminton is played with a racket and a shuttlecock, standing or seated in a wheelchair depending on the player. Matches are grouped by sport class, and the game builds quick reactions, hand and eye coordination, and balance.
Want to know how sport classes work? Read about classification.
