The increased media coverage of the Paralympic Games makes Paralympic sport seem “inclusive.” But, the continued reliance on segregated sport and narrowly defined classification categories suggests ableism remains. For example, some intellectually and cognitively disabled athletes are excluded. This implies that elite competition and inclusive sport may be incompatible.
Intellectual impairment is one of the Paralympics’ 10 classifications of eligible impairment types. But not all cognitive and intellectual disabilities are the same. While some may result in a lower IQ, others can affect both the body and mind.
For example, athletes with Down syndrome may cross multiple classifications. They can be described as having an intellectual and cognitive disability and also have physical impacts such as reaction time, muscle strength and function, heart rate, and adaptions to heat. Some Down syndrome athletes may also have an IQ too high to qualify for the Paralympics’ intellectual impairment category, one of the criteria for which is IQ of 75 or below.
