What is Classification?

Athletes competing in disability sport need to be assessed in order to be “classified”. Athletes are then grouped together with athletes of a similar disability in their chosen sport.

Intellectual impairment, includes athletes with intellectual disability, down syndrome and autism.

Until 2017, there was just one classification group for athletes with intellectual impairment. Virtus introduced two new trial classes, both of which were confirmed within the Virtus programme in 2023.

There are now three confirmed classes, II1, II2 and II3.  Read more here.

Once classified each athlete is given a classification number and will be allocated to a disability group. Examples of these groups for athletes with intellectual impairment are:

• Swimming – S14 or S64 (S64 is issued for those with a national classification. S14 for international)
• Athletics (Track) – T20
• Athletics (Field) – F20
• Table Tennis – T11
• Taekwondo (Poomsae) – P20
• Cricket, Tennis, Football, Equestrian, Judo, Golf and Hockey

There are three levels of classification in the UK. Read more here.