Athletes with an intellectual disability and significant additional impairment

It is very common for people with intellectual impairment to also have physical and/or sensory impairments such as cerebral palsy or visual impairments. Other impairments may include differences in anatomical and muscular structures and heart and breathing problems. Intellectual and physical/sensory impairments often impact together meaning that athletes have to adapt to and overcome both.

Some syndromes which cause intellectual impairment also have additional impairments attached. Down Syndrome is one of these and is the most common form of genetically identified intellectual impairment.

The II2 was introduced to reflect the variety of impairments that can accompany an intellectual impairment and ensure fairer competition by allowing athletes with similar levels of impairment to compete together.