Athletes with an intellectual impairment (II) train, compete, and perform at the highest level, just like any other Paralympic athlete. Yet, their opportunities remain severely limited on the world’s biggest para sport stage — the Paralympic Games.
This must change.
Virtus continues to campaign to push for greater inclusion of athletes with an intellectual impairment at the Paralympic Games, expanding their presence in both Summer and Winter sports.
Alpine Skiing was a part of the demonstration at the Lillehammer Winter Paralympics in 1994. Later at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Winter Games, three events were added into the program: Men’s 20 km Classical Technique ID, Women’s 15 km Classical Technique ID, Men’s and Women’s 5 km Classical Technique ID and 5 km Free Technique ID were added into the program.
However, the dishonest actions of a small number of people at the Sydney 2000 had a devastating impact on all athletes with an intellectual impairment for many years to follow. Although after a period of absence, athletes with an intellectual impairment returned to the Paralympic stage at London 2012 in swimming, athletics and table tennis, they are yet to be included in the Winter Paralympic Games.
The Reality: Limited Access, Missed Opportunities
The current level of inclusion for II athletes at the Paralympic Games is low:
- At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, only 151 athletes with an intellectual impairment competed—just 3% of the total 4,400 athletes.
- Only 51 out of 160+ nations had II athletes competing.
- Out of 22 sports, only 3 included events for II athletes (athletics, swimming, and table tennis).
- Only 4 out of 164 medal events in Para athletics and 6 out of 141 events in Para swimming, and only singles matches in Para table tennis were reserved for II athletes at the Paris 2024.
This lack of representation excludes thousands of elite II athletes from fulfilling their Paralympic dreams and denies them the chance to inspire future generations.
Mission: True Paralympic Inclusion
Intellectual impairments are often invisible to the eye, but these athletes work hard to be the best in the world. They face challenges that are not always obvious. It’s time to be more inclusive towards these athletes by creating more opportunities for them whilst reducing this imbalance and ensure that athletes with an intellectual impairment receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.
Virtus is committed to increasing opportunities for II athletes at all levels of sport, with a clear goal for the Paralympic Games:
- More Summer Paralympic sports to include II athletes.
- For the first time, medal events for II athletes in the Winter Paralympic Games.
Achieving this goal requires collaboration. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Federations, National Paralympic Committees, and the global para sport community must work together to make Paralympic sport truly inclusive.
Stand With Us and support our Paralympic ReInclusion campaign
Virtus is calling on:
- Athletes – Share your stories, post a photo of you skiing and ask for your right to compete.
- National Paralympic Committees & Sport Federations – Talk to your skiing clubs and communities to increase II representation
- Fans & Advocates – Use your voice to demand change.
- Join our mailing list – stay updated with our actions towards our quest to increase paralympic inclusion.
The Paralympic Games should represent all elite para athletes from all three impairment groups equally. It’s time to break the barriers and build a future where II athletes have the same opportunities as their peers.
#ParalympicReInclusionForII – Because athletes with II deserve a place on the paralympic podium.
