Paralympic Sports
Paralympic sports are organised competitive sporting activities which are part of the Paralympic Games sport programme and governed by International Paralympic Committee, International Sport Federations or International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled (IOSD).
Paralympic sports comprise summer and winter sports contested at the Paralympic Games and Paralympic Winter Games. The number of sports, disciplines and medal events may change from one Paralympic Games edition to another.
There are currently 29 Paralympic sports sanctioned by the IPC; 23 summer sports in LA 2028 Paralympic Games and six winter sports in Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
Summer Sports in LA 2028 Paralympic Games
| Para Archery | Para Athletics | Para Badminton | Blind Football | Boccia |
| Para Canoe | Para Climbing | Para Cycling | Para Equestrian | Para Fencing |
| Goalball | Para Judo | Para Powerlifting | Para Rowing | Shooting Para Sport |
| Sitting Volleyball | Para Swimming | Para Table Tennis | Para Taekwondo | Para Triathlon |
| Wheelchair Basketball | Wheelchair Rugby | Wheelchair Tennis | | |
Winter Sports in Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games
| Para Alpine Skiing | Para Biathlon | Para Cross-Country Skiing |
| Para Ice Hockey | Para Snowboard | Wheelchair Curling |
Para Sports
In addition, there are Para sports recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) but not currently contested at the Paralympic Games. Those Para Sports can be governed by International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSD) or IPC recognised International Federtation.
Paralympic Sports Governced by International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
The IPC is responsible for the governance of five Paralympic Sports.
Paralympic Sports of Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games | Governcing Body in International Paralympic Committee | Organisation authorised for elite sports development in Hong Kong, China |
|---|
| Para Ice Hockey | World Para Ice Hockey | |
Para Sports goverenced by International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSD)
International Organisations of Sports for the Disabled (IOSD) are independent organisations recognised by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the sole representatives of a specific impairment group.
IOSDs work in conjunction with the IPC to provide specific expertise to develop sport for athletes with an impairment from the grassroots level to the elite level. They act as the governing body for some of the impairment specific sports that are a part of the Paralympic Games programme.
Paralympic Sports goverenced by International Federation (IF)
International Federations (IF) are independent sport federations recognised by the IPC as the sole representative of a Paralympic Sport.
International Federations' responsibilities include technical jurisdiction and guidance over the competition and training venues of their respective sports during the Paralympic Games.
The IPC currently recognises 18 International Federations:
| Paralympic Sports of LA 2028 Paralympic Games | International Federtation | Affiliated member of International Federation in Hong Kong, China | Organisation authorised for elite sports development in Hong Kong, China |
|---|
| Boccia | World Boccia | Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China | |
| Para Archery | World Archery | Archery Association of Hong Kong, China | Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China |
| Para Badminton | Badminton World Federation | Badminton Association of Hong Kong, China Limited | Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China |
| Para Canoe | International Canoe Federation | Hong Kong China Canoe Union Limited | |
| Para Climbing | World Climbing | Hong Kong, China Mountaineering and Climbing Union Limited | |
| Para Cycling | Union Cycliste Internationale | The Cycling Association of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Eqestrian | Fédération Equestre Internationale | The Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China | |
| Para Rowing | World Rowing | Hong Kong, China Rowing Association | |
| Para Table Tennis | International Table Tennis Federation | Hong Kong, China Table Tennis Association Limited | Intellectual Impairment: Hong Kong, China Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability Physical Impairment: Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China |
| Para Taekwondo | World Taekwondo | Hong Kong, China Taekwondo Association Limited | |
| Para Triathlon | World Triathlon | Triathlon Association of Hong Kong China Limited | |
| Sitting Volleyball | World ParaVolley | | |
| Wheelchair Basketball | International Wheelchair Basketball Federation | Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China | |
| Wheelchair Rugby | World Wheelchair Rugby | | |
| Wheelchair Tennis | International Tennis Federation | Hong Kong, China Tennis Association Limited | |
Para Sports goverenced by recognised International Federation (IF)
In its Mission Statement, the IPC commits to ‘promote and contribute to the development of sport opportunities and competitions, from initiation level to elite level, for Paralympic athletes as the foundation of elite Paralympic sport’.
To achieve this, the IPC recognises the importance of creating a Paralympic Family network of recognised international federations that are not eligible to be IPC members, but contribute to the development of sport opportunities for athletes associated with the Paralympic Movement and have organisational goals that are compatible with the Vision and Mission of the IPC.
| Para Sports | International Federtation | Affiliated member of International Federation in Hong Kong, China | Organisation authorised for elite sports development in Hong Kong, China |
|---|
| Blind Sambo | International SAMBO Federation | Sambo Federation of Hong Kong China Limited | |
| CP Football | International Federation of CP Football | | |
| Para Armwrestling | World Armwrestling Federation | Armwrestling Federation of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Bobsleigh | International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation | | |
| Para Bowling | International Bowling Federation | Hong Kong, China Tenpin Bowling Congress Limited | Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China |
| Para Bowls | - World Bowls
- International Bowls for the Disabled
** Merger of World Bowls & International Bowls for the Disabled is in progress. | - Lawn Bowls Association of Hong Kong, China
- Sports Association for the Physically Disabled of Hong Kong, China
| |
| Para Flying Disc | World Flying Disc Federation | Flying Disc Federation of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Golf | International Golf Federation | Golf Association of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Hockey | International Hockey Federation | Hockey Hong Kong, China | |
| Para Karate | World Karate Federation | The Karatedo Federation of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Pentathlon | Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne | The Modern Pentathlon Association of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
| Para Sailing | World Sailing | Sailing Federation of Hong Kong, China | |
| Para Surfing | International Surfing Association | Hong Kong, China Surf and Stand Up Association Limited | |
| Powerchair Football | International Federation of Powerchair Football | | |
| Wheelchair Handball | International Handball Federation | Handball Association of Hong Kong, China Limited | |
