Para-Swimming Rules
Participation
To participate in para-swimming events a participant must be at least 12 years of age or above. Further, they are grouped or classified according to the type of their disorder.
Physically disabled athletes are assigned a category between 1 and 10, with 1 denoting the most severe type. The ones who are visually impaired and blind compete in separate categories. They are allotted to categories 11, 12 and 13, where 11 denotes to be completely blind, whereas the swimmers in category 13 have severe but not total visual impairment. Category 14 is for the swimmers with mental disability.
The numbers mentioned above are combined with letter/s prefix depending upon the type of event. For example prefix “S” stands for freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly, so, an athlete with severe physical disability participating in freestyle may compete in S3 event and so on.
Disqualification
The swimmers shall be disqualified on the following grounds:-
- On violating any of the rules and regulation set by the IPC.
- If the competitor does not attend classification when requested to do so, they shall be disqualified.
- If a swimmer is disqualified during or following an event, the prohibition shall be recorded in the final official results.
Swimwear
Only the swimwear approved by the IPC is permitted.
The Start Of The Race
The race shall start with a short whistle by the referee first, which indicates the swimmers to take off all the clothing except the swimwear. It is followed by a long whistle that indicates the swimmers to take their positions on the starting platform. When the swimmers and the officials are prepared for the start, the referee shall indicate the starter with a stretched out arm, which indicates the swimmers are now under the control of the starter.
The Race
- All individual races must be held separately for different genders.
- A swimmer swimming over the course alone has to cover the whole distance to qualify.
- He/She should remain and finish the race in the same lane in which they have started.
The Finish Of The Event
It is mandatory for every competitor to wear a microchip transponder on their wrists throughout the race. If he or she loses it then the race judge or any other authorized official will immediately inform the referee who will further inform the official on the water to issue another transponder. Any swimmer finishing the race without the device will stand disqualified.
The swimmers shall only be touched or handled if they clearly display the need and ask for help.
