Para Sport

INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

Inclusion and diversity are guiding principles in our sport. The Shooting Federation of Canada, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Calgary, wrote a guide to help shooting clubs and ranges to become more inclusive by supporting Athletes with a Disability (AWAD).

Since the Paralympics are the ultimate stage for parasport, the goal of the SFC is to prepare athletes well in advance for the 2028 Olympic Games. Shotgun Rifle and Pistol are all expected disciplines and Canada should be ready. Learn about the events and categorizations of shooting parasport and see our sport grow and be enjoyed by many more.

SHOOTING PARA SPORT

Athletes with a disability compete in 13 events across the Rifle, Pistol and Shotgun disciplines.

International Paralympic competition has taken place since the 1976 Toronto Paralympic Games.

The Sport of Shooting Para Sport consist of men’s, women’s and mixed events. Seven co-ed events are open to both women and men, and three additional events are separate for men and women.

The Sport follows the World Shooting Para Sport Technical Rules and Regulations in conjunction with the latest  ISSF Rules and, integral to the WSPS Classification Rules.

Information

  • Shooters who can hold the weapon (rifle or pistol) without any support. Athletes are divided into subclasses A, B and C, based on their remaining trunk stability. Subclasses are mostly defined by the height of the backrest.

    Pistol

    Impairment affecting one or both lower limb(s) and/or impairment affecting the non-shooting arm

    Some athletes compete in a seated position, others from a standing position

    Rifle

    Impairment affecting one or both lower limb(s)

    Many athletes compete in a seated position

    Athletes support the rifle fully with upper limbs

  • Shooters who need a support (support stand) to hold a rifle. Athletes are divided into subclasses A, B and C, based on their remaining trunk stability. Subclasses are mostly defined by the height of the backrest.

    Impairment affecting one or both upper limb(s)

    Many athletes also have an impairment affecting the lower limb(s)

    Athletes compete in a seated position and use a spring support stand to assist them to support the weight of the rifle

    Many athletes also require a loading assistant to load the rifle

  • Officially adopted in February 2020 following the transference of governance of VI shooting from the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) to World Shooting Para Sport. Sights on the rifle are replaced by a special aiming device that will produce a sound when on target. The target also needs a special component that will detect the rifle aiming device signal. The higher the pitch the more center on the target the shot will be. A loader or assistant is required for each athlete (loading the rifle and make sure the athlete is pointing at his target). There are currently 2 events with air rifles:

    VI-S – Mixed 10m rifle standing

    VI-P – Mixed 10m rifle prone

  • Officially adopted by World Shooting Para Sport following the approval of the IPC Governing Board in May of 2017. First ever World Cup took place in Lonato, Italy in September 2017. There are 3 subclasses:

    PT1 – Mixed Trap Seated SG-S

    PT2 – Mixed Trap Standing (Lower Limb) SG-L

    PT3 – Mixed Trap Standing (Upper Limb) SG-U