Paracanoe

Paracanoe is canoeing for athletes with a range of physical disabilities. The sport is governed by the International Canoe Federation (ICF).

Paracanoe debuted at the Summer Paralympics held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 where single kayak races were contested. A meeting of the International Paralympic Committee in Guangzhou, China in 2010 decided to add paracanoe to the roster of the Summer Paralympic Games.

The two main types of paracanoe boat are kayaks (K), with a double-blade paddle, and outrigger canoes called va'as (V) where the paddler has a second hull as a support float and uses a single blade paddle with a T-top handle.

Paralympic classification of mobility impairments has since been restructured as of April 2015; in kayak competition (K1), governed by the ICF, there are three different classes for both men and women:

Non-Paralympic competitions including va'a events use the same system of classification (V1 VL1, V1 VL2, V1 VL3).

In other va'a competitions, governed by the International Va'a Federation, a points system is used with a higher number assigned to less impaired paddlers and lower points for more severe impairment.

In team events the total number of points of a boat crew are limited; 26 points in 6-person boats and 52 for 12-person boats. In single-seat boats competition take place in three divisions; division 1 for 5 or 6-point paddlers, division 2 for 4-point paddlers and division 3 is for 2 or 3-point paddlers. 1-point paddlers do not participate in singles races. The three divisions approximately correspond to the three ICF classes. At World Championships only single seat Va'a are used and the paddlers are classified according to the ICF system.

Paracanoe is contested at World Championships, World Cups and continental championships; paddlers compete in kayaks (K1, K2) and in va’a outrigger canoes (V1, V2), both men and women, plus mixed pairs events are becoming more numerous.

Paracanoe World Championships will not, from 2016, occur in Paralympic years. The sport makes its Paralympic debut at Rio 2016; only single kayak races will feature in the 2016 race programme, both for men and women.

Currently all international paracanoe competitions are 200 m sprints.

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Wikipedia