Athletes were given a classification depending on the type and extent of their disability. The classification system allowed athletes to compete against others with a similar level of function.
The athletics classifications are:
11–13: Blind (11) and visually impaired (12, 13) athletes
20: Athletes with an intellectual disability
31–38: Athletes with cerebral palsy
40: Les Autres (others) (including people with dwarfism)
42–46: Amputees
51–58: Athletes with a spinal cord disability
The class numbers were given prefixes of "T", "F" and "P" for track, field and pentathlon events, respectively.
Visually impaired athletes classified 11 run with full eye shades and a guide runner; those classified 12 have the option of using a guide; those classified 13 did not use a guide runner. Guide runners were awarded medals alongside their athletes.
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