The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has announced the final three of the six medal events that will be contested in paratriathlon’s debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Paratriathlon inclusion in Tokyo also confirmed.

The men’s PT2 and the women’s PT2 and PT5 were approved by the IPC Governing Board at a meeting in Berlin, Germany, on Monday 6 October.

The events join the men’s PT1 and men’s and women’s PT4 classes announced in July 2014. The overall programme represents an even split of medal events across genders.

A statement from ITU said: “While paratriathlon's debut at the Rio De Janeiro Paralympic Games is an exciting cornerstone moment for the sport, ITU realizes the disappointment for the sport classes that are not included on the programme.”

It added: “ITU would like to assure all paratriathletes that we will remain committed to both campaigning for the inclusion of all remaining sport classes in Tokyo 2020, as well as to their continued development at ITU paratriathlon events.

“ITU will continue to offer top quality competitive races in all of its sport classes, including World Championships every year, as well as development and classification opportunities.”

Around 4,350 athletes from more than 160 countries will travel to Rio to compete in 528 medal events in 22 different sports. Paratriathlon and Paracanoe are set to make their debuts.

In a separate announcement, IPC confirmed that triathlon will be one of the sixteen sports definitely featuring at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games. The announcement is avialable HERE.

Paratriathlon Sport Classes:

PT1 - Wheelchair users. Athletes use a recumbent handcycle on the bike course and a racing wheelchair on the run segment.
PT2 - Athletes with comparable activity limitation and an impairment of, but not limited to, limb deficiency, hypertonia, ataxia and or athetosis, impaired muscle power or range of movement. In both bike and run segments, amputee athletes may use approved prosthesis or other supportive devices.
PT4 - As above, with less severe impairment.
PT5 - total or partial visual impairment, competes with a guide.