The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has added one more medal event in road cycling to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic sport programme in an effort to increase the number of athletes with high support needs competing at the Games.
The new event is the men’s H1 time trial event in road cycling and brings the total number of cycling events at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics to 51 (29 men’s, 20 women’s and 2 mixed). The number of athlete slots for men’s cycling events remains unchanged at 150 and the overall number of medal events at Tokyo 2020, across all 22 Paralympic sports, now stands at 540.
Previously athletes in the H1 class were allowed to compete in the H2 Time Trial, however few did due to their limited chances of success. By separating the classes, it will encourage greater participation.
On the women’s side, the H1 class has been added to the factored H2-3 Time Trial. This does not change any athlete quotas and the new event name is the women’s H1-2-3 Time Trial.
Xavier Gonzalez, the IPC’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Due to the strength in depth of talent in the men’s H1 class in road cycling, we felt this was a good opportunity to add an additional event and increase the number of athletes with high support needs competing at Tokyo 2020.
“The inclusion of this additional event does not change the number of athlete slots available in the sport. This remains at 150 for men and 80 for women.”
The IPC has published an updated Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games qualification guide incorporating this additional medal event. This can be found here.
Source: paralympic.org
