●Tokyo Metropolitan Government

TOKYO 2020
PARALYMPIC GAMES HAND BOOK
東京2020パラリンピックハンドブック

Regarding the Dates for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic GamesTokyo 2020 Paralympic Games has been rescheduled
as below:（Original dates）
August 25th (Tue) to September 6th (Sun), 2020
（New dates）
August 24th (Tue) to September 5th (Sun), 2021
As a result of the postponement of the Games, the competitionschedule will be changed.
Please refer to the following website about the latest informationof the competition schedule and tickets.
・Competition schedule
https://tokyo2020.org/en/paralympics/schedule/

・Ticket information
https://tokyo2020.org/en/paralympics/tickets/

This booklet is full of
information on the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games!
Write down what you havenoticed and create yourown useful handbook!

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1 About the Paralympic Games… ① -1The value, significance and features of the Paralympic Games…… ① -2
Overview of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games…… ① -4
Paralympic sports and competition schedule…… ① -6Competition venues… ………………………………… ① -8
Ticket information……………………………………… ① -12

2 Things to know about Paralympic sports! … ② -1

Archery… ………………………………………………… ② -2
Athletics…………………………………………………… ② -4
Badminton………………………………………………… ② -6
Boccia… …………………………………………………… ② -8
Canoe… …………………………………………………… ② -10
Cycling……………………………………………………… ② -12
Equestrian………………………………………………… ② -14
Football 5-a-side………………………………………… ② -16
Goalball… ………………………………………………… ② -18
Judo… ……………………………………………………… ② -20
Powerlifting… …………………………………………… ② -22
Rowing……………………………………………………… ② -24
Shooting…………………………………………………… ② -26
Sitting Volleyball………………………………………… ② -28
Swimming… ……………………………………………… ② -30
Table Tennis……………………………………………… ② -32
Taekwondo………………………………………………… ② -34
Triathlon…………………………………………………… ② -36
Wheelchair Basketball………………………………… ② -38
Wheelchair Fencing… ………………………………… ② -40
Wheelchair Rugby… ……………………… ② -42
Wheelchair Tennis… ……………………… ② -44

3 Let’s keep a record!

…… ③ -1
Match record………………………………… ③ -2
Event record………………………………… ③ -6
Athlete record……………………………… ③ -8
Notes… ……………………………………… ③ -12

About the Paralympic Games

1

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

About theParalympic Games
The Paralympic Games are the world’s

greatest sporting event for athletes with animpairment. They are held once every four
years, in the same year and the same hostLet's keep a record!

city as the Olympic Games. Tokyo is thefirst city in the world to host the Summer

Paralympic Games for a second time.

● The Paralympic SymbolThis symbol is known as the three agitos.
Agito means“I move”in Latin and represents the
Paralympians, who continue to test their limits
without giving up, even if they face difficulties.
The three colours – red, blue and green – wereselected as they are the most commonly usedcolours on the world’s national flags.

※ Quoted from the website of the Japanese Para-Sports
Association Japanese Paralympic Committee①

1The Four Values of the
Paralympic Games

Courage, Determination,
Inspiration, Equality
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC)emphasises these four values as it believes that thehidden power of the Paralympians is the symbol of the
Paralympic Games.

※ Q uoted from the website of the Japanese Para-Sports Association
Japanese Paralympic Committee

The Significance of
the Paralympic Games

Ingenuity, Diversity,
Barrier-free,
Change in mindset
Athletes with a range of impairments test theirlimits by using their ingenuity during the Paralympic
Games, which promote diversity and give everyone afair opportunity to demonstrate their individuality andabilities and to become successful. The Games also

remind us of the need to reduce barriers in society, as

well as the need to change our mindset.

※ Q uoted from the website of the Japanese Para-Sports Association
Japanese Paralympic Committee①2About the Paralympic Games

Features of the
Paralympic Games

Ingenious tools and rules
Classiﬁcation creates faircompetition

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Ingenious…tools…and…rules…are…utilised…to…enable…top…athletes…with…
an… impairment… to… give… their… best… performance.… Competitions… are…
held…in…different…classes…according…to…the…“type”…and…“degree”…of…
impairment… to… ensure… athletes… with… a… range… of… impairments,… such…
as… a… physical… (e.g.… upper… and… lower… limbs),… visual… or… intellectual…
impairment,…can…compete…equally.…

Let's keep a record!

Ⓒ X-1

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3

Dates for the 2020
Tokyo Paralympic Games

25 August to
6 September 2020
Official name: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games
Japanese name: 東京 2020 パラリンピック競技大会
 5 August (Tue) to 6 September (Sun)
Dates: 2
2020
Number of sports: 22

Tokyo 2020 Games
VisionSport has the power tochange the world andour future.
The Tokyo 1964 Games completely transformed Japan.
The Tokyo 2020 Games, as the most innovative in history,
will bring positive reform to the world by building on threecore concepts:“Striving for your personal best (Achieving Personal Best)”“Accepting one another (Unity in Diversity)”“Passing on Legacy for the future (Connecting toTomorrow)”①

4

Emblem and mascot
About the Paralympic GamesTokyo 2020
Paralympic Games emblem
Harmonised chequered emblem

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

・T h e c h e q u e r e d p a t t e r n , k n o w n a s“ichimatsu moyo”, expresses in indigo blue,
the traditional colour of Japan, both therefined elegance and sophistication thatexemplifies Japan.
・C ombining three varieties of rectangularshapes, the design incorporates themessage of“unity in diversity”.
・I t consists of 45 rectangular pieces, thesame as the Olympic Games emblem.

Let's keep a record!

Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games mascot
The name Someity comes from

“Someiyoshino ”, a popular type of cherry

blossom, and the phrase “so mighty”,

which means very powerful. With its cherry
blossom tactile sensors, Someity possesses
superpowers. Through theTokyo 2020 Games, Someity
embodies the Japanese soulthat admires cherry blossom
and the magnificence ofParalympic athletes.
①

5Paralympic Sports andCompetition Schedule

22 sports will be contested.
The following designs are the sports pictogramsof the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

※ There are two designs for cycling.

①6Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Competition Schedule
Sessions that include the finals or contests for the gold medal

Opening and Closing
Ceremonies

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About the Paralympic Games

August25

6●Archery●

Athletics
Badminton●

Boccia

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Canoe

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Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Cycling
Equestrian
Football 5-a-side
Goalball

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Judo
Powerlifting
RowingShooting
Sitting
VolleyballSwimming
Table Tennis

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Let's keep a record!

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Taekwondo
Triathlon
Wheelchair
Basketball

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Wheelchair
Fencing
Wheelchair
Rugby
Wheelchair
Tennis①7Competition Venues

21 venues in and around Tokyo
Archery
Yumenoshima Park Archery Field

2-1-4 Yumenoshima, Koto-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 7 minutes’walk from Shin-kiba Sta. on the JR Keiyo Line,
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid
Transit Rinkai Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Yumenoshima on Toei Bus Ki 11 Kou from Toyocho Sta.
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Yumenoshima on Toei Bus Kin 18 from Kinshicho Sta. (weekdays only)・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Yumenoshima on Toei Bus Exp. 05 from Kinshicho Sta. (weekends andholidays only)

Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Olympic Stadium

10-1 Kasumigaoka-machi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Athletics

Note: The perspectives, etc. shown are
all simulated images and may differ
from those actually available. The
image is based on a projection of how
the greenery will appear once it has
matured, approx. 10 years from now.

Design Works and Construction Works of Taisei
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Sendagaya Sta. and Shinanomachi
Corporation, Azusa Sekkei Co., Ltd. and Kengo
Kuma and Associates JV / Courtesy of JSC
Sta. on the JR Sobu Line・Around a 1-minute walk from Kokuritsu-kyogijo Sta. on the Toei Oedo Line・Approx. 15 minutes’walk from Gaiemmae Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Sendagaya Ekimae on the Toei Bus Haya 81 from Shibuya Sta.
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Sendagaya Ekimae on the Toei Bus Kuro 77 from Meguro Sta.

・Around a 1-minute walk from Sendagaya Sta. (Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium) on the Hachiko Bus
Jinguno Mori Route from Shibuya Sta.

Badminton

Wheelchair Rugby

Yoyogi National Stadium

2-1-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Harajuku Sta. on the JR Yamanote Line・Approx. 15 minutes’walk from Shibuya Sta. on the JR Yamanote Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Meiji-jingumae Sta. on the TokyoJapan Sport Council

Metro Chiyoda and Fukutoshin Lines
・Approx. 10 minutes’walk from Yoyogi-koen Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line

BocciaAriake Gymnastics Centre

1-10-1 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Kokusai-tenjijo Sta. on the Tokyo

Photo…by…Tokyo…2020 / Uta MUKUOWaterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line・Around a 1-minute walk from Ariake-Tennis-no-mori Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit
Waterfront Line Yurikamome
・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Ariake-Tennis-no-mori on Toei Bus Higashi 16 and To 05 from Tokyo Sta.

・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Ariake-Tennis-no-mori on Toei Bus Kai 01 from Monzen-nakacho Sta.

①

8

CanoeRowingSea Forest Waterway
About the Paralympic Games

3 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 20 minutes’walk from Kankyokyoku-Chubo-Godochosha(Environment government Offices) on Toei Bus Nami 01 from Tokyo

Teleport Ekimae・Around a 15-minute taxi ride from Shin-kiba Sta. on the JR Keiyo Line, Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Lineand Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line・Around a 15-minute taxi ride from Ryutsu Center Sta. on the Tokyo Monorail

Cycling
Izu Velodrome (Track)Things to know about Paralympic sports!

1826 Ono, Izu City, Shizuoka

・Around a 1-minute walk from the Cycle Sports Centre on the Shin
Tokai Bus (20 mins) from Shuzenji Sta. on the Izu Hakone Railway
・Around a 30-minute taxi ride from Usami Sta. on the JR Ito Line

Photo…by…Tokyo…2020 / Shugo TAKEMI

Fuji International Speedway (Road)694 Nakahinata, Oyama-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka・(Weekdays) Alight at the Fuji Speedway East Gate on the Fujikyuko
Bus from Gotemba Sta. to Ueno
・(Weekends and holidays) Alight at either the Fuji Speedway Westor East Gate on the Fujikyuko Bus from Gotemba Sta. to Fuji Reien
Photo…by…Tokyo…2020 / Shugo TAKEMI
Cemetery (via Speedway)・(Weekends and holidays) Alight at either the Fuji Speedway West or East Gate on the Fujikyuko Bus
from Suruga Oyama Sta. to Fuji Reien Cemetery

Equestrian Park

2-1-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Let's keep a record!

EquestrianThis is a perspective
image. It may differ
from the actual building.

・Approx. 15 minutes’walk from Sakura-shimmachi Sta. on the Tokyu
Den-en-toshi LineⒸ Tokyo…2020
・Approx. 20 minutes’walk from Kyodo Sta. on the Odakyu Line・Approx. 3 minutes’walk from Nodai-mae on Tokyu Bus Shibu 23 and Shibu 24 from Shibuya Sta.
・Approx. 3 minutes’walk from Nodai-mae on Odakyu Bus Shibu 24 and Shibu 26 from Shibuya Sta.

・Approx. 3 minutes’walk from Nodai-mae on Tokyu Bus En 02 and Yo 01 from Yoga Sta.
・Approx. 3 minutes’walk from Nodai-mae on Tokyu Bus Tou 11 from Chitose-funabashi Sta.

Football 5-a-side
Aomi Urban Sports Park

1-1 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 10 minutes’walk from Aomi Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront
New Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome
・Approx. 10 minutes’walk from Tokyo International Cruise Terminal Sta.
on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome

Photo…by…Tokyo…2020 / Uta MUKUO※ During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, you may be instructed to use an alternative route due to traffic restrictions.

①9

Sitting Volleyball
Goalball
Taekwondo
Wheelchair Fencing
Makuhari Messe (Halls A, B, C)

2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba

・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Kaihimmakuhari Sta. on the JR Keiyo Line

Judo
Nippon Budokan

2-3 Kitanomaru Koen, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Kudanshita Sta. (Exit 2) on the Tokyo
Metro Tozai and Hanzomon Lines and the Toei Shinjuku Line

©Nippon Budokan Foundation

Powerlifting
Tokyo International Forum

3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo・Around a 1-minute walk from Yurakucho Sta. on the JR Keihintohoku and Yamanote Lines and the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Tokyo Sta. on the JR Chuo and otherlines
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Hibiya Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Mita Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Nijubashimae Sta. or 7 minutes’walk from Hibiya Sta. on the Tokyo
Metro Chiyoda Line・Approx. 7 minutes’walk from Kyobashi Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line・Approx. 7 minutes’walk from Ginza Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya, Marunouchi and Ginza Lines

Shooting
Asaka Shooting Range

9-4 Oizumigakuencho, Nerima-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 40 minutes’walk from Wakoshi Sta. on the Tobu Tojo Line,
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho and Fukutoshin Lines
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Nagakubo on Seibu Bus Sen 33 or 37

Photo…by…Tokyo…2020 / Shugo TAKEMIfrom Oizumi-gakuen Sta.
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Nagakubo on Seibu Bus Sen 33 or 34 from Narimasu Sta.

・Approx. 10 minutes’walk from Niiza Sogo Gijutsu High School on Seibu Bus Sen 32 from Asaka Sta.

Swimming
Tokyo Aquatics Centre

2-2-1 Tatsumi, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Simulated image
during the Games,
as of January 2019

・Approx. 10 minutes’walk from Tatsumi Sta. on the Tokyo Metro
Yurakucho Line・Approx. 15 minutes’walk from Shiomi Sta. on the JR Keiyo Line・Approx. 20 minutes’walk from Shin-kiba Sta. on the JR Keiyo Line, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid
Transit Rinkai Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Tatsumi-danchi on Toei Bus Kin 13 Otsu from Kinshicho Sta. or Mon 19
Kou/Otsu from Monzen-nakacho・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Sazanamibashi-Minamizume on Toei Bus Koto 01 (Tatsumi route) from
Shiomi Sta.

①

10

Table Tennis
Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium
About the Paralympic Games

1-17-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo・Around a 1-minute walk from Exit A4 of Kokuritsu-kyogijo Sta. on
the Toei Oedo Line・Around a 1-minute walk from Sendagaya Sta. on the JR Sobu Line

Triathlon
Odaiba Marine Park

1 Odaiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo

This is a perspective
image. It may differ
from the actual building.

・Approx. 7 minutes’walk from Tokyo Teleport Sta. on the Tokyo
Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai Line

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

・Approx. 3 minutes’walk from Daiba Sta. or Odaiba-Kaihin-Koen Sta.
on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line YurikamomeⒸ Tokyo…2020

・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Odaiba-Kaihin-Koen-Mae on Toei Bus Kai 01 from Monzen-nakacho Sta.

Wheelchair Basketball
Ariake Arena

1-11 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Simulated image
after the Games,
as of January 2019

・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Ariake-Tennis-no-mori Sta. on theTokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome

・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Shin-toyosu Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome
・Approx. 17 minutes’walk from Kokusai-Tenjijo Sta. or Shinonome Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront Area

Rapid Transit Rinkai Line・Approx. 4 minutes’walk from Kaetsu-Ariake-chu-ko-mae on Toei Bus Higashi 16 and To 05 from Tokyo Sta.
・Approx. 4 minutes’walk from Kaetsu-Ariake-chu-ko-mae on Toei Bus Kai 01 from Monzen-nakacho Sta.

Let's keep a record!

Musashino Forest Sport Plaza
290-11 Nishi-cho, Chofu City, Tokyo・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Tobitakyu Sta. on the Keio Line・Approx. 20 minutes’walk from Tama Sta. on the Seibu Tamagawa Line

Wheelchair Tennis
Ariake Tennis Park

2-2-22 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo・Approx. 8 minutes’walk from Ariake Sta. or approx. 10 minutes’
walk from Ariake-Tennis-no-mori Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront New

Transit Waterfront Line Yurikamome
・Approx. 5 minutes’walk from Kokusai-Tenjijo Sta. on the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit Rinkai
Line・Alight at Ariake-Tennis-no-mori on Toei Bus Kai 01 from Monzen-nakacho Sta. on the Tokyo Metro
Tozai Line or from Toyosu Sta. on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line※ During the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, you may be instructed to use an alternative route due to traffic restrictions.  

①

11

Applying for andpurchasing tickets
For the overseas residents,

Tokyo 2020 Games tickets can be purchased from the Authorised

Ticket Reseller for your territory. Please see the Authorised Ticket
Reseller List on the Tokyo 2020 Official Ticket Website.

For the residents of Japan
Applicants are required toregister for a Tokyo 2020 ID.
Tokyo 2020 Games tickets can be purchased directlyfrom the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee in Japan.

They are available for purchase on the Tokyo 2020

Official Ticket Website and will also be sold in 2020
at the Official Ticket Box Offices. Authorised Ticket

Resellers appointed by the Tokyo 2020 Organising

Committee may also sell tickets.

To purchase tickets from the Tokyo 2020 Official

Ticket Website, you are required to register for a Tokyo

2020 ID. Once you have registered for your Tokyo 2020
ID, you will receive information on the Games, including

details on ticket sales through e-mail newsletters, etc.
※A bout the prevention of illegal ticket resales, etc.

Tickets cannot be purchased by any sales method other thanthose specified by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee. Neverpurchase tickets from anywhere other than the official sales
channels. Tickets sold on unofficial channels, such as auction
websites, may be invalid or counterfeit tickets. Individuals inpossession of a ticket purchased from an unofficial channel will
be denied entry to venues. Please exercise the utmost caution
to ensure you do not fall victim to illegal ticket reselling, actsof fraud, etc.

To register for a Tokyo 2020 ID,
please scan this QR code.
①

12

Ticket sales phase
About the Paralympic Games

July 2018～
Tokyo 2020 ID registration opens
9 May to 29 May 2019
Entry to the First Olympic Ticket Lottery begins
22 August to 9 September 2019
Entry to the First Paralympic Ticket Lottery begins
13 November to 26 November 2019
Entry to the Second Olympic Ticket Lottery begins

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

15 January to 29 January 2020
Entry to the Second Paralympic Ticket Lottery begins
Spring 2020 (tbc)
Spring sales
May 2020 ～ (tbc)
Receive tickets
July 2020 ～Watch the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games!
August 2020 ～Watch the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games!

Range of ticket prices

Let's keep a record!

Ticket prices differ, dependingon the sport/event.
Opening Ceremony¥8,000 ～ ¥150,000

Closing Ceremony¥8,000 ～ ¥90,000

Sporting events¥900 ～ ¥7,000※ Ticket prices, as of August 2019. The price range is subject
to change, depending on the Games plan and competitionschedule. In addition to general tickets in the price range
shown above,“Wheelchair Tickets”and“Tokyo
2020 Group Tickets” are available. Please
see the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Official Ticket
Website for further details.
※ A ll ticket prices are in Japanese yen andinclude tax.

①

13

2

Things to know
about Paralympic sports!

Tokyo 2020 Paralympic mascot Someity has posed in all of the 22 sports featured in the Games.
※ There are two designs for cycling.

②

1

Archery
アーチェリーIn Paralympic archery, athletes shoot attargets from a distance of 50 or 70m andcompete for scores. They all have their own
unique styles of competing; those with an
upper-limb impairment use their mouths to pull
the bowstring while holding the bow with their feet.
A main feature of the sport is the intense concentrationof the archers who must keep shooting arrows with a short time limit of
30 seconds per shot for individual games and 20 seconds per shot forteam games.
Japan Archery Federation for the Disabled

https://nisshinaren.jp/

Rules

Almost the same rules as for Olympics archeryTwo types of bows are used: general recur ve bows andcompound bows, which require only minimal strength to pull dueto the mechanical pulleys at the tip. All archers shoot 72 arrows
and receive a ranking based on their total score (a top score of
10 points per shot for a maximum of 720 points), which are used
to determine the pairings for the final tournament. In the final
tournament, archers compete in a W1 Open and Compound Openfor a total score from 5 sets of 3 shots―a total of 15 shots. In the
Recur ve Open, 2
points are awarded
to the archer withthe highest total
points for eachset (3 shots). In
the event of adraw, each player
receives 1 point.
The first archer
to reach a totalof 6 points is the©X-1▲ Archer Miho Nagano
winner.
②

2● A major winner at the Rio 2016 GamesMen’s individual recurve

1stRahimi Gholamreza

IranClassification & Categories

Class

Eligible athletes

W1

Athletes competing in a wheelchair who have paralysis in limbs (cervical cord
injuries) or a comparable impairment and athletes with no trunk function.

W2

Athletes competing in a wheelchair who have paraplegia (chest/lumbar injuries)
or a comparable impairment.

ST

Athletes who compete while standing or sitting in a chair.

Category

Eligible class

Bows used
Recurve, compound

Recurve OpenW2 ST (men’s individual, women’s
individual, mixed gender)

Recurve

Compound OpenW2 ST (men’s individual, women’s
individual, mixed gender)

CompoundThings to know about Paralympic sports!

W1 (men’s individual, women’s
individual, mixed gender)

W1 Open

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with a physical impairment are eligible for the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games. A total of nine events are held.

Co l u m n

A silver medallist broke the world’s longest
record set by an able-bodied athlete!

Let's keep a record!

Matt Stutzman is an outstanding Paralympian who
was born with no arms but mastered the handling of acompound bow using just his feet andshoulders and won a silver medal at the
London 2012 Paralympic Games.
He contested the “Farthest archerytarget hit (male)”* title and set a
Guinness world record (as of Feb 2019)
on 9 December 2015 by hitting a target
from a distance of 283.47m, greatly▲ Stutzman also
exceeding the 200m distance set by an
attracted attention at
the Rio 2016 Games.
able-bodied athlete in 2005.
@USOC※ A record of the farthest distance for hitting the target according to the rules of the World Archery Federation (FITA)

TriviaAthletes with impairments to thehand can damage their teeth whenusing their mouth to pull a bowstring,
so more and more of them are wearing
launchers on their shoulders.

ere
Whe ?

h
is tvenue● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games①ー8

Men’s individual recurve

7th Tomohiro Ueyama②

3Athletics
陸上競技
The highlight of the sport, where
hundredths of a second and adifference of 1cm affect the results, isthe concentration and dynamics of theathletes who test their limits by skilfullyusing their tools according to their impairments.
Japan Para Athletics
https://jaafd.org/
Japan Blind Marathon Association
http://jbma.or.jp/
Japan Intellectual Disability Athletics Federations
http://www.jidaf.org/

Rules & Classification
The basic rules are the same as for Olympic athletics
Athletics features track events such as the 100m races andrelays, field events such as the long jump and shot put and road
events such as the marathon. Athletes with physical, visual andintellectual impairments are eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic
Games. They are divided into many different classes according
to the type and degree of impairment. In the 100m races, forexample, there are 16 men’s and 14 women’s events. A total of
168 athletics events are held.
A bent plate,predominantly
made ofcarbon fibre▼ Racing wheelchair
Operate the lever tochange the directionof the wheel and turnthe curve.

In throwing events suchas the discus, the caller
notifies visually impaired
athletes of the throwing
direction.

▲ Prosthetic leg

Hold a tether rope withthe athlete and directs
them using verbal cues.

②

4▲ Guide runner▲ Caller● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games
Men’s long jump (T42 at that time)

1st

Popow Heinrich

Germany

《How to read the sporting events》

Letters and numbers are used to indicate the sporting events and impairment types.

①

①

Event

②

Sport type

About the Paralympic Games

100m T 11

E.g. 100m in
the visually
impaired class② ③④

100m, long jump, shot put, etc.
T = Track: Running (100m to Marathon)
Jumping (long jump, high jump)
F = Field: Throwing (shot put, discus, javelin, club throw)
10s: Athletes with visual impairment
20s: Athletes with intellectual impairment
30s: Athletes with cerebral palsy③

40s: Athletes with amputations or functional disorder (shortstature, limb deficiencies, impaired range of movement,
muscle weakness, leg length differences)

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Impairment
type50s: Athletes (in a wheelchair) with amputations or functional
disorderImpairment
degree④60s: Athletes (using a prosthetic leg for competition) with alower limb amputation

The degree of impairment is indicated on a scale from 0 to 9,
with a lower number indicating a greater degree of impairment.

Co l u m n

Pay attention to a combination of the guide and tools!

Let's keep a record!

Visually impaired athletes run with a“guide runner”fortheir safety. Athletes in a wheelchair use a special racing
wheelchair, while those with a leg amputation compete
wearing a prosthetic leg. The performance of prostheses
and racing wheelchairs is improving
year on year, which is enhancing
the competition level. The Rio 2016
Games saw around 70 new world
records. Japanese athletes also
won a number of gold medals at theprevious Games and are expected
to significantly build on this at the ▲ Guide runner with athlete
Photo: Japan Para Athletics
Tokyo 2020 Games.
TriviaOf the 4400 Paralympic athletesparticipating in the Tokyo 2020
Games, 1100 will compete in athletics.

ere
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is tvenue①ー8● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games
Men’s long jump (T42 at that time) 2nd Atsushi Yamamoto②

5

Badminton
バドミントン
Badminton will make its
Paralympic debut at the Tokyo 2020
Games. Athletes hit a shuttlecock
across a net in the same way as inregular badminton. Watch the technicaland strategic smashes, which will be difficult
for the opponent to receive or will force them to movebackwards and forwards.
Japan Para-Badminton Federation

http://jpbf.jp/

Rules

The playing area is varied depending on the
impairment.

It generally follows the same rules as for regular badminton.
However, the court may be halved or classes may be held in alimited area, depending on the athletes’impairments. A match
consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points. This means thatthe first player to win 2 games wins the match.
Shuttles that land between
the net and short service
line are considered out.

Net

Some classes use alimited area.

Side line(doubles)Centre line

Back boundary line

Side line(singles)Short service line

Long service line

● Main results by Japanese male players at the World Championships (Nov 2017)②

6

Men’s singles (SU5)

3rd Taiyo Imai

Classification & Categories

Category
Wheelchair

Impairment
degree

WH1

Severe

WH2

Mild

SL3

Severe

SL4

Mild

SU5

-

Athletes who have an upper limb impairment
such as an amputation or paralysis.

SH6-

Athletes with short stature.

Eligible athletesAthletes who compete in a wheelchair andhave a lower limb impairment.
Athletes who can play standing but have alower limb impairment.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Standing

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical impairments are eligible for the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games and are divided into 2 categories(wheelchair and standing). There are a total of 14 events
including 10 singles (men and women), 3 doubles (men andwomen) and 1 mixed doubles.

Co l u m n

Pay attention to the different styles of playaccording to the class!

Let's keep a record!

One of the main features of the sport is the technical andelaborate strategies used to make the smash harder to returnor force the opponent to move backwards
and forwards. Pay attention to the different
el emen t s dep ending on the cl a s s . Fo r
example, in the standing classes, speed andpower are important, while in the wheelchairclasses, notice the techniques and tactics
used in relation to the opponent. Japaneseplayers aiming to become the first Badminton
champion of the Paralympic Games include▲ Player Ayako Suzuki
Ayako Suzuki, a leading player in the women’s(SU5 class)©2018 Japan ParaSU5 class.
Badminton Federation
TriviaWhile the types of shuttles used may look

the same in every game, they actually varydepending on the environment of the venue.

ere
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is tvenue①ー8● Main results by Japanese female players at the World Championships (Nov 2017)
Women’s singles (SU5)

1st Ayako Suzuki②

7Boccia
ボッチャ
Athletes compete for how close
they can throw balls to a whitetarget ball, or jack. The highlightof the sport is how a game develops,
involving intelligent strategies and polishedtechniques.
Japan Boccia Association

http://japan-boccia.net/

Rules

Described as“ground curling”
Players throw or roll six red and blue balls per end as close as
they can to the jack.
The sport features three events: individual (one-on-one), pair
(two-on-two) and team (three-on-three) games, where men andwomen compete together. Individual and pair games consist offour ends, while team games are played over six ends.
Side line
12.5m

End lineJack

6m

Throwing line

Target box
Ramp(assistance device)

Invalid area for the jackThrowing box▲ Assistant
They must keep theirback to the court.

▲ Specialstitched balls②

8● Major winners at the Rio 2016 Games

Team BC 1 – 2

1stThailandClassification

Eligible athletesBallprojection

Assistant

Event

BC1

Athletes who are unable to operate
a wheelchair due to a high level ofparalysis in limbs and the trunk resulting
from cerebral palsy or those who are able
to operate a wheelchair using the lower
limbs and kick the ball.

○(Kicking ispermitted)○

Individual
and team

BC2

Athletes who have cerebral palsy and areable to use their upper limbs to operate awheelchair to a certain extent.

○

×

Individual
and team

BC3

Athletes who have cerebral palsy or otherconditions and are unable to throw theball by themselves.

×(Using aramp)○

Individual
and pair

BC4

Athletes who have conditions otherthan cerebral palsy and have severe
dysfunction of limbs comparable to BC1or BC2, such as cer vical spinal cord
injuries and muscular dystrophy.

○(Kicking ispermitted)△(Only thoseathletes whokick the ball)

Individual
and pairThings to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with a high level of impairment including paralysis oflimbs and the trunk are eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic
Games. A total of seven events are held.

Co l u m n

The elaborate strategies and accurate shots fascinate spectators!

Let's keep a record!

In recent years, boccia has been attracting attention as asport that can be enjoyed by both men and women of all ages,
regardless of whether they have any impairments. Meanwhile,
top athletes who compete in the Paralympic Games demonstrate
their surprising concentration andtechnical skills, including strategies topredict the moves of their opponent
and shots made with such accuracy
that they seem able to pass throughthe eye of a needle. Boccia has anendless number of strategies; even a
shot that you may think was a mistake ▲ Takayuki Hirose who plays
for Hinotama Japan
can actually be an important part of©X-1
the strategy.
TriviaPlayers can use their own ballsets in boccia. They select different
balls according to the nature of their
impairment and their own style of play.

ere
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is tvenue①ー8● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games

Team BC 1-2

2nd

②

9

Canoe
カヌー
As a canoeing discipline, kayak
events made their Paralympic debut
at the Rio 2016 Games and new
Va'a events have now been included in
the programme for the Tokyo 2020 Games.
The highlight is the speed and strength of the athletes
aiming for the goal of the 200m straight course.
Canoe Association for Disabled

http://japan-paracha.org/

Rules

Competition by ranking, not by time
Races are held over 200m on straight-line courses
marked by buoys on still water. Athletes with lower limb
impairments are integrated with the boats using uniqueseats according to their impairments.
Outrigger

Up to▼ The kayak is propelled using
a double-blade paddle.
Paddlers use different seats
and foot straps according
to their impairments.

7.3m▲ A va'a is an outrigger
canoe which thepaddler moves using
a single-blade paddle.
Blade

5.2m

● A main winner at the Rio 2016 Games②

10

Women’s kayak single (KL1)

1st Jeanette Chippington

Great Britain

Classification & Categories

Class

Eligible athletes

Category

L1

Athletes with no use of either the upper body or legs
and who mainly use the strength of both the arms
and shoulders, or either the arms or shoulders only.
Athletes who have difficulty balancing in a sitting
position.

Kayak
Va’a

Men

Women

KL1

KL1

KL3

KL3

KL2
VL2 VL3

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with a lower limb impairment are eligible for the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games and compete in two categories. A total ofnine events are held for men and women.

KL2
VL2

L3

Athletes use their upper body functions such as thehips, upper body and arms as well as bracing the feet.
Athletes with lower limb amputations or lower limb
impairments but who are able to brace their feet.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

L2

Athletes use the strength of their upper body andarms. Those who have difficulty continuously bracing
the feet or remaining in a sitting position due toa complete loss of or extremely weak lower limb ※ K denotes kayaking events,
V denotes va’a events.
functions.

※ L=Level

Co l u m n

Look out for the powerful physique andpaddling techniques!

Let's keep a record!

You’ll be overwhelmed by the sight of the athletes propellingthemselves forwards using their upper body as the driving force,
as if they are gliding across the surface of the water. The key
to victory is how efficiently and stably they are able to turnthe paddle around, in addition to the sense of balance andadvanced paddling techniques, which will make you forget about
their impairments in the trunk or lower limb functions. Despite
Japan having only a short historyof paracanoe, a Japanese athlete
never theless finished eighth
at the Rio 2016 Games, which
demonstrates the improvement
being made by Japanese
athletes. They are expected toperform significantly better at▲ Paddler Takanori Kato (KL2) / Courtesy
the Tokyo 2020 Games.
of the Canoe Association for Disabled

TriviaAthletes with the mildest degreeof impairment in the KL3 class canreach 200m in around 40 seconds,
at a speed of around 18km/h.

ere
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is tvenue①ー9● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Women’s kayak singles (KL1) 8th Monika Seryu②

11Cycling
自転車競技
Cycling features two categories:
outdoor Road events and Track events
held inside cycle stadiums. Witness thefull impact of the cyclists pushing thepedals to the maximum limit of their bodies as
they race in front of spectators at speeds of 60km/h.
Japan Para-Cycling Federation

http://jpcfweb.com/

Rules

Different cycles are used depending on
the impairment class.

While the rules are almost the same as for Olympic cycling,
cyclists compete for speed by using different cycles
according to their impairments. Athletes with a high level oflower limb impairment use handcycles, which are pedalledby hand; those who are unable to balance due to motor
impairment of the trunk use tricycles; and those with visual
impairments (stokers) ride a tandem cycle with a sighted“pilot＂. Worth noting is that the cycles used in the Road
events have brakes, whereas those used in the Track events
do not.
Pilot

Stoker▲ Tricycle▲ Tandem cycle▲ Handcycle● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games②

12

Men’s individual road time trial (C3) 1st Eoghan Clifford

IrelandClassification & Categories

Class

Eligible athletes

Classification bydegreeBicycle used

C

Athletes with impairments in C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
limbs and the trunk such as an
Cycle
SevereMild
amputation and paralysis.

H

A t h l e t e s w i t h a l o w e r l i m b H1 H2 H3 H4 H5Handcycle
impairment.
SevereMild

T

Athletes with a high level ofT1
impairment in the trunk such as
Severeparalysis.

B

Athletes with visual impairments.
Event

Road

Competingclass

Time trial

CHTB

Road race

CHTB

Team relay

H

Mild

B (1 class)Category

TricycleTandem cycle (for two)

Event
Time trial

Track

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Category

T2

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical and visual impairments are eligible for
the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Cycling features six events.

Competingclass
CB

Individual pursuit

CB

Team sprintC※ C=Cycle, H=Handcycle, T=Tricycle, B=Blind

Co l u m nPara-cycling also features professional cyclists!
Let's keep a record!

Various rules have been introduced to ensure theathletes can focus on the game, which has resulted in an
increasing number of professional
cyclists. Many athletes havepreviously specialised in different
sports and then gone on to become
top cyclists. The Japanese teamcontain a number of medallists and▲ Kazuhei Kimura (stoker) and Takuto
there are expectations for a gold
Kurabayashi (pilot) pair in B classCourtesy of the Japan Para-Cycling
medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Federation
TriviaA cyclist called astoker sits on the backof a tandem cycle.

ere
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is tvenue①ー9● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games
Men’s individual time trial (C3)

2nd Masaki Fujita②

13Equestrian
馬 術
T h i s i s t h e o n l y Pa r a l y m p i csport where athletes work with ananimal as part of the competition.
It’s fascinating to watch the rider andhorse work as one to perform a set ofmoves or draw different shapes.
Japan Riding Association for the Disabled

http://jrad.jp/

Rules & Events

Competition by score awarded for performance

Five judges award points to the riders. Each judge gives ascore out of ten for each performance section; the scores arethen added together to determine the placings. The judging

criteria include the accuracy, liveliness and beauty of thehorse’s moves.

The riders perform using a variety of ingenious solutions,

including special harnesses modified according to their

impairments and controlling the horse by holding the rein in
their mouths if they are unable to hold it in their hands.

Harness▲ Special harness

The illustration shows a safety
belt attached to the saddle, which
is used for the riders’ safety
a n d i s d e s i g n e d t o c o m e o ff
immediately in case of danger.

● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games②

14

Mixed-gender individual championship test (impairment 1b at that time) 1st Pepo Puch

AustriaClassification

Eligible athletes

Grade Ⅰ

Athletes with a high level of impairment in the trunk and limbs and who
use a wheelchair on a daily basis. Those athletes who are able to walk have
unstable balance due to reduced trunk function.

Grade Ⅱ

Athletes with a medium level of impairment in the trunk and a high level of
impairment in limbs and are able to use their upper limbs but have a slightly
unstable trunk balance.

Grade Ⅲ

Athletes with a medium level of impairment in the trunk and limbs (notcomparable to Grade Ⅱ ).

Grade Ⅳ

Athletes with a high level of impairment or defects in both upper limbs, amedium level of impairment in limbs, short stature, visual impairments, etc.,
and are able to walk without using a wheelchair on a daily basis.

Grade Ⅴ

Athletes with a low level of impairment in the passive range of motion andmuscle weakness, loss of one limb, a low level of abnormality in two limbs,
visual impairments, etc.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical and visual impairments are eligible
for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and are divided into
five classes (grades) according to the type and degree of
impairment. A total of 11 mixed-gender events are held.

Co l u m n

The relationship of trust between the rider andhorse influences the game!

Let's keep a record!

In equestrian, an encounter with a beautiful
horse with high potential is said to be important.
Above all, however, the rider’s trust in the horse
is an essential part of the sport. They deliver
the best performance by communicating with
their horse to understand its personality andabilities. While a large number of medallists comefrom European countries such as the equestrian
powerhouse of Great Britain, Japan is also aiming
to make a breakthrough with a stronger line-upof riders.

▲ Rider Mina Chinju
Courtesy of@c3.photography

TriviaParalympic equestrian features around20 performance sections, where horseriders draw a circle or run at a fixed speed.

ere
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is tvenue①ー9● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Mixed-genderindividual championship test (impairment 1b at that time) 11th Mitsuhide Miyaji②

15Football 5-a-side
５人制サッカー
Players wearing blackout masks
showcase a powerful play, where
they run freely, chasing a ball thatmakes a sound and aiming at the
opponent’s goal.
Japan Blind Football Association

http://www.b-soccer.jp/aboutbs/

Rules

The rules of futsal have been adapted forvisually impaired players.
The sport features 5 players in each team and isplayed using a ball that makes a rustling sound as it rolls.
Matches consist of two 20-minute halves. All 4 outfieldplayers are visually impaired – although some may haveminimal light perception – and all 4 must wear blackout
masks to ensure fairness. When attempting to tackle an
opposition player who has the ball, they must say“voy＂,
which means“go”in Spanish. Failure to comply will resultin a foul.
Guide (caller
Gives verbal directions frombehind the opponent goal
Side fence
A fence up to 1m hight o p re v e n t t h e b a l lfrom going out

Goalkeeper(fully or partially sighted)▲ A ball that makes asound as it rolls
Courtesy of the Japan
Blind Football Association②

16● Winners at the Rio 2016 Games

1st

BrazilClassification

Eligible athletes

B1(Only this classcan participate)

Athletes who range from having no light perception up to
light perception, but who are unable to recognise shapes
from any distance or in any direction.

B2

Athletes who are able to recognise the shape of a hand, up toa visual acuity of 2/60 or a visual field of less than 5 degrees.

B3

Athletes whose visual acuity ranges from 2/60 to 6/60 orwhose visual field is from 5 to 20 degrees.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with visual impairments are eligible for the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games. While they are divided into 3 classes
depending on the degree of impairment, only male players inclass B1 are eligible for 5-a-side football.

※ Visual acuity is prioritised over visual field.

Co l u m n

The Japanese team are making theirParalympic debut!

Let's keep a record!

As humans, we are reported to obtain around 80 per
cent of the information we receive through sight. Outfieldplayers compete in a state where their vision is completely
blocked. They use their refined senses to concentrateon their play while relying on verbal instructions from thegoalkeeper, manager and guide who stands behind theopponent’s goal, plus the sound of the ball and verbal
communications with their peer
players. Body checking is more
intense than in regular footballand you’ll be amazed at the fast
speed of play compared to what
you might expect.
There are high expectations for
the Japanese team who will make ▲ Hopeful striker Ryo Kawamura©X-1
their Paralympic debut.
TriviaThe guide informs the players of the distanceand angle from the goal, and they shoot byimagining the goal frame from the vocal cues.

ere
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is tvenue①ー9● Japan’s results at the World Grand Prix (Mar 2018)

5th

②

17

Goalball
ゴールボール
Goalball is a team sport
per formed by visually impaired
players. They roll a ball with bells
inside and compete to score points.
The highlight of the sport is theoffensive and defensive tactics employedby the players using senses other than sight,
such as the sound of the ball and the footsteps of the
opponent players.
Japan Goalball Association

http://www.jgba.jp/

Rules
A team has 10 seconds from their ﬁrst defensive contact
with the ball to ensure the ball crosses the centre line.
Each team of 3 players rolls the ball to score a goal.
Matches consist of 2 halves of 12 minutes. The attacking
side must roll the ball into the opponent’s goal. The ballweighs 1.25kg and is almost the same size as a basketball.
Three players from the defending side use their wholebodies to defend the 9-m-wide goal.
Landing area
Goal line(A goal is scoredwhen the ballcompletely crosses
the goal line)

Orientation area
Neutral are

9m

18m
Goal
Width 9mxheight 1.3m②

18

Centre line

● Winners at the Rio 2016 GamesSide line

Women

1st

▲The attacking
player must release
the ball before thelanding area.
String under the line:
players can checktheir position bytouching the line.

TurkeyClassification
Athletes in the following classes are eligible for the Tokyo

Eligible athletes

B1

Athletes who range from having no light perception up to lightperception, but who are unable to recognise shapes from any
distance or in any direction.

B2

Athletes who have the ability to recognise the shape of a hand, up
to a visual acuity of 2/60 or a visual field of less than 5 degrees.

B3

Athletes whose visual acuity ranges from 2/60 to 6/60 or whose
visual field is from 5 up to 20 degrees.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

2020 Paralympic Games and must wear eyeshades during thegame to ensure they compete on equal terms.

※ Visual acuity is prioritised over visual field.

Co l u m n

Aiming to rank high at the Tokyo 2020 Games!

Let's keep a record!

Goalball is sometimes dubbed a “silent martial art”.
Coaches and team members on the bench, as well as
spectators, must remain quiet while the ball is in play.
Scores often change immediately after a time-out, during
which important instructions can be given to the players at
the bench area.
The Japanese female
team made their Paralympic
debut at the Athens 2004
Games and won a bronze
medal followed by the
first ever gold medal in a
Paralympic team event at
the London 2012 Games.
Aiming to rank high at theTokyo 2020 Games, Japanis strengthening the team ▲ Player Rie UrataⒸ RyoICHIKAWA/JapanGoalballAssociation
to surprise the world.
TriviaA top male player throws the ball at
an initial speed of 60-70km/h to reach a
distance of around 9m in 0.5 seconds.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Japan’s results at the Rio 2016 Games

Women

5th

②

19

Judo
柔 道
I n Pa r a l y m p i c j u d o , a t h l e t e scompete against each other int h e s a m e ca t e g o r y re g a rd l e s s o f
differences in their vision, e.g. fully or
partially blind. Contestants must grip theiropponent’s sleeve and lapel at specific points
and hold still before a contest can start. As opposed
to Olympic judo, there is no need to establish a grip on
the opponent, which means you’ll witness a powerful gamedeveloping, including a bold move right at the start as thecontestants aim for an ippon .
Japan Judo Federation for the Visually Impaired

http://judob.or.jp/

Rules

The basic rules are almost the same as forregular judo
The competition area used for individual tournaments
measures 10m by 10m. In a four-minute contest, technicalscores － an ippon or a waza-ari (a half-point) － are awarded

for newaza (ground techniques) and tachiwaza (standing
techniques). If both fighters are tied on technical scores, itgoes to a Golden Score contest regardless of the numberof shido penalties given. A
Golden Score contest has
no time limit and the winneris the first person to beawarded a technical score,either an ippon or waza-ari .
Alternatively, the decision
can be made based on the▲ A contest starts once the two athletes havedifference in the number ofbeen gripped up.
Courtesy of the Japan Judo Federation for
shido penalties given.
the Visually Impaired②

20● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games Men (-60kg) 1st Sherzod Namozov

Uzbekistan

Classification

Sex
Men
Women

About the Paralympic Games

Visually impaired athletes are eligible for the Tokyo 2020
Paralympic Games and are divided into different categories
by weight, the same as Olympic judo, rather than by the
degree of impairment. There are seven weight categories formen and six for women.
Category-60kg, -66kg, -73kg, -81kg, -90kg, -100kg, +100kg-48kg, -52kg, -57kg, -63kg, -70kg, +70kg

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Co l u m n

The underlying power of the Japanese speciality!
Aiming for an ippon in an aggressive game!

Let's keep a record!

Some of the Paralympic judo rules were amended at theend of 2016. For example, the men’s game was shortened by
one minute, meaning that both sexes now play games lasting
four minutes. Also, the judging criteria were limited to scoring
only from ippon or waza-ari . This means the fighters are moreaggressive as they aim to achieve an ippon and demonstrate
their power and instantaneous force.
Judo – a Japanese speciality – continues to feature in
the Paralympic Games programme. Japan has participatedcontinuously since the Seoul 1988 Games, where judo made its
Paralympic debut, and has won
at least one medal at every
Games.
A Japanese female fighter
won a medal for the first timeat the Rio 2016 Games andthere are high expectations for
medal wins from both male and ▲ Fighters Makoto Hirose and Yujiro Seto
female fighters at the Tokyo
Courtesy of the Japan Judo Federation
2020 Games.
for the Visually Impaired
TriviaIt is still possible to make a comeback
with only two seconds left as a
Paralympic judo contest starts once thetwo athletes have been gripped up.

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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Men (-60kg) 2nd Makoto Hirose②

21Powerlifting
パワーリフティング
Powerlifting made its Paralympic
debut at the Tokyo 1964 Games.
Athletes with a lower limb impairment
use their upper body strength to lift
a barbell (a long bar loaded with weightplates) and attempt to lift the heaviest weight. Foraround the 3 seconds that it takes them to lift the bar,
you’ll be more impressed with the athletes’concentrationand mental strength than with their arm strength. The
sport has grown in recent years and is now practised in
110 countries.
Japan Para-Powerlifting Federation

http://jppf.jp/

Rules

Bench press competitions

Within the two-minute allocated time, athletes lie on theirback on the bench, stretch their lower body, remove the barfrom the rack and then hold it with the elbows stretched.

After a signal from the referee, they lower the bar to theirchest and pause before pushing it upwards to arm’s lengthand l ocking theirelbows. Each athlete

has three attempts

and the maximum
weight they can lift

is their record. They

are then ranked in
the order of theheaviest weight lifted.
②

22▲ Men (-88kg) Contestant Hideki Odo ©X-1

● A major winner at the Rio 2016 GamesMen (-49kg)

1st Le Van Cong

VietnamClassification

Category-49kg, -54kg, -59kg, -65kg, -72kg, -80kg, -88kg, -97kg, -107kg, +107kg

Women-41kg, -45kg, -50kg, -55kg, -61kg, -67kg, -73kg, -79kg, -86kg, +86kg

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Sex
Men

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with a lower limb impairment and short stature(145cm or shorter for men and 140cm or shorter for women)
are eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. They are
divided into different classes according to their weight rather
than the type and degree of impairment. For athletes with an
amputation, a certain weight will be added according to theextent of the amputation.

Co l u m n

The magnificent sight of an athlete using their
upper body to lift the bar at once!

Let's keep a record!

In Paralympic powerlifting, athletes make attempts
with their legs on the bench, which means they areunable to brace their feet against the floor. Just
imagine how hard it is to lift
the bar with your feet off thefloor.
There are a number ofexperienced athletes frommany different leading
countries. Japanese athletes
finished in the top 8 in thepast and are undergoingfurther training in a bid to win(-97kg) Contestant Makoto Majima
a medal at the Tokyo 2020 ▲ Men
Photo: Hiroki Nishioka
Courtesy of the Japan Para-Powerlifting
Games.
Federation
TriviaIf you look at the world, an athlete in
the heaviest category lifts 310kg, which
exceeds the record by an able-bodied
athlete in the same conditions.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Men (-49kg) 5th Hiroshi Miura②

23

Rowing
ボート
On the star t signal, theathletes start rowing all
at once and are ranked in theorder in which their boat tips crossthe finishing line. Single scull events
showcase competition between individual skills
and physical abilities, while the team combinations are an
important factor in double scull and coxed four events.
Japan Rowing Association

http://jara.or.jp/

Rules

Basically the same rules as for regular boating
Rowers compete over 2,000m on an 8-lane, straightline course divided by marker buoys. On the start signal,
they start rowing all at the same time and are ranked in
the order in which the boat tips cross the finishing line.
The basic rules are the same as for Olympic boating but
with some differences, such as fixed seats for athleteswith no trunk function.
▼ Single scull
The oar used in the scull is 2.90m
on one side and made of carbon
fibre. One side weighs around 1.3kg.

Grip
Rowlock

Shaft

Blade

Rigger (metal fittings to support the oars)▼ Coxed four②24

● Major winners at the Rio 2016 Games

Mixed double scull

1st

Great Britain

Classification

Event

Eligible athletes

PR1

Single scull(men and women)

Athletes who row using only their upper limbs andshoulders and have no trunk function.

PR2

Mixed double scull(man and woman pairs)

Athletes who are able to row using their trunk
and upper limbs but are unable to use the sliding
seat that requires the lower limbs.

PR3

Mixed coxed four
(2 men and 2 women)

Athletes who have impairment in limbs but are able
to compete on the sliding seat using their upper andlower limbs and trunk, or visually impaired athletes.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical and visual impairments are eligible for
the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and are divided into threedifferent classes. Four types of events are held: men’s andwomen’s single scull, mixed-gender double scull and coxed four.

※ RR=Para Rowing

Co l u m n

Keep an eye on the race until the very end!

Let's keep a record!

It’s fascinating to watch the athletes start rowing allat the same time and see how the race develops as they
move forwards while reading the waves and wind. It’s more
powerful than you might imagine. You’ll also be awestruckby the final spurt as the rowers compete for 0.1 of asecond from around the 1,500-metre mark. The sport is led
by Great Britain, which won medals in all of the events at
the Rio 2016 Games, followedby Western countries includingFrance, the USA and Canada.
The Japanese team also
competed at the past 3 Gamesand are carrying out further
training in a bid to win a medal▲ Rowers Rie Ariyoshi andat the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Shigeru Komazaki ©X-1
TriviaDue to the diﬃculty in balancing theboat while stopped, a staff member
holds the stern with their hands and lets
go on the start signal.

ere
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is tvenue①ー9● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Mixed double scull 12th②

25

Shooting
射 撃Contestants fire at a target using
either a rifle or pistol and compete
for the highest total score. In shooting
events where it＇s a contest of theathletes’ ultimate concentration, even
their breathing and heartbeat can affectthem as they fire at the target. In recent years thecontestants’skills and the performance of the guns usedin the competitions have improved, which has resulted in an
increasing number of high-level battles.
Japan Para Shooting Sport Federation

https://jpssf.com/

Rules

Basically the same rules as for Olympic shooting
Contestants shoot a set number of bullets within the time
limit and compete for the total score. Depending on the event,they use different guns (air and powder guns) and shoot thetarget from distances of 10m, 25m or 50m. In rifle shooting,contestants shoot in a standing, kneeling and prone position.
The maximum score for a single shot is either 10 or 10.9
points, depending on the event. The farther away from thecentre, the lower the score.
▼ Standing▼ Kneeling▼ ProneCourtesy of the Japan Para Shooting Sport Federation②

26● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games Mixed air rifle prone (SH2) 1st Vasyl Kovalchukl

Ukraineひと口メモClassificationClass

How to shoot

SH1

Rifle shooting contestants fire by supporting the rifle with
their upper limbs. Pistol shooting contestants hold the pistol
with their upper limbs.

SH2

Contestants with an upper limb impairment use a shooting
stand to hold and shoot the rifle.

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical impairments are eligible for the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. A total of 13 events are held,
including 9 rifle and 4 pistol events.
Gun
Rifle
PistolRifle※ SH=Shooting
Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Co l u m n

Shoot the target of 0.5 mm in diameter understress and pressure!

Let's keep a record!

In the 10m air rifle event, contestants must keep firing
at the centre of the target, which has a diameter of just
0.5mm. They must also read the wind strength and direction
because climatic factors such as the weather affect events
where contestants aim at a target from a distance of 50m.
A single mistake can often affect the results so contestants
need considerable mental strength to maintain concentration.
Shooting made its Paralympic debut at the Toronto 1976
Games and has attracted an increasing number of competitors
in recent years. A recent rise in the countries competing,including Ukraine and India, means it’s almost like a turbulent
period of battle, where no one cantell which country will win a medal.
The Japanese team havecontinuously participated since
the Sydney 2000 Games and somecontestants have finished in the
top 8. They are working hard to win
a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. ▲ Shooter Akiko Sega ©X-1
TriviaIn the 50m rifle 3 positions event,contestants shoot 40 bullets in each of the 3
different positions (120 shots in total), which is
why the event is dubbed a“rifle marathon”.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games

Mixed air rifle prone (SH2) Contestant Akiko Sega②

27

Sitting Volleyballシッティングバレーボール
Sitting volleyball is a form ofvolleyball with two 6-player teams,
where they play the ball from asitting position with a buttock incontact with the floor. The players must
use their arm strength to move around thecourt, sliding across it while keeping their buttocks incontact with the floor.
Japan Para-Volleyball Association

http://www.jsva.info/

Rules

Generally the same rules as for regular volleyball

Each match is the best of five sets, meaning the first teamto reach three sets wins the match. The ball is the same asa regular volleyball but the match is played on a narrower
court and with a lower net compared to regular volleyball. If
a player fails to keep a buttock in contact with the floor, thisis classed as a“lifting”foul.
While a buttock must remain in contact with the floor
during the service, attack and block, players are allowed tolift their buttocks for a moment when playing the ball in a
defensive action.
6m
Net heightMen 1.15m
Women 1.05m

Centre line
Attack line

10m
2m

3 front-row players

Side line

3m
3 back-row players

Courtesy of the Japan Para-Volleyball Association②

28● Winners at the Rio 2016 Games

Men

1st

End line
Iran

Service zone
Women

1st

USA

Classification
About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with either upper or lower limb impairment are
eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. They are
divided into mild and severe impairment according to thedegree of impairment. The game features six players on court
including a maximum of one player with mild impairment. Two
gender-specific events are held.

Co l u m n

A sequence of clever play using various combinations!

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

In the same way as in Olympic volleyball, the libero –a back-row defensive specialist – has been introduced
and it is important for the team to work as one for
defence. In order to dodge the opponent’s blocks
during the attack, players often use combination playsuch as the quick and feint. Since it is permitted toblock an opponent’s service, players need to be skilledin producing a strong service, the course of which the
opponent is unable to read. Ingenuity and strategy
unique to sitting volleyball are essential for bothdefence and attack. Also, look out for sequences ofclever play regardless of
attack or defence.
Iran, Egypt, China
and the USA are ranked
high in the world. The
Japanese team missed
out on qualifying for the
Rio 2016 Games but arein training for the Tokyo
2020 Games.
▲ Player Michiyo Nishiie in an attack position

Let's keep a record!

Courtesy of the Japan Para-Volleyball Association

TriviaPlayers must wear specific indoor
shoes and socks.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Japan’s results at the World Championships - Netherlands (Jul 2018) Men 15th Women 10th②

29

Swimming
水 泳
Paralympic swimming is one of
the historical sporting competitions
that have taken place since thefirst Paralympic Games in Rome in1960. Athletes swim using their entire bodyaccording to their impairments. It’s fascinating to
see the unique ways in which they swim, epitomising theParalympic spirit of“making the most of what is left”.
Japanese Para-Swimming Federation
http://new.paraswim.jp/
Japan Swimming Federation for Persons with an Intellectual Disability

http://jsfpid.com/

ルール

Basically the same rules as for regular swimming
There are various ways to start according to theimpairment. For visually impaired swimmers, a“Tapper”
uses a stick to tap the swimmer as they approach the endof the pool to prevent them hitting the wall when turningor touching the wall at the finish.

▲ Tapping a visually impaired swimmer.
▲ Feet start: swimmers have theirfeet held to the wall until thestarting signal is given.
Courtesy of the Japanese Para-Swimming Federation● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games②

30

Men’s 50m freestyle (S11)

1st Bradley Snyder

USAClassification & Events

Category

Event

S

Freestyle, backstroke, butterfly

SB

BreaststrokeSM

Individual medley
Medley and free relays

Relay

Eligible athletes

1 (severe) ～ 10 (mild)

Athletes with an impairment to their physicalfunctions (physical impairment such as an
amputation, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy).

11 (severe) ～ 13 (mild)

Athletes with visual impairment.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

14

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments
are eligible for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. A total of
146 events are held in 14 classes, including 76 men’s, 67
women’s and 3 mixed-gender events.

Athletes with intellectual impairment.

Co l u m nAthletes work hard to develop various swimming styles!

Let's keep a record!

There are many different swimming styles that
athletes can use, so they need to practise in orderto perfect their own form. It is essential for athletes
to establish their form in any sport, but swimming
requires more individual effort
than any other spor t. Japan
has maintained a strong global
presence by winning medals
over ten consecutive years andis expected to deliver even
▲ S wimmers apply different
start styles.
better results at the Tokyo 2020
C our tesy of the JapaneseGames.
Para-Swimming Federation
TriviaThe result will still be valid if a visually
impaired athlete with a Tapper accidentally
encroaches on another lane and thenfinishes the race in that lane.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Men’s 50m freestyle (S11) 2nd Keiichi Kimura②

31

Table Tennis
卓 球Ta b l e t e n n i s i s o n e o f t h espor ting disciplines that havebeen continuously practised since
the first Paralympic Games in Romein 1960. In fact, the sport’s Paralympic
debut preceded its Olympic debut at the Seoul
1988 Games. Athletes have their own unique stylesof play according to their impairments and cannot win
unless they plan a strategy by assessing their opponent’s
style of play.
Japan Para Table Tennis Association
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/para/tabletennis
Japan Table Tennis Federation for Players with Intellectual Disability
http://jttf-fid.org

Rules

Basically the same rules and table as forregular table tennis

The sport features both individual and team games, with
11 points to a game and a match played as the best 3 of 5
games. Certain rules have been modified according to thetype and degree of impairment. As an example, for athletescompeting in a wheelchair, a rally is a let (no count) if theball, when in service andafter bouncing on thereceiver’s side, leaves
the table by either of thereceiver’s side lines. In theintellectual impairment
category, exactly the same
rules apply as for ablebodied players.
▲ Player Shinichi Yoshida②

32Ⓒ ©X-1● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games Women’s singles (wheelchair C5) 1st Bian Zhang

China

Classification

Class

Eligible athletes

C1 (severe) ～ C5 (mild)

Athletes with a physical impairment and who use awheelchair.

C6 (severe) ～ C10 (mild)

Athletes with a physical impairment but who compete
standing.
Athletes with intellectual impairment.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

C11

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with physical or intellectual impairment are eligible for
the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and are classified according
to the type and degree of impairment. A total of 11 classes are
held, including 5 wheelchair and 5 standing classes for athleteswith physical impairment and 1 class for those with intellectual
impairment. The sport features 31 events for men and women.

Co l u m n

Don’t miss the high performance of the athletes!

Let's keep a record!

Athletes compete in different styles of play according totheir impairment; some use devices to assist them such as
wheelchairs, prosthetic legs and canes. One athlete who lost
both arms in an accident plays by holding the racket with
their mouth and serving the ball using their feet. It’s theseunique moments in the Paralympic Games that break down
any set ideas held by viewers and enable us to witness a
power that transcends human limits.
Globally, China is a dominant force in the world of table
tennis and displays overwhelming
strength. Meanwhile, Japan won its
first ever Paralympic gold medal intable tennis and Japanese players
finished in the top 8 at previous
Games. The Japanese team aresteadily growing in strength andworking hard to push for greaterachievements at the Tokyo 2020
Games.
▲ Player Kimie Bessho ©X-1
TriviaTable tennis features some of theworld’s top athletes who compete inboth the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 11●M ajor Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games
Women’s singles (wheelchair C5) Quarterfinalist Kimie Bessho②

33

Taekwondo
テコンドー
Taekwondo is a martial art thatinvolves a variety of kicks and it
is making its Paralympic debut at
the Tokyo 2020 Games. In Paralympic
taekwondo, athletes with an upper limb
impairment such as an amputation anddysfunction take part in Gyeorugi (sparring) events. The
athletes stand close to each other face-to-face and fightwith a variety of dynamic kicks.
All Japan Taekwondo Association

http://www.ajta.or.jp/

Rules

The basic rules are the same as for Olympic taekwondoContestants wear a head protector, electronic trunk
protector, etc. and fight over 3 rounds of 2 minutes(with 1-minute intervals) using foot techniques suchas a dropping heel kick and reverse roundhouse kick.
Contestants are awarded 2 points for a kick to the trunk,
3 points for a kick involving a 180-degree turn and 4
points for a 360-degree spinning kick.
A rule specific to Paralympic taekwondo is that only
kicks to the trunk countHead protector
as valid attacks. Any kickto the head is a foul. If an
Sensor socks
athlete loses a point due
to a foul, the opponent
is awarded 1 point. The
winner is declared basedon a total of points andElectronic
deductions, or it can be trunk protector
decided with a KO just as
in boxing.
● A major winner at the World Championships (Feb 2019)②34

Men (-75kg)

st1

Juan Diego Garcia Lopez

Mexico©World Taekwondo

Classification

Class

Eligible athletes

K43

Athletes with a bilateral arm amputation (below the elbows andabove the wrists).

K44

Athletes with a unilateral arm amputation (above the wrist of onearm), loss of function in one arm (dysfunction of a shoulder andelbow), hemiplegia and monoplegia.

Sex

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with an upper limb impairment are eligible for
the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, where two classes areintegrated and compete in different weight categories.

Category
-61kg

-75kg

+75kg

Women

-49kg

-58kg

+58kg

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Men

Co l u m nWatch out for the exciting progress in the game!

Let's keep a record!

Although there are certain rules unique to Paralympic
taekwondo, it is performed on the same field of play andwith the same length of contest as Olympic taekwondo.
Athletes also wear the same safety equipment, such asa head protector, electronic trunk protector, mouth pieceand gloves. This means you can expect exciting games
just like Olympic taekwondo.
With the largest number of contestants, Russia is known
as a Taekwondo powerhouse.
Meanwhile, various other countries
and regions are also seeing arise in prominent athletes. The
Japanese team are making theirParalympic debut at the Tokyo
2020 Games, aiming to become
the first medallists.
▲ Athlete Chikara Ito ©X-1
TriviaIf an electronic trunk protector fails tojudge the complexity of a kick, points
are scored by a review jury outside thecourt using manual scoring devices.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the World Championships (Feb 2019)
Men (-75kgs)

3rd Shunsuke Kudo②

35

Triathlon
トライアスロン
Tr i a t h l o n , w h i c h m a d e i t s
Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016
Games, features three events (a swimbike-run) in succession. The athletes
are continuously engaged and compete
for the fastest overall course completion
time. The timed transitions between the threeraces also play an important part in the competition.
Japan Triathlon Union

http://www.jtu.or.jp/

Rules

International Triathlon Union Competition Rules apply.
While the competition
rules are generally thes ame a s f or r egul ar
triathlon, the athletes
in Paralympic triathlon
are permitted to modify
their prostheses andother equipment
according to thet y pe and degr ee o f
impairment.
Physically impaired
athletes in the PTWC
class compete usinga handcycle, whichis pedalled by hand,and participate in therunning event usinga racing wheelchair.
Visually impaired
athletes in the PTVI
class race with a guide,
who is a qualified
companion of the samesex and nationality as
the athlete.
②

36① Swim750m▼ A v i s u a l l y i m p a i re dathlete is connectedto the guide (samesex companion) witha rope.

Tr a n s i t i o n(move fromthe end of
the swim)② Bike20km▲ A visually
impaired
athlete rides atandem cyclewith a guide.

Transition(change clothing
and adjust racing
equipment)▼ They are connectedwith a rope, the sameas in the swim.

③ Run
5km

▲ Prosthetic leg
for racing▲ Racing
wheelchair● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games Women (PT2 at that time) 1st Allysa Seely

USAClassification

Men’s class
PTWC
PTS4

(including PTS2 and PTS3)

PTVI

Eligible athletes

PTWC

Athletes with a physical impairment
and who use a wheelchair.

PTS2
PTS5

Athletes with a physical impairment
but who compete standing.
PTS2 (severe) ～ PTS5 (mild)

PTVI

Athletes with a visual impairment.

(including PTS3 and PTS4)

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

PTS5

Women’s class

About the Paralympic Games

Physically and visually impaired athletes are eligible for the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and classified according to thetype and degree of impairment. They compete for medals infour gender-specific classes.

Co l u m n

Pay attention to the teamwork to assist the athlete!

Let's keep a record!

Athletes are unable to complete the race on theirown due to their physical or visual impairment. While
the triathlon is an individual competition, watch out
for the teamwork with the staff members who are
there to assist the athletes. A visually impaired athlete
races with a guide who acts as their eyes. An athlete
competing in a wheelchair requires a personal handler
who assists them whenusing a handcycle or a
racing wheelchair. Artisan
skills are also essential ini m p ro v i n g we t su i t s a n d
assistance devices such as
prosthetic legs to ensure
their ease of wearing and ▲ Support from a handler is also a feature of the sport.
removal.
©Satoshi TAKASAKI/JTU
TriviaDuring the running segment, the guidemust not be more than 0.5m ahead of theathlete. Failure to comply is a rule violation.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 11● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Women (PT2 at that time) 6th Yukako Hata②

37

Wheelchair Basketball
車いすバスケットボール
In wheelchair basketball,athletes with lower limb or other
impairments play the ball by skilfully
operating a wheelchair designed forcompetition use. The spor t features
aggressive offence and defence by wheelchairathletes, including speedy chair moves and quick passes.
Japan Wheelchair Basketball Federation

https://www.jwbf.gr.jp/

Rules

Almost the same rules as for Olympic basketball

Each team consists of a maximum of 12 players with
5 players on court. The game is played in 4 quarters of
10 minutes each. The winner is determined based on
the total score across the 4 quarters. The size of thecourt, height of the basket and ball size are the sameas in regular basketball. Players compete in wheelchairs
exclusive to basketball that enable them to move quickly
and turn around easily. Certain rules have been adapted
according to the characteristics of the wheelchair; forexample, a travelling violation is imposed if a player takes
more than two pushes while in possession of the ball.

▲ Wheelchair designed forwheelchair basketball
©X-1
©X-1

②

38

● Winners at the Rio 2016 Games

Men

st

1

USA

Classification

Eligible athletes

4.5 points(mild)

Athletes who have a minor spinal cord injury, below-knee amputation in one
leg, etc. and who have trunk balance with the ability to move stably in all
directions.

3.0 points

Athletes who have a spinal cord injury, above-knee amputation in both legs,
etc. and who have good trunk movement forwards and are able to raise
their upper body without using their hands. However, they have no control
over sideways movement.

1.0 points(severe)Athletes with a severe spinal cord injury, etc. and who have little or nocontrol of the trunk due to no abdominal and back muscle function.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with an impairment mainly in the lower limbs are eligible
for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. In order to ensure faircompetitive opportunities for athletes with different degrees of
impairment, they are divided into 8 classes based on steps of 0.5
points awarded to the athlete.
With 5 players on court, their total number of points must notexceed 14.

Co l u m n

The biggest attraction is the line-up of 5 players.

Let's keep a record!

Wheelchair basketball players who have 3 or more points
are called“high-pointers”, while those who have 2.5 points
or fewer are called“low-pointers”. An important part of thegame is the use of a careful strategy to select 5 players
for a team to ensure their total number of points does notexceed 14. There have been recent rises in male players
from Great Britain and the USA and female players from theNetherlands.
The Japanese male team have competed in 11
consecutive Paralympic Games
since the Toronto 1976 Gamesand the female team have wonbronze medals at the past two
Games, so both the male andfemale teams are expected tobe successful at the Tokyo 2020
▲ Player Hiroaki Kozai ©X-1
Games.
TriviaPlayers are unable to stand up fromthe wheelchair during the game but
instead raise the wheel on one side of
the chair to gain height.

ere
Whe ?

① ー 11his tvenue● Japan’s results at the Rio 2016 Games

Men

9th

②

39

Wheelchair Fencing
車いすフェンシング
Paralympic fencing requires mental
toughness and concentration. Fencers
cannot move back and forth using
their feet so they always stay close
to their opponent, meaning theyneed to be focused at all times
during the game.
The thrilling battle that begins immediately is so tense thatyou won’t even have time to breathe. You’ll be impressedby the focus on display from the fencers. Sword-handlingtechniques and speed are the keys to victory.
Japan Wheelchair Fencing Association

https://jwfa.jimdo.com/

Rules

The basic rules are the same as for Olympic fencing

Contestants wearing a uniform and mask fight in a wheelchair
fixed to a device called a “piste” and hit their opponent witha metal sword to score points. A characteristic of the sport isfighting using only the upper body. Individual games consist of
three sets of three minutes and the winner is determined bypoints. For both the men’s and women’s games, the valid target
area in foil is the torso only, whereas the entire body above thewaist is a valid target area in
Sword
Uniform
Glove
the epee. The sabre featuresthrusting and cutting the Body cord
Piste
entire body above the waist. (electrical circuit)
In the foil and sabre, no1.4m
points are awarded unless
110 degrees
fencers have the right of
4mway.

▲ Foil: the valid target isthe torso only.
(chest, stomach, back)②

40▲ Sabre: the valid target isthe entire body above thewaist, excluding the hands.

▲ Epee: the valid target isthe entire body above
the waist.

● A major winner at the 2016 Rio Games Women’s foil (category B) 1st Beatrice Vio

Italy

Classification

Category

Eligible athletesA

Athletes who have a lower limb deficit or paraplegia and who havean unaffected fencing arm. They are able to control their upper
body using their abdominal muscles.

B

Athletes who have an upper body impairment or an affected fencing
arm, including incomplete tetraplegia. They are unable to control
their upper body due to a lack of function in the abdominal muscles.

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with a lower limb impairment are eligible for the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. A total of eight events are
held, including gender-specific individual and team games ineach category.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Co l u m nTechniques and agility to catch the opponent oﬀ guard!

Let's keep a record!

Fencers need accurate sword-handling techniques
as they are unable to employ tactics by moving backand forth using their feet as in Olympic fencing. They
showcase outstanding technique and agility to catch theiropponent off guard while constantly hitting each other atclose quarters.
It’s an intense competition and the wheelchairs cansometimes tilt with the piste. The sport is practised mainlyin European countries but
is expanding to the USA
and Asia. The Japanese
team are also working tostrengthen contestants
f o r t h e To k y o 2 0 2 0Games by giving themmore oppor tunities to ▲ A more intense competition than regular fencing
Courtesy of the Japan Wheelchair Fencing Associationcompete overseas.
TriviaIn epee events, athletes cover the
lower half of their body with a metal
apron to ensure hits to off-target areas
are not registered.

ere
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is tvenue① ー 10● Major Japanese achievements at the Kyoto World Cup (Dec 2018)
Women’s foil (category B)

3rd Anri Sakurai②

41Wheelchair Rugby
車いすラグビー
Wheelchair rugby is the only
event at the Paralympic Games
where tackling using a wheelchair ispermitted. The highlight of the sport
is the powerful progress in the game,where you’ll see wheelchairs falling over fromthe force of a tackle.
Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation

https://jwrf.jp/

Rules

Different from regular rugby rules
Each team consists of up to 12 players, 4 of which are on
court and can be replaced by players on the bench an unlimited
number of times. Matches consist of 4 quarters of 8 minutes
and teams compete for the total score across the 4 quarters.
The court is the same size as a basketball court and players
pass a dedicated round ball or carry it in their lap. In order toscore a goal, the player in possession of the ball must cross thegoal line with the wheels of his wheelchair.
Main rule ③
Score a goal within
40 seconds.

Main rule ①
Advance the ballover the centre line
within 12 seconds

Goalpost

Key area

8m
15m

Goal line▼ Rugby wheelchair(offensive)

Penalty box

Main rule ②
T h e b a l l ca n n o t
1.75m be returned to theback court.

©X-1
28m

Rugby wheelchair (defensive) ▶

②42● Winners at the Rio 2016 Games

1st

Australia©X-1

Classification

Eligible athletes

3.5 points(mild)

Athletes who have a mild impairment in limbs and are able to dribble
using one hand, in addition to trunk function to play the ball by twisting
the waist.

2.0 points

Athletes who have a medium level of impairment in limbs and who areable to stop, start and turn the wheelchair using their arm strength.
They are also able to gently pass and catch the ball.

0.5 points(severe)Athletes who have a relatively high level of impairment in limbs and haveno trunk function. They use their forearms to operate the wheelchairdue to an inability to use their hands. Athletes with weak arm strength
and who have difficulty catching and passing the ball.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Class

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with impairment in limbs are eligible for the Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Games. They are divided into 7 classes according
to the degree of impairment, with the division made in steps of
0.5. The players on court can have a maximum total of 8 points.
However, 0.5 points are added for each female player on court,
which means the total points may exceed 8.

Co l u m n

Pay attention to the careful strategy of each team!

Let's keep a record!

Wheelchair tackles are definitely a highlight of the sport
as this is the only wheelchair sport in which such tackles are
permitted by the rules. Nevertheless, it is a careful strategy
that you should pay attention to. Athletes work as a team tocross the goal line by aggressively tackling their opponents
to block their attack as well as interrupting the path of an
approaching opponent player by using their wheelchairs tocreate a path for the high pointer.
Speedy ball movements and time
management are also impor tantparts of the game. The Japaneseteam, who won the gold medal at
the World Championships 2018, areexpected to go high at the Tokyo▲ Player Daisuke Ikezaki ©X-1
2020 Games.
TriviaWheelchair rugby uses a special ballthat is based on a volleyball but with aless slippery surface.

ere
Whe ?

h
is tvenue①ー8● Japan’s results at the Rio 2016 Games

3rd

②

43

Wheelchair Tennis
車いすテニスPlayers use various techniques

to accurately strike and return theball to the opponent’s court to scorepoints. Watch the agility of their chairwork (wheelchair control techniques) as
well as the speedy and intensive rallies.
Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association

http://jwta.jp/

Rules
The basic rules are almost the same as for regular tennis.
Matches are played as the best of three sets. In regulartennis, players must return the ball before it bounces
twice, whereas in wheelchair tennis the ball may bounce
up to two times.
As long as the first bounce falls within the court, thesecond bounce may occur outside the court. Players may
return the ball from either inside or outside the court.
he second bounce is
2バウンド目はvalid even outside the
コートの外側でも有効
court.
23.77m

Doubles
ダブルス
サイドラインSide
line

Singles
シングルス
サイドラインSide line

Centreservice line
センターサービスライン
Netト
ネッSingles
シングルス
8.23m
Doublesダブルス
10.97m②

44

Base line
ベースライン

Serviceline
サービスライン● A major winner at the Rio 2016 Games Women Singles 1st Jiske Griffioene

Netherlands

Classification

Class

Eligible athletes

About the Paralympic Games

Athletes with lower limb impairments are eligible for the
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. There are three classes:
men’s, women’s and quads (mixed gender) with both lower
and upper limb impairments. Each class features singles anddoubles tournaments.
Event

Quad

Athletes who compete in a wheelchair due toimpairment in both upper and lower limbs such as Mixed singles
paralysis. To strengthen their grip, players may tape Mixed doubles
the racket to their hand to fix them together.

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Men /
Women

Athletes who compete in a wheelchair due to lower Singles
limb impairment such as a spinal cord injury and lower
Doubleslimb amputation.

Co l u m n

A fusion of clever play and techniques!

Let's keep a record!

The biggest attraction in wheelchair tennis is thevarious strokes that the players can deliver while
skilfully using their wheelchairs. You’ll be amazed at
how quickly they can move to where their opponent’sball will land as well as their control and powerfulsmash of the ball that accurately follows the intended
course. Many players compete
in an electric wheelchair due tocervical cord injuries.
The Japanese team havesuccessively won individual
singles titles at previous
Paralympic Games, and a stronger
line-up of players is expected
to deliver better results at the ▲ Player Takashi Sanada©Atsushi Sayama
Tokyo 2020 Games.
TriviaPlayers who are not capable ofregular overhand service may serve byhitting the ball after bouncing it on the
ground.

ere
Whe ?

h
is tvenue① ー 11● Major Japanese achievements at the Rio 2016 Games Women’s singles 3rd Yui Kamiji

②

45

①パ
About the Paralympic Games

3

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Let’s keep arecord!

Let's keep a record!

1

③

■

Match record ■Year

Competition name

Month

Day

（

）

Sport

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Year
Competition name

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

Month

Day

（

Sport

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

③2Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

）

■Match record ■
Day

（

）

Sport

About the Paralympic Games

Competition name

Month

①パ

Year

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Competition name

Month

Day

（

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Year

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

）

Sport
Let's keep a record!

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

③

3

■

Match record ■Year

Competition name

Month

Day

（

）

Sport

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Year
Competition name

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

Month

Day

（

Sport

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

③4Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

）

■Match record ■
Day

（

）

Sport

About the Paralympic Games

Competition name

Month

①パ

Year

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Competition name

Month

Day

（

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Year

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

）

Sport
Let's keep a record!

Venue

Make a note of what you noticed
while watching the game ♪

Gather information on the athletes
you’re interested in ♪

③

5

■

Event record ■
Year

Month

Day

（

）

Event

Venue

Descriptions

Make a note of what you’re interested
in and the athletes you have met ♪

Year

Month

Day

（

）

Event

Venue

Descriptions③

6

Make a note of what you’re interested
in and the athletes you have met ♪

■

Event record ■
Month

Day

（

）

①パ

Year

About the Paralympic Games

Event

Venue

Descriptions

Make a note of what you’re interested
in and the athletes you have met ♪

Month

Day

（

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Year

）

Event
Let's keep a record!

Venue

Descriptions

Make a note of what you’re interested
in and the athletes you have met ♪

③

7

■

Athlete record ■NamePhoto/Illustration

Sport

Class

Date of birthCountry

Year

Month

Day

Highlights

Q&A Ask questions and do research about the athlete ♪
Q1
A1
Q2
A2
Q3
A3
Get an autograph from the athlete!!

③

8

■

Athlete record ■Photo/Illustration

Class

Date of birthCountry

Year

Month

About the Paralympic Games

Sport

①パ

Name

Day

Highlights

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Q&A Ask questions and do research about the athlete ♪
Q1
A1
Q2
A2
Q3

Let's keep a record!

A3
Get an autograph from the athlete!!

③

9

■

Athlete record ■NamePhoto/Illustration

Sport

Class

Date of birthCountry

Year

Month

Day

Highlights

Q&A Ask questions and do research about the athlete ♪
Q1
A1
Q2
A2
Q3
A3
Get an autograph from the athlete!!

③

10

■

Athlete record ■Photo/Illustration

Class

Date of birthCountry

Year

Month

About the Paralympic Games

Sport

①パ

Name

Day

Highlights

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Q&A Ask questions and do research about the athlete ♪
Q1
A1
Q2
A2
Q3

Let's keep a record!

A3
Get an autograph from the athlete!!

③

11

■

③

12

Notes ■

Notes ■■①パ
About the Paralympic Games

Things to know about Paralympic sports!

Let's keep a record!

13

③

■

③

14

Notes ■

1st edition published in April 2019
2nd edition published in November 2019English edition published in January 2020
Editing &Publication

Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation
Coordination Section, Paralympic Games Department
2-8-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-8001
TEL: 03 5388 2496

Cooperation The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Japanese Para-Sports Association Japanese Paralympic Committee

Registration Number (31) No.208

For further information on the Games and sports
Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation
https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/

The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Gameshttps://tokyo2020.org/jp/

Japanese Para-Sports Association Japanese Paralympic Committee
https://www.jsad.or.jp/paralympic/

Recycling-compliancy A
This printed matter can be recycled
into printing paper.