B1 (classification)
There are exceptions for sports like athletics and cycling, where classification is handled by their own governing bodies.
[1] The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) defines this classification as visual acuity poorer than LogMAR 2.60.
"[4] Para-alpine skiing specific versions of this definition include one by the Australian Paralympic Committee which defined this classification as this classification in alpine skiing as "Athletes totally blind or who have some light perception but can't see even the shape of a hand at any distance from their face.
[8][9] The para-equestrian classification definition is different from the IBSA one, with BBC Sport defining Grade 3 as, "Grade 3 incorporates Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres, Amputee, Spinal Cord Injury and totally blind athletes with good balance, leg movement and co-ordination.
[12][13] IBSA handles classification for a number of sports internationally including five-a-side football, goalball and judo.
[11] Assessment into this class by the IBSA involves the athlete filling out a consent form, submitting a photograph, and scheduling an appointment with a classifier for evaluation.
Classification was developed by the IBSA to insure more even competition across the different bands of visual acuity.
[22] In 1976, the International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD) developed a blind classification system.
[11][22][23] The IBSA classification system has largely remained unchanged since it was put in place,[23] even as the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) attempted to move towards a more functional disability and evidence based system that does not rely on medical-based classification.
[24][25] In 2003, the IPC made an attempt to address "the overall objective to support and co-ordinate the ongoing development of accurate, reliable, consistent and credible sport focused classification systems and their implementation.
This classification was part of the overall blind class group, and was still medically-based despite changes in other disability types.
IBSA was not prepared at the time to move towards a more functional classification system similar to that utilized other disability groups and sports.
[16] In some cases, non-Paralympic, non-IBSA affiliated sports have developed their own classification systems.
[4] In 1990, the Equestrian Federation of Australia did not have specific classifications for competitors with disabilities, including those with visual impairments.
These included allowing blind riders, when they reached a marker, being given an auditory signal to inform them of this.
The guide tells the skier things like when weight should be shifted, elements coming up on the course, and how to position themselves to maximize the diagonal run of the course.
[1][40] In judo, all three blind sport classes compete against each other with competitors classified by weight for the purposes of competition.
[45] Normal swimming rules are modified to allow the swimmer to be closer to the lane line when executing a turn.
[35][36] On the Paralympic level, a number of disability sports are not open to this classification or other visually impaired competitors including archery, fencing, powerlifting, shooting and table tennis.
