Paraclimbing is Sport Climbing for athletes with disabilities. Athletes are placed into categories based on their disability, to allow those with a disability of a similar nature to compete within the same category.
The IFSC has been hosting Paraclimbing competitions since 2006, when the first international event saw athletes from four National Federations compete in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The movement has grown in recent years, with a regular circuit being added to the IFSC calendar from 2010 and IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships taking place from July 2011. It has become tradition that the IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships run alongside the IFSC Climbing World Championships, promoting athletes with a disability on the same stage as other athletes. Proud of the rapid growth of the Paraclimbing community, with a record 158 athletes registered for the 2019 World Championship in Briançon and of the increasing standard of competitions, the IFSC remains dedicated to developing and strengthening the competitions and support available to athletes.
In 2017, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) granted the IFSC the status of “Recognised International Federation”.
In October 2018, a strategic plan was elaborated for developing the sport further. The plan was unanimously approved at the 2019 IFSC Plenary Assembly in Tokyo, Japan, officially declaring the start of a new era for Paraclimbing and its vibrant, committed and enthusiastic community.