Age at the Youth Parapan Am Games: 15-17 years; 18-20 years

The event is disputed by visually impaired athletes arranged into categories in accordance with body weight. Lasting five minutes, each contest takes place under the same rules used by the International Judo Federation, with slight modifications in regards to conventional judo. The main rule difference is that both competitors begin the contest with a grip on their opponent’s judo suit (judogi). Furthermore, the contest is interrupted whenever the competitors lose this contact. There is no punishment if an athlete strays outside of the designated competition area on the mat.

 

 

As well as weight classes, competitors are arranged into three different classes in accordance with their level of visual impairment. All begin with the letter B (for “blind”): B1, B2 and B3. In the Paralympic Games, athletes of different classes may compete against one another.