Fifteen sports on the Paralympic program are shared with the Olympic Games: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Cycling, Equestrian, Wheelchair Fencing, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Judo, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Wheelchair Tennis, Volleyball.   

The four “unique” sports that are played at the Paralympic Games are: Boccia, Goalball, Power lifting and Wheelchair Rugby.

World records are comparable with those of Olympic athletes. Canadian athlete Donovan Bailey’s Olympic record in the men’s 100 metres is 9.84 seconds; The Paralympic record of Ajibola Adoye, a Nigerian arm amputee, in the same event is 10.72 seconds.

In four of the Power lifting weight categories Paralympic world records exceed able-bodied world records by up to 12 kilograms.

Whereas some sports are open to all or most disability groups, in other sports athletes from only one disability group can participate. In Judo, for instance, compete only athletes with visual impairment.