Followers tuning into the Winter Paralympics could have noticed determine skating lacking from the programme at Milan-Cortina regardless of it being one of the crucial widespread sports activities on the Olympics.
There are simply six sports activities on the Video games: Para-Alpine snowboarding, Para-biathlon, Para-cross-country snowboarding, Para-ice hockey, wheelchair curling and Para-snowboard.
For skating to be included within the Winter Paralympics, the Worldwide Skating Union (ISU) must turn into recognised by the Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The IPC would additionally must approve a spread of situations affecting how the game is run – together with venues, prices and deciding classification classes for competing athletes.
However there are rising calls from skaters for the game to be included and the IPC says it’s eager to broaden the Paralympic programme.
No new sports activities have been added since Para-snowboard in 2014.
Talking earlier than Milan-Cortina, IPC chief Andrew Parsons stated: “Now we have not reached the restrict as per our settlement with the IOC (Worldwide Olympic Committee) by way of the variety of athletes in sports activities. However it isn’t solely concerning the restrict, it’s about clearly the standard of the game at a world stage.”
“For instance, we do not have skating sports activities, we do not have quick course, we do not have determine skating, as a result of these sports activities will not be on a world stage,” he added.
