2012 Paralympic Games Qualification System released

The number of rowers with a physical disability is the same as Beijing, 12 men’s singles, 12 women’s singles, 12 mixed double sculls and 12 mixed coxed fours. The inclusion of the mixed coxed four boat class for the rowers with an intellectual disability (IDMix4+) is still pending final approval. If this event is approved, then there would be eight ID Mixed coxed fours as well.

The location of the 2011 Paralympic Qualification Regatta is still to be confirmed.

The top eight ranked boats in the men’s and women’s single and double sculls and the mixed coxed four (ASM1x, ASW1x, TAMix2x and LTAMix4+) will qualify for the 2012 Paralympic Games at the 2011 regatta. If the mixed coxed four for the intellectually disabled (IDMix4+) is included in the Paralympic regatta, the top five boats in this boat class will also qualify. This would be a total of 84 athletes.

Next on the timeline, by the end of April 2012, the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) must confirm in writing to the International Rowing Federation (FISA) which of the already qualified boats they will select for London.

The final Paralympic Qualification Regatta will take place from 4 to 6 May 2012 in Belgrade, Serbia. The top two boats from the men’s and women’s single and double sculls and the coxed four (ASM1x, ASW1x, TAMix2x and LTAMix4+) will qualify directly, and, if confirmed, the top three boats in the mixed ID coxed four (MIXID4+) would also qualify.

In addition, there are a limited number of places available which will be allocated by the Bipartite Commission following set criteria spelled out in the London 2012 Paralympic Games Qualification Guide. 

The allocation of athletes does not include coxswains as they are considered outside of the quota for rowers with a disability. The coxswains in the mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+) and the mixed ID coxed four (LTAIDMix4+), can be either male or female and there will be one coxswain per qualified coxed four.

To be eligible as an adaptive rower for selection by his or her country’s NPC, an athlete must have a FISA international classification. He or she must have competed in at least one official FISA competition between 1 January 2010 and 30 April 2012 and must also be internationally classified with either a ‘review’ or ‘confirmed’ sport class status.