To compete in events for athletes with an intellectual impairment, eligibility criteria must be met to ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the sporting competition.
Sport Inclusion Australia is the national organisation responsible for processing eligibility applications for athletes with an intellectual impairment.
Eligibility Application
Submit an application for assessment at least 3 months prior to your competition.
For athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete in events, eligibility criteria first must be met. The eligibility criteria is different depending on the athlete’s age, impairment and competition level.
There are eligibility requirements for multiclass school sport, and for some national and international sport pathways where eligibility or classification is part of the entry criteria. Eligibility is not necessary to compete in clubs or at a social level.
The eligibility process is managed globally by Virtus – the International Federation of Sport for Athletes with an Intellectual Impairment, and nationally in Australia by Sport Inclusion Australia.
Eligibility defines the minimum criteria an athlete must meet to compete as an athlete with an intellectual impairment. These criteria are based on internationally recognised guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD).
The Virtus eligibility categories for intellectual impairment (II), are grouped as II-1, II-2 & II-3. It ensures fairness, integrity, and consistency in competition by confirming that athletes meet recognised international standards.
Types of Eligibility
School Sport
For students competing up to National Level within the school or National Sporting Organisation pathway.
National Sport
For athletes competing up to National level within the school or National Sporting Organisation pathway.
International Sport
For Virtus events such as Global Games, Virtus World Championships and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) events.
Eligibility Groups
Three Eligibility Groups
There are three eligibility groups for athletes with an intellectual impairment – grouped as II-1, II-2, and II-3.
Intellectual Disability with significant additional impairment
The II-2 eligibility is for athletes with both an intellectual disability and a recognised additional condition(s) (e.g. Down syndrome). Conditions that qualify:
Athletes with Down syndrome who have:
A formal diagnosis of Trisomy 21 or Translocation Down syndrome
For safety, athletes must not have symptomatic Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI)
Genetic testing showing a formal diagnosis and type of Down syndrome (Tri21) or statement from Physician (blood test).
AAI status signed by Physician (See Athlete Application Page 3) and copy of AAI exam results if available.
Satisfactory completion of FAST screening for athletes with an intellectual disability. Please note FAST screening is just an initial screening. Athletes must also provide medical evidence of additional impairment(s) as well as history of performances in their chosen sport.
A formal diagnosis of Autism, ASD or Asperger’s syndrome, carried out by a qualified professional, using accepted diagnostic techniques such as ADOS, ASRS, ADR, CARS, GARS AAA, DISCO, RIMLAND
In some cases where the above tools have not been used, but specific comprehensive evidence has been gathered by a multi-disciplinary team and mapped against either the CID 11 or DSM 5 frameworks, this may be acceptable at the discretion of the eligibility panel.
We’re here to guide you through each step of your eligibility application – whether you’re applying for multi-class school sport, national, or international competitions. To ensure a seamless application and review process please ensure that you’ve submitted the required documentation in the correct formats.
Step 1
Identify your Eligibility Group
Determine if you are within II-1, II-2 or II-3.
Review the eligibility requirements for your eligibility group.
Download the application form under your eligibility group
Step 2
Gather Required Documents
A full psychological report (IQ and adaptive behaviour)
Documented evidence that the disability was before age 22
If you don’t have these reports you may need to contact School counsellors or Psychologists.
Step 3
Submit Application
Complete the application form and ensure it includes:
Page 3 is signed by psychologist or guidance officer
Submit your application at least 3 months prior to competition.
Step 4
National Review
We will review your application to ensure you have supplied sufficient evidence.
We may contact you if additional information is required.
Your completed application and evidence will then be assessed by the National Eligibility Officer.
Step 5
International Submission (if requested)
If you’re seeking international eligibility, download and complete the international application form for your eligibility group.
Follow the same process as above, once your application has been reviewed by our office will forward your application to Virtus.
This may take some time to be reviewed by an international panel.
Step 6
Confirmation & Next Steps
If approved:
Pay the registration fee for your Athlete Registration Card
You’ll be added to our Athlete Masterlist
In some cases your details will be shared with the relevant sport.
Keep your card for eligibility checks and start exploring sporting pathways that match your goals.
Athlete License
Do you need to renew your Athlete Registration?
Eligible athletes must have a valid Athlete registration card to compete. This ensures that eligibility is maintained for competitions and agreement to comply with sport requirements and regulations.
Athlete registration cards will show an expiry date.
Sport Inclusion Australia maintains lists of all eligible athletes. These lists are reviewed by sport to verify athletes’ eligibility to compete in sporting events. Athlete master lists are available below:
We know eligibility can feel complex, so here are some common questions we hear from athletes, families, schools, and coaches. Still unsure? Reach out to our team.
Who can apply for athlete Eligibility?
Any athlete with an intellectual impairment can apply, applications differ depending on whether the athlete is:
Still at school
Competing at state or national level (no longer at school)
Looking to compete internationally
Virtus is the global governing body that oversees eligibility for international events, while Sport Inclusion Australia handles national-level processing and submits international applications to Virtus for endorsement.
What’s the difference between School, National and International eligibility?
School Sport eligibility is intended for students still in school participating in local or school-based competitions up to National level
National eligibility is for athletes 18 years and above allows competition at state and national levels—International (Virtus) eligibility is for athletes who wish to participate internationally. It is a requirement for entry into Virtus World/Regional Championships, the Virtus Global Games, and is a prerequisite for Paralympic sports classification
If I compete in Australia and internationally, do I have to complete multiple eligibility forms?
Maybe, most athletes will register using the School or National eligibility forms and may go on to represent Australia internationally, in which case they will submit at least 2 forms along their journey.
However, if you are confident of selection to compete internationally then you can start with the Virtus International form this will also provide National level eligibility.
For II-1 athletes, if you are thinking about international eligibility and your testing was done within the last 5 years then it is worth considering applying before your tests fall outside the 5 year requirement.
What documents do I need to apply?
Please see the ‘What Is Eligibility’ section of this page and the ‘documents required’ under each eligibility group which outlines what documentation you require for II-1, II-2 and II-3 groups.
What is a ‘FAST’ Assessment?
The ‘Functional Assessment Screening Tool’ (FAST) has been developed by Virtus and is derived from the taxonomy of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF), a classification of health and health-related domains.
It provides an assessment of the impact of additional functional impairment on sports performance which must be backed by medical evidence.
The FAST assessment process will normally be delivered by the a suitably qualified person (somebody who has been trained and appointed by Sport Inclusion Australia and is a professional within the health area and familiar with completing screening tools).
Are the fees for eligibility?
Yes, there are fees to apply for athlete eligibility, these fees vary depending on which application you have lodged and then there is a small ongoing renewal fee.
How long does the eligibility process take?
The eligibility processing time will vary depending on which group you are applying for. It may also vary if sufficient information is not supplied. While some applications can be processed within a week most take much more. If you have an event coming up we encourage you to get the process started as soon as possible.
Can I compete without eligibility?
In most sports the answer is yes, you can compete in the sport at the appropriate level, but you cannot compete in the multi class/para events as an athlete with a disability. To do this Eligibility is mandatory.
How is my information stored and handled when my application is submitted?
Your information is only used for the purpose of registering athlete details into our database to determine eligibility to compete as an athlete with an intellectual impairment or for conducting related procedures such as protests, appeals and research. We may share information with relevant partners for these purposes.
Who can I contact for questions about the application process?
If you have any questions or need help completing the form, contact Sport Inclusion Australia on 03 5762 7494 or email mail@siasport.org.
Is there any additional information and reading I can do to learn more about eligibility and intellectual impairment?
We have listed some additional sources that may help your understanding:
Autism Speaks – autismspeaks.org
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – aaidd.org
International Associate on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities – iassidd.org
Virtus Eligibility Policy – virtus.sport
IPC Classification Code – paralympic.org
World Health Organisation – who.int
Global Down Syndrome Foundation – globaldownsyndrome.org
Interactive Autism Network – iancommunity.org
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