Is chess a Paralympic sport? Disability sport and para-chess competitions

No: as far as we know, chess is not on the Paralympic Games programme. It does exist, however, as a para-chess competition: IBCA Olympiads, the FIDE Online Olympiad for players with disabilities (2020), and events at the Para Asian Games in Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023.

Chess and the Paralympic Games

The sources consulted agree on one point: chess is not part of the Paralympic Games programme. A 2012 FIDE report did, however, mention a wish to explore this possibility, with no conclusion following. At world level, chess for blind people falls under the IBCA, while the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation) is cited by national bodies as the governing organisation for sport for visually impaired people. This information is revised with each edition; check the official Games programme before citing it.

The competitions that really exist

The 2018 Para Asian Games in Jakarta hosted chess for the first time, with six categories: classical and rapid games for totally blind players (B1), partially sighted players (B2/B3) and players with physical disabilities (PI), for men and women, with 86 participants. The 2023 Para Asian Games in Hangzhou (originally scheduled for 2022) also featured chess events, where Indian player Darpan Inani won two gold medals. According to the Philippine press, chess will not feature at the Nagoya Para Asian Games in October 2026.

International organisations

• IBCA: blind and partially sighted players.
• IPCA: players with a physical disability.
• ICCD: deaf players.
• FIDE: the international federation, which hosts these three bodies and has a dedicated commission.

In a statement, FIDE notes that these three associations were traditionally invited to the Chess Olympiad, and that it created a dedicated competition so that more players with disabilities could take part.

In France

The French Championship for blind and partially sighted chess players, held under the auspices of the Fédération française des échecs (FFE, French Chess Federation) and organised with the AEPA, took place in May 2026 in Saint-Jean-de-Braye. For other disabilities, contact the relevant federations. Most public tournaments are open to all; the key is to tell the organiser if you need a tactile chessboard or an adapted clock. The directory of chess clubs in France from Le Palais des Échecs helps you find a club near you.

Disability sport: avoid confusion

In France, « handisport » refers to sport for people with physical or sensory disabilities, while « sport adapté » concerns intellectual or psychological disability. Chess can be played in both settings, at clubs as well as in care institutions. See also the pages on motor disability and intellectual disability and autism.