At the Paralympic Games of this year in Rio, there was no classification for riders with a mental disability. The regulations of the FEI don't mention any classification like that. This while in other sports like swimming, table tennis and athletics, similar classifications do exist.
In swimming, table tennis and athletics, this type of athletes were only allowed again since this year. Spain once sent a non-disabled basketball team to the Paralympics, stating all the athletes had a learning disability, although this wasn't true. When the Paralympic committee discovered the fraude, all athletes with a mental disability were banned from the Paralympic Games, but that changed again this year...
Kemp and his mother want to give riders with a intellectual disability the chance to compete in 2020. "I don't do this just for my son, but for all riders in the same situation", his mother says. "Actually they discriminate a group of athletes right now and that should not be happening", she continues.
"My son is a very good rider, but because of his disability he will not get very far in the 'normal sport' and that's a shame. I know many riders with a learning disability are having the same problem".
The FEI promised to investigate the case. The wil examine the possibility of creating a new impairment category for riders with a learning disability by the next Paralympics Games".
