{{Short description|Helper who guides a blind sportsperson}} A '''sighted guide''' is a person who guides a person with blindness or vision impairment.
==Sports== ===Paralympic Games=== [[Image:Pascal Schoots Jan Mulder I.jpg|thumb|250px|Pilot Pascal Schoots (L) and Jan Mulder (R) won silver medals in cycling at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens]] At the Paralympic Games there are various classifications of athletes with a visual impairment.
Rules are according to the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The sighted guides are such a close and essential part of the competition, that the athlete with a visual impairment and the guide are considered a team, and both athletes are medal candidates.<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/sports/article/779425--visually-impaired-skiers-put-fate-in-guide-s-hands Visually impaired skiers put fate in guide's hands], thestar.com, March 13, 2010</ref>
====Winter==== At the Winter Paralympics there are three classifications of athletes with a visual impairment: *B1 (no useful vision) *B2 (minimal useful vision) *B3 (some useful vision).<ref>[http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=456809.html A look at the Paralympic Games], Universal Sports, March 9, 2010</ref> A sighted guide is required for B1 and B2, and optional for B3.
'''Nordic skiing:'''<br> The guide can lead, follow, or ski next to the athlete with a visual impairment. The guide assists with voice instruction only. No physical contact allowed.
'''Alpine skiing:'''<br> The start must have an adequate space for the guide.<ref>[http://www.ibsa.es/eng/deportes/alpineskiing/reglamento.htm IBSA Alpine Skiing rules 2005-2009], International Blind Sports Association (IBSA)</ref><ref>[https://www.thestar.com/sports/article/779425--visually-impaired-skiers-put-fate-in-guide-s-hands Visually impaired skiers put fate in guide's hands], Toronto Star, March 13, 2010</ref> *Combined *Downhill *Giant slalom *Slalom *Super-G
====Summer==== thumb|Timothée Adolphe and his sighted guide Cédric Felip '''Athletics:'''<br>In athletics the sighted guides can win a medal.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120317184215/http://www.insideworldparasport.biz/insideparasport/9218-guides-to-be-awarded-paralympic-gold-medals Exclusive: Guides to be awarded Paralympic medals at London 2012], insideworldparasport.biz, February 12, 2011</ref>
'''Cycling:''' Pilot<br> '''Equestrian:'''<br> '''Football 5-a-side:'''<br> '''Triathlon:'''
==See also== *Guide dog *White cane
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=36&TopicID=163&DocumentID=2104 Being a Sighted Guide], American Foundation for the Blind *[http://brailleinstitute.org/docs/SightedGuideTechniques.pdf Sighted Guide Techniques], Braille Institute of America *[https://www.teamusa.com/videos?fr_story=1aae68a388d43381d126b7b72c9bbb7975a43db2&rf=bm Video: Guide Running] at United States Olympic Committee
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sighted Guide}} Category:Blindness Category:Paralympic sighted guides Category:Guides