Two documents - International Sambo Rules for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Classification Rules of Sambo for the Blind and Visually Impaired - have now been published as a result.

"This is a turning point in the development of sambo for the blind - new horizons are now open for athletes with visual impairments," said Roman Novikov, a member of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities.

"The classification rules were developed based on the requirements of the International Paralympic Committee.

"Sambo classification rules for the blind and visually impaired have been developed within the framework of the project of the Sambo of the Blind Charitable Foundation 'Overcoming - International Development of Sambo for the Blind' by the project group and members of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities."

The classification system uses the characteristics of an athlete's visual impairment and their ability to maintain balance to determine what class they belong in. 

SVI1 athletes, among them those who are totally blind, will wear specialised helmets, while SVI2 athletes will include those with shaped vision who can distinguish objects at a distance.

The assessment is carried out without vision correction, but athletes with visual acuity of more than 10 per cent of normal eyesight will not be allowed to compete in blind sambo.

The rules can be viewed in full here, and classification rules here.