Male competitors will compete in 80 medal events with 71 for women only as well a 4x50 metres relay for mixed teams which is one of the new additions to the programme, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced.

Other new events include additional disciplines for athletes with the highest levels of physical disability in the S1-S4 categories.

A men's and women's 200m individual medley race for swimmers with an intellectual S14 impairment have also been added after the category was successfully pioneered at London 2012.

 IPC Swimming came up with the programme after analysing the numbers of athletes, regions and countries participating in each event.

The identical schedule of events will also take place at the 2015 World Championships to be held in Glasgow, which will be held in the same pool as that to be used next summer for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the city.

Jessica-Jane Applegate of Great Britain celebrates with second placed Taylor Corry of Australia after winning the 200m freestyle gold medal in the new S14 category at London 2012


Jane Blaine, chairperson of the IPC Swimming Sport Technical Committee, explained the process by which the events were chosen.

"This is the earliest we have ever announced our swimming programmes for both a World Championships and a Paralympic Games and it is also the first time they are identical," she said.

"Our aim by doing so is to give athletes, coach and National Paralympic Committees greater preparation and training time.

"Developing both programmes was based on similar principles to London 2012 and involved further input from a working group of National Paralympic Committee representatives and the Sport Technical Committee.

"We are delighted to add more events for women and athletes with high support needs.

"The Glasgow and Rio programmes provide a greater balance of events for class and gender than any previous competition."

Full a full list of the events, click here