While several countries withdrew from the 1976 Paralympic Games due to the participation of South Africa, amputees and visually impaired athletes were included in the programme for the first time ever. A total of 261 amputees and 187 visually impaired athletes took part in the Games.
Organising the sport classifications became more complicated, and it was becoming clear than an international body was needed to oversee and organise a multi-disability Paralympic Games.