Sailing was an official part of the Summer Paralympic Games between 2000 and 2016, after being a demonstration sport in 1996. The International Association for Disabled Sailing was responsible for coordinating the event with the International Paralympic Committee and the hosts.

The Summer Paralympics, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, are an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years, organized by the International Paralympic Committee. Medals are awarded in every event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that the Olympic Games started in 1904.