What is Para Athletics?

Para Athletics, also known as Track and Field, is the largest competition at the Paralympic Games. In Track and Field, athletes from all disability categories are represented. Events are available for physical disabilities by classification in wheelchair, standing, and athletes with visual impairments. Contested events are held in racing, throwing, and jumping by classification.

The rules of Paralympic Track and Field are almost identical to those of its Olympic counterparts. Allowances are made to accommodate certain disabilities.

Classification

Classes 11, 12 and 13 covers athletes with different levels of visual impairment.

Class 20 covers athletes with an intellectually disability.

Classes 32-38 covers athletes with different levels of cerebral palsy – both wheelchair (32-34) and ambulant (35-38).

Classes 40-47 covers ambulant athletes with different levels of amputations and other disabilities, including les Autres (i.e. Dwarfism).

Classes 51-57 covers wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations.

Competition Events

Track events: Sprint (100m, 200m, 400m), Middle Distance (800m, 1500m), Long Distance (5 000m, 10 000m), and Relay races (4x100m, 4x400m)

Road event: Marathon

Jumping events: High Jump, Long Jump, and Triple Jump

Throwing events: Discus, Shot Put, Club Throw and Javelin

Combined events: Pentathlon (track and road events, jumping events, and throwing events, depending on the athletes' classification)

Length of Season

Athletics takes part year-round, with both indoor and outdoor seasons.

Equipment

Many athletics require specific sports equipment for their events such as the discus, shot or javelin. In addition, athletes may use certain assistive devices as specified in the IPC Athletics rules. This technology continues to advance at a rapid rate.

Wheelchairs and Throw Chairs are considered to be sports equipment in Track and Field events. Athletic wheelchairs tend to be very lightweight. The dimensions and features of wheelchairs and throw chairs are clearly specified in the IPC Athletics rules. Prosthetic devices may be used by amputees. These have been specifically developed to withstand the demands of sports competition. IPC rules require the use of leg prostheses in track events; however, the use of prostheses in field events is optional. Rope tethers or other devices may be used by runners with a visual impairment to link with their sighted guides. Acoustic devices (or a sighted "caller") may be used to indicate take-off in jumping events, throwing target areas, etc.

Dates

Weekly practices are held at the following times:

Indoor Training: October to March

Para Throws: Variety Village (3701 Danforth Avenue, Scarborough ON, M1N 2G2), Sundays from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Wheelchair Racing: Iceland Arena (705 Matheson Blvd E, Mississauga ON, L4Z 3X9), Saturdays from 10:30am - 12:00pm

Outdoor Training: May to August

Para Throws: Flower City Community Campus, Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:30 - 6:30pm, Sundays from 9:00am - 12:00pm
Wheelchair Racing: Loyola Catholic Secondary School (4010 Sladeview Crescent, Mississauga ON, L5L 6B1), Tuesdays from 4:00 - 6:00pm, Saturdays from 10:30am - 12:00pm

View Calendar...

Meets

Cruisers host two outdoor Track and Field meets annually. There are many other regional meets throughout the season. If the athlete achieves qualification times and distances there are opportunities to participate in Provincial Championships, National Championships and Internationals Meets, which includes the World Championships and Paralympics.