Background

Track and field athletics combines sprinting, distance running, throwing and jumping events all under one roof making it one of the most exciting sporting events to watch at the BT Paralympic World Cup. The Athletics will take place on Tuesday 22 May at the Manchester Regional Arena. There are different events to watch on the day and athletes compete according to their functional classification in each event.

History

The sport of athletics has a long history dating back to the times of the ancient Greeks. For athletes with a disability, the first organised competitions began in 1952 when Wheelchair Racing was included at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England within the framework of the Games organised for World War II veterans. Athletics has been part of the Paralympic Games since the very beginning in 1960. Over the following twenty years, additional groups of athletes with a disability were able to join the Paralympic competition.

BT Paralympic World Cup

For 2012 the BT Paralympic World Cup will include the following athletics events:

Track Events: 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m

Field Events: Shotput, Javelin and Discuss

Downloadable Education Pack

The 2012 Athletics Education Pack contains a variety of classroom and outdoor activites to help children become involved in Athletics.

Click here to download the 2012 Athletics Education Pack