Track and Field

Track and Field, by Betty Bernardo

Athletics began to be part of the Paralympic games in 1960 in Italy in Rome.

The athletics events take place in eighteen disciplines: The athletes must run 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m, 1500 m, 5 000 m, 10 000 m, relay 4 × 100 m, relay 4 × 400 m Athletes must jump in different ways: height, length, triple jump The athletes must throw weight, disc, javelin and club athletes must run 42,195 km
 * ·        Race events: 
 * ·        jumping events: 
 * ·        throwing events:
 * ·        the marathon

In each discipline, there are several events since the athletes compete grouped into categories of handicap.

Depending on their disability, athletes are categorized by a letter and two numbers:
 * ·        The letter T is for runners and the letter F for throws and jumps (Field).


 * ·        Numbers are based on disability. The first is for handicap, the second for gravity. The lower it is, the more serious the handicap.

The disability of the athletes can be :

they must participate with a headband or black glasses they must have an IQ of less than 70
 * ·        Blind or partially sighted,
 * ·        Mentally or motor impaired,
 * ·        Cerebral palsy

they must participate standing and if it wishes with a
 * ·        Amputees or small,

prosthesis They must participate in a wheelchair
 * ·        Reach the spinal cord 

The rules of Paralympic Track and Field are almost identical to those of its counterpart.

Athletes can be female or male.

For the track, blind athletes or visually impaired have the right to be accompanied by a guiding runner, they are tied by the wrist.