Wheelchair racing

Wheelchair racing

Wheelchair racing is the racing of wheelchairs which is equivalent to the Olympics track, including all of the same events. Wheelchair racing is open to any type of disability, amputees, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and partially sighted (when combined with another disability). Athletes have classifications in which the severity of their disability or combinations of the athlete's disabilities. Like running, it can take place on a track or as a road race. The main competitions take place at the Summer Paralympics which wheelchair racing and athletics has been a part of since 1960. Competitors compete in specialized wheelchairs which allow the athletes to reach speeds of 30 km/h or more.cite web | url = http://www.paralympicsontario.ca/Wheelchair%20Racing.pdf.| title = Wheelchair Racing| accessdate = 2008-03-13 | accessmonthday = March 13| accessyear = 2008 | format = HTML | publisher = Paralympics ]

History

The World Wars significantly influenced society’s view and treatment of individuals with disabilities. Before the wars, individuals with disabilities were considered as burdens on society. As many veterans of war returned home with physical impairments and psychological needs, new programs had to be put in place to help make the transition back into society, as traditional methods were not able to accommodate.cite book | last = Depauw | first = Karen P | last = Gavron | first = Susan J | title = Disability Sport. Second Edition | accessdate = 2008-03-13 | date= 2008-03-14 | publisher = Human Kinetics | id = ISBN 0-7360-4638-0 | pages = 38-41]

The British government is credited with being the first to recognize these needs by opening the Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England, in 1944. Sir Lugwig Guttmann, director of this center, introduced competitive sports as an integral part of the rehabilitation of disabled veterans.

With Guttmann’s guidance, the first Stoke Mandeville Games for the Paralyzed were held in 1948. In the late 1940’s sports for rehabilitation spread throughout Europe and throughout the United States. During this time competitions and sporting events for individuals in wheelchairs emerged throughout Europe.

In 1952 the first international competition for athletes in wheelchairs was organized between the British and the Netherlands. A total of 130 athletes with spinal cord injuries competed in six different sports. To honor the social and human value derived from the wheelchair sport movement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognized Guttmann’s work in 1956 and awarded the Stoke Mandeville Games the Sir Thomas Fearnley Cup for meritorious achievement in service to the Olympic movement.

Since the beginning of the games in Stoke Mandeville wheelchair sports has expanded with the addition of many sports. Beginning with wheelchair archery, lawn bowls, table tennis, shot put, javelin, and club throwing were added to the growing list. In the 1960s wheelchair basketball, fencing, snooker, swimming, and weightlifting were also introduced.

In 1960 the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Sports Federation (ISMWSF) was formed to allow all international competitions for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Although originally sanctioned for those with spinal cord injuries, these games were expanded in 1976 at the Olympiad for the Physically Disabled in Toronto, Canada, to include other physical and visual impairments and would evolve and eventually be referred to as the Paralympics.

In the 1960’s international sports competitions were expanded to include other disability groups who were not eligible for the World Games. In addition the International Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ISOD) was officially formed in Paris in 1964, to provide international sports opportunities for the blind, amputees and persons with other loco motor disabilities.cite book | last = Depauw | first = Karen P | last = Gavron | first = Susan J | title = Disability Sport. Second Edition | accessdate = 2008-03-13 | date= 2008-03-14 | publisher = Human Kinetics | id = ISBN 0-7360-4638-0 | pages = 38-41]

Events

The distances involved in wheelchair racing include sprint distances of 100 m, 200 m and 400 m, middle distances of 800 m and 1500 m, long distances of 5000 m and 10,000 m and relay races of 4 x 100 m and 4 x 400 m. There is also a road event which is the marathon.

Athletes who are in a wheelchair can also participate in field events as well; these include shot put, javelin, and discus. There are also combined events such as the pentathlon, where the athlete participates in track and road events, and jumping and throwing events, depending on the athletes’ disability and classification.

Classifications

Classification systems have been put into place to ensure that the competition is fair, ensuring that all of the competitors have an equal opportunity to place, and they can because of their talent and not because their disability was less severe than the other competitors. Athletes are divided into categories depending on their disability, these are spinal cord injury or an amputee, or cerebral palsy. The classification guidelines are continually being changed to include more athletes.cite web | url = http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Classification/.| title = Classifications| accessdate = 2008-03-13 | accessmonthday = March 13| accessyear = 2008 | format = HTML | publisher = Paralympics ]

Athletes who are in a wheelchair due to spinal cord injury or are an amputee are in classes T51 – T58. Classes T51 – T54 are for athletes in a wheelchair who are competing in track events, and classes T55 – T58 are for athletes who are competing in field events. An athlete who is classed as T54 is completely functional from the waist up. An athlete who is classed as T53 has restricted movement in their abdominals. An athlete who is classed as either T52 or T51 has restricted movement in their upper limbs.

Athletes who are in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy have different guidelines compared to an athlete with a spinal cord injury or who is an amputee, and range between T32 – T38. Classes T32 –T34 are classes for athletes in a wheelchair and classes T35 – T38 are for athletes who can stand.cite web | url = http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Rules/IPC_Athletics_Classification_Handbook_2006.pdf.| title = IPC Athletics Classification Handbook| accessdate = 2008-03-13 | accessmonthday = March 13| accessyear = 2008 | format = HTML | publisher = Paralympics ]

Rules and Regulations for Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are a necessary piece of equipment for athletes competing in wheelchair racing and track and field events. Many of the wheelchairs tend to be very lightweight, with the dimensions and features on the wheelchairs clearly specified in the IPC Athletics rules.There are rules for each event regarding the equipment in which the athletes use. For wheelchair track events (classes T32 – T43 and T51 –T54). The rules are:cite book | last = Paciorek | first = Micheal J | last = Jones | first = Jeffery A | title = Disability Sport and Recreation Resources| accessdate = 2008-03-13 | date= 2008-03-14 | publisher = Cooper Publishing| id = ISBN 1-884125-75-1 | pages = 229-244]

Rule 159 Para 1The wheelchair shall have at least two large wheels and one small wheel.

Rule 159 Para 2No part of the body of the chair may extend forwards beyond the hub of the front wheel and be wider than the inside of the hubs of the two rear wheels. The maximum height from the ground of the main body of the chair shall be 50 cm.

Rule 159 Para 3The maximum diameter of the large wheel including the inflated tyre shall not exceed 70 cm.The maximum diameter of the small wheel including the inflated tyre shall not exceed 50 cm.

Rule 159 Para 4Only one plain, round, hand rim is allowed for each large wheel. This rule may be waived for persons requiring a single arm drive chair, if so stated on their medical and Games identity cards.

Rule 159 Para 5No mechanical gears or levers shall be allowed, that may be used to propel the chair.

Rule 159 Para 6Only hand operated, mechanical steering devices will be allowed.

Rule 159 Para 7In all races of 800 metres or over, the athlete should be able to turn the front wheel(s) manually both to the left and the right.

Rule 159 Para 8The use of mirrors is not permitted in track or road races.

Rule 159 Para 9No part of the chair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear tyres.

Rule 159 Para 10It will be the responsibility of the competitor to ensure the wheelchair conforms to all the above rules, and no event shall be delayed whilst a competitor makes adjustments to the athletes chair.

Rule 159 Para 11Chairs will be measured in the Marshalling Area, and may not leave that area before the start of the event. Chairs that have been examined may be liable to re-examination before or after the event by the official in charge of the event.

Rule 159 Para 12It shall be the responsibility, in the first instance, of the official conducting the event, to rule on the safety of the chair.

Rule 159 Para 13Athletes must ensure that no part of their lower limbs can fall to the ground or track during the event.cite web | url = http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Rules/RULES_2006.pdf. | title = IPC Athletics Official Rules for Athletics 2006 | accessdate = 2008-03-13 | accessmonthday = March 13| accessyear = 2008 | format = HTML | publisher = Paralympics ]

Sporting Events

There are many events in which individuals in wheelchairs can participate. The events can either be for personal enjoyment or the individual can also compete on an elite level in the sports that they have chosen.

Individuals in wheelchairs are able to compete in:Wheelchair archery, Lawn bowls, Table tennis, Shot put, Javelin, Club throw, Wheelchair basketball, Fencing, Snooker, Swimming, Weightlifting, and Wheelchair rugby. These sports can be offered in the Paralympics, Special Olympics and the Deaflympics where individuals are able to compete at a high level.

Sports which are offered at the Paralympics are:Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Boccie, Bowls, Curling, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Goal Ball, Hockey, Judo, Power Lifting, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Skiing, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, and Volley Ball.

Sports which are offered at the Special Olympics are:Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boccie, Bowls, Cycling, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Power Lifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Soccer, Softball, Speed Skating, Swimming, Table Tennis, Team Handball, Tennis and Volley Ball.

Sports which are offered at the Deaflympics are:Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bowls, Cycling, Hockey, Orienteering, Shooting, Skiing, Snowboarding, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Team Handball, Tennis, Volley Ball, Water Polo and Wrestling.cite book | last = Depauw | first = Karen P | last = Gavron | first = Susan J | title = Disability Sport. Second Edition | accessdate = 2008-03-13 | date= 2008-03-14 | publisher = Human Kinetics | id = ISBN 0-7360-4638-0 | pages = 135-141]

References

1. Classification. http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Classification/. Retrieved on 2008-03-13, 2008. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.

2. DePauw. K, & Gavron. S,. (2005). Disability Sport. pg 38-43, 135-141. 2nd Ed. Human Kinetics. ISBN 0-7360-4638-0

3. IPC Athletics Classification Handbook. http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Rules/IPC_Athletics_Classification_Handbook_2006.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-13, 2008. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.

4. IPC Athletics Official Rules for Athletics 2006.http://www.paralympic.org/release/Summer_Sports/Athletics/About_the_sport/Rules/RULES_2006.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-14, 2008. Retrieved on March 14, 2008.

5. Paciorek. M, & Jones. J,. (2001). Disability Sport and Recreation Resources. 3rd Ed. Cooper Publishing Group, LLC.

6. Wheelchair Racing. http://www.paralympicsontario.ca/Wheelchair%20Racing.pdf. Retrieved on 2008-03-13, 2008. Retrieved on March 13, 2008.

External links

* [http://www.accessibility.com.au/paralympics/athletics Beijing 2008 Paralympic Athletic Information with an Australian slant from accessibility.com.au] - includes selection criteria for the 2008 Australian Paralympic athletics squad.

ee also

* Athletics at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
* Wheelchair racing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
* Wheelchair racing at the 2004 Summer Olympics


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Wheelchair racing at the 2004 Summer Olympics — was featured as two demonstration events as part of the Athletics programme at the Athens Olympic Stadium on August 22, 2004. Medals were not awarded, as the sport was not part of the official competition. Men s 1500 metre wheelchair 1… …   Wikipedia

  • Wheelchair Sports, USA — is a US Olympic Committee recognized organization dedicated to promoting sports for children and adults with physical disabilities. Mostly a volunteer organization, they work in conjunction with local and regional sports clubs and associations to …   Wikipedia

  • Wheelchair — seating in a theater (i.e. giving a dedicated, convenient space left free for a user to position his own wheelchair in the cinema) …   Wikipedia

  • Wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics — Governing body WCF Events 1 (mixed) Games …   Wikipedia

  • Grand Prix motorcycle racing — MotoGP redirects here. For other uses, see MotoGP (disambiguation). Grand Prix motorcycle racing 2011 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season …   Wikipedia

  • Marathon — For other uses, see Marathon (disambiguation). Competitors during the 2007 Berlin Marathon …   Wikipedia

  • Jessica Rogers — Personal information Born 1997 (age 13–14) Sao Carlos, Brazil Residence Springfield, Virginia, USA He …   Wikipedia

  • List of sports — The following is a list of sports, divided by category. There are many more sports to be added. This system has a disadvantage because some sports may fit in more than one category.Soccer is currently the most watched and played sport in the… …   Wikipedia

  • Athletics (sport) — For other uses, see Athletics (disambiguation). Athletics Highest governing body IAAF Characteristics Mixed gender yes …   Wikipedia

  • Outline of sports — The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to sports: Sport – a physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively, sports can be played on land, in water and in the air.… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”