International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) sets the rules.
UK Athletics is the national association for able and disabled track and field sports.
British Wheelchair Athletics Association (BWAA)
British Beijing athletics team -check them out as they qualify.
British Blind Sport has a section on Athletics.
CP Sport - athletics covers England and Wales.
Scottish Disability Sport covers Scotland.
See also Parasport for much useful information and videos.
Woods wins Silver in wheelchair 5000 - but race to be rerun.
A spectacular crash in the closing laps of the 5000m took out more than half the participants, and Woods came from the back of the field to come second. Now officials have decided the race is to be rerun, as an official had rushed to help crashed racers and got in the way of remaining participants.
Full details @ BBC Sport
Bolts wins 200m in record time, British runner fifth.
20 August 2008
Full details @ BBC Sport
Want to join in sports that are steeped in history and the foundation of the olympics?
Then get into athletics!
Athletics, also called track and field, is a key part of both ancient and modern Olympic Games. Athletics can be played all year round, though as they are mostly outdoor sports, most major events take place in summer and autumn.
Track events (Running races) are very simple – the winner runs a certain distance in the shortest time. Running races are grouped into different distances and whether they have obstacles like Steeplechase and hurdles. Each type takes different athletic strengths and involves different tactics, training methods, and competitors.
Athletics events include:
Wheelchair Athletics in Great Britain is hugely successful with 25 medals being won in the last three Paralympic Games, and ten World Records being set by British wheelchair athletes.
take part? just you | small group
where? outside
energy/fitness level? full on
sociability? can talk some of the time
disability access*? ok with help
can be played? competitively
contact sport? non-contact
try it cost? low
play it cost? low
Great! To be successful in athletic sports, you generally need to build good fitness, and have access to proper tracks and equipment and coaching. Joining a local athletic club is a good way to get started. Search the UK Athletics’ database of 1400 athletics clubs - enter just your location in the Keywords field to list all the nearest clubs.
For young people the inclusive Norwich Union Grassroot schemes help them have fun and get started in Athletics. star:track and sports:hall are for 8 years old upwards; shine:awards are for 3 years old upwards and all ability levels.
Perhaps for the less fit, a hugely valuable way of getting involved is volunteering your time to become an official, coach or helper at your local athletics club. For more information, visit www.ukathletics.net/getting-started/
Also see the links on the right and on the getting started page.
Then you might like:
* Individual circumstances vary hugely, and this affects participation in any sport. This guide is necessarily general in nature and may not suit your situation.