Overview

Paralympic athletics has been an official sport since the first Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960. Athletes with a broad range of impairments compete in events that accommodate the largest number of participants at the summer Games.

Track events include short-, medium- and long-distance races as well as relays (4x100 metre and 4x400 metre) but are not fixed since the question of which events and classes are held is examined and determined on a competition-by-competition basis in light of factors such as the number of participating athletes.

The rules are usually the same as for Olympic athletics, with some changes to reflect factors such as the nature of competitors' impairments and the characteristics of the event in question. 

Find out more on the British Athletics website.