ATHLETICS

Special Olympics athletics includes a wide range of exciting events, including track, distance, field, multi-event, and wheelchair events. Special Olympics BC also offers events for lower ability level athletes to train and compete in basic athletics skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to longer competitive events.
 
As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age, and gender.
 
ATHLETICS FACTS
  • Athletics was an event at the first Special Olympics International Games held in Chicago, Illinois, USA in 1968.
  • At the 1995 World Summer Games, the marathon was contested for the first time, producing a winning time of 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 18 seconds.
  • Today Special Olympics athletics is the most popular Special Olympics sport, with 528,876 athletes from 195 Programs participating.
 
ATHLETICS EVENTS
 
Track Events:
  • 100, 200, 400 and  800 Metre Run
  • Hurdles: Women - 100 Metre, Men - 110 Metre
  • Relays  - 4 x 100, 4 x 400 Metre
Distance Events:
  • 1500, 3000, and 5000 Metre
Field Events:
  • High Jump
  • Running Long Jump
  • Standing Long Jump
  • Shot Put: Women 2.72 kg/6 lbs, Men (16 yrs. and over 4 kg/8.13 lbs) or (16 yrs. and under 2.72 kg/ 6lbs)
Multi-event:
  • Pentathlon (Five events: 100 Metres, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400 Metres)
Wheelchair Events:
  • 25 Metre Wheelchair Race
  • 30 Meter Wheelchair Slalom
 
The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
  • 50 Metre Developmental
 
Athletes in Athletics can train and compete for spots on both the Western Canada and Canada Games teams. 
 
RESOURCES
 
RELATED LINKS
 
UPCOMING EVENTS

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