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12th Paralympic Games - JO
Athens, September 18-27, 2004
Expect records to fall in September
By the Cyclingnews Team
The Paralympic Games cycling programme includes both track and road disciplines, with action from the first five days (September 18-22) at the Athens Olympic velodrome, before competition turns to the Vouliagmeni area in the south of Athens for three days of road cycling (September 24, 25 and 27).
With a new roof and refurbished track overseen by legendary creator Rob Webb, not to mention the heat and humidity typically experienced in summertime, world records were falling like flies back in August, and there's every indication the same will happen here in September.
Rules
Rules governing Paralympic cycling events fall under the same umbrella of regulations as determined by the sport's governing bodies, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) and International Olympic Committee (IOC), for able-bodied athletes at Olympic cycling events. However, in certain cases, modifications to the bicycles are permitted in order to accomodate athletes with specific disabilities.
So who is eligible to participate?
According the the Athens Paralympic website, "Athletes with partial or total vision impairment, celebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, amputees or any other permanent physical deficiency can participate in cycling."
Classifications
Athletes are classified into categories based on their functional abilities together with the skills required for the sport. Wherever considered necessary, the athletes' bicycles are modified, according to the athletes' needs.
The classes are described by a letter, usually the initial letter of the sport, and a number (e.g. C3 in cycling, S5 in swimming). The lower number usually represents a higher level of disability.
The athletes participating in the Paralympic Games are included in the following categories:
Athletes with Physical Disabilities
- Amputee Athletes
- Athletes with Spinal Cord Injuries
- Athletes with Cerebral Palsy
- Les Autres, i.e. athletes with a physical disability that are not included
in the above-mentioned categories (e.g. Muscular dystrophy)
Athletes with Vision Impairments
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Track Cycling in the Paralympic Games competition programme includes the following events:
1,000m Individual Time Trial, for:
a. men and women with physical (locomotor) disability from classes: LC1, LC2,
LC3 and LC4,
b. men and women with cerebral palsy from groups 3 and 4, and
c. men and women with partial or total vision impairment (men's, women's and
mixed Tandem)
4,000m Individual Pursuit, for:
a. men and women with physical (locomotor) disability from classes LC1 and
LC2, and
b. athletes with total or partial vision impairment (men's Tandem)
3,000m Individual Pursuit, for:
a. men and women with physical (locomotor) disability from classes LC3 and
LC4,
b. men and women with cerebral palsy, from groups 3 and 4, and
c. men and women with total or partial vision impairment (women's and mixed
Tandem)
Team sprint, for:
a. men and women with physical (locomotor) disability from classes LC1, LC2,
LC3, LC4, and
b. men and women with cerebral palsy from groups 3 and 4
Sprint, for:
a. men and women athletes with total or partial vision impairment (men's, women's and mixed Tandem) participate.
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Road Cycling in the Paralympic Games competition programme includes the following events:
Road Race
Athletes with total or partial vision impairment
Athletes with a physical disability and amputees
Handcycling Athletes (HC)
Athletes with cerebral palsy (CP)
Time Trial
Athletes with total or partial vision impairment
Athletes with an amputation or other mobility disabilities
Handcycling athletes (HC)
Athletes with cerebral palsy (CP)
