Beijing, Here They Come (Again)

The Games are set to begin in Beijing on Saturday.

No, this column isn’t late. The Games – the Paralympic Games, that is – will begin in Beijing this Saturday. The Paralympic Games, for disabled athletes, are always held in the same year and, since 1988, at the same place that the Olympic Games are held.

The track and field portion of the Paralympics begins Monday and runs through Sept. 17.

The Paralympic Games includes athletes in a variety of disability categories, including visual impairments, intellectual disability, wheelchair athletes, and others. Athletes in one disability category don’t necessarily compete in every track and field event. Overall, however, Paralympic track and field events for men and women include sprint races (100, 200 and 400 meters plus the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays) and distance races (800, 1500, 5000 and marathon). Men also have a 10,000-meter event. Both men and women compete in long jump and high jump. Some men also compete in the triple jump. Both men and women compete in discus, shot put and javelin, while some men will compete in the club throw. There are also men’s and women’s pentathlon competitions.

Live coverage of the 2008 Paralympic Games will be broadcast on the International Paralympic Committee’s Internet TV channel, ParalympicSport.TV. Go to www.paralympic.org for more information.