Track and Field

Athletics events offer a wide range, from the 100 meters and hurdle events to the marathon, from the high jump to the long jump, shot put, relays and wheelchair events.

In addition, Special Olympics 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.

Special Olympics athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® Athletics relay events. Special Olympics Unified Sports is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports Athletics, a relay team would consist of two Special Olympics athletes and two partners.

As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to events, 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.

At the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, 1,111 athletes from 148 Programs competed in the sport of athletics; all seven Special Olympics regions were represented.

Today Special Olympics Athletics is the most popular Special Olympics sport, with 889,538 athletes (as of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report) participating.

Athletics Events

1,500; 3,000; 5,000 and 10,000 Meter

Half Marathon, Marathon

Field Events

High Jump

Long Jump

Shot Put —

Women 2.72 kg/6 lbs (8-11 yrs – 1.81 kg/4 lbs)

Men 4 kg/8.8 lbs (8-11 yrs – 2.72 kg/ 6lbs)

Multi-event

Pentathlon (Five events: 100 Meters, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump, 400 Meters)

Wheelchair Events

100, 200 and 400 Meter Wheelchair Race

Wheelchair Shot Put—

Women: 1.81 kg/4 lbs

Men: 1.81 kg/4 lbs

The following events provide meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:

Dash: 25 and 50 Meter

Walk: 25, 50 and 100 Meter

10, 25 and 50 Meter Assisted Softball Throw

Ball Throw for Distance (Tennis ball)

Standing Long Jump

10 and 25 Meter Wheelchair Race

30 Meter Wheelchair Slalom

30 and 50 Meter Motorized Wheelchair Slalom

25 Meter Motorized Wheelchair Obstacle Race

4 x 25 Meter Wheelchair Shuttle Relay