Athletics

To view the Vision Sports Ireland (VSI) video on running: for the short version Click Here For The Short Run. If you wish to see the longer version Click Here For The Long Run To view a US video on guiding visually impaired people in track and field - including guide running - go to http://usaba.org/index.php/videos/P3/ Athletics has been at the forefront of VSI activities since the very beginning. It was the mainstay of international activity since the 1980s. Throughout the World athletics has been a very popular choice of sport for blind and visually impaired people. Track and field events for vision impaired include all the old favourites and are competed in with only minor adaptations to the IAAF rules for able bodied athletics. Athletes need a combination of physical speed, strength, power and endurance: the exact mixture needed being dependent of the events been undertaken. Athletes compete according to their functional classifications in each event both in men’s and women’s events. There are three classifications (B1, B2 & B3) for visually impaired athletes and some athletes in B2 class and all athletes in B1 class use a sighted guide to allow them to maximise their performance. VSI athletes have a proud history in Paralympic competition, winning many medals during the last thirty five years in European, World and Paralympic Championships. However many others enjoy their athletics for the fun and enjoyment associated with being active and simply getting out for a run or a jog, doing a local 10K for charity or just participating in our annual May Games Athletics meeting. Supervised athletics training takes place each week in Morton Stadium, Santry, Dublin 9. All ages and standards are welcome along to join in. Athletes with promise may be invited along to training camps and proposed for inclusion on to the Paralympic development squads. During Summer 2014 a number of monthly training sessions will take place in association with Athletics Ireland. Details above. Athletics is practiced by athletes with visual impairment in more than 125 countries worldwide and governed by the IBSA and IPC. If you would like to join us as an athlete, or volunteer, please contact us.

Contact
Vision Sports Ireland
NCBI, Whitworth Road, Dublin 9, Ireland,
Mob: +353 85 8500193
Email: office@visionsports.ie