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Athletes with Disabilities

Athletes with Disabilities

 

Athletes seeking accommodation due to a disability must contact the Fort Myers Track Club at fmtrackclub.info@gmail.com 6 weeks prior to the event.

 

Physically Challenged (PC): A physically challenged (PC) athlete for the purposes of Fort Myers Track Club races is defined as any person with a significant and permanent physical, visual, intellectual or motor deficiency but still allows them to be ambulatory for road racing. As guided by the IPC’s International Standard for Eligible Impairments (section 2).

 

Push Rim Competitors

  • A wheelchair athlete for the purposes of LDR Road Racing is defined as any person with a significant and permanent physical or motor deficiency requiring the use of a push rim wheelchair (not hand cranks) to compete. Able-bodied individuals may not participate in the Wheelchair Division. Rules and regulations for wheelchairs will be based from the International Paralympic Committee’s regulations. See below for wheelchair specifications.

Duo Runners

  • Defined as a runner pushing a person with permanent disabilities in a customized racing wheelchair. The disabled athlete must be the registered participant.  Both the competing disabled athlete and abled-bodied person must sign the appropriate waivers. 

  • One person must push the person with a permanent disability the entire race distance within the official course limit time.

  • The abled-bodied participant must maintain contact and control with the wheelchair at all times throughout the race.

  • Only the registered able-bodied participant is allowed to propel the wheelchair forward; no outside assistance is permitted.

  • The person pushing the wheelchair must be tethered to the chair.

 

Push Rim Racing Wheelchair Specifications

Racing wheelchairs must conform to specifications as established by the International Paralympic Committee*:

  1. The wheelchair shall have at least two large wheels and one small wheel.

  2. Any device or design element that exists for the purpose of reducing air resistance will be permitted provided that said device or design is limited to the area between the rear wheels and must not extend beyond the lateral edges of the large wheels or extend in front or behind the edges of the tires except that fenders may protrude two inches (2") past the circumference of the inflated tire.

  3. The maximum diameter of the large wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 70cm. The maximum diameter of the small wheel including the inflated tire shall not exceed 50cm.

  4. Only one round hand rim is allowed for each large wheel.

  5. No mechanical gears or levers shall be allowed that may be used to propel the chair. Hand crank cycles or chairs are NOT permitted in this division.

  6. Only hand operated mechanical steering devices will be allowed.

  7. No part of the chair may protrude behind the vertical plane of the back edge of the rear wheels.

  8. Athletes must ensure that no part of their lower limbs can fall to the ground or road during an event.

  9. It will be the responsibility of the competitor that the wheelchair conforms to all the above rules and no event shall be delayed while the competitor makes adjustments to the chair.

  10. Chairs may be measured prior to the start of the event. Chairs which have been examined may be liable to re-examination before or after the event by the official in charge of the event.

*Rules as guided by the IPC’s Athletics Rules and Regulations Section III rule 14.

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