SCSDB Alumnus Royal Mitchell Wins Gold In 100 and 400 At Paralympic Games
Royal Mitchell, an alumnus of the SCSDB won the 100 in Paralympic record time - 10.98 seconds and won the gold in the 400 three days earlier.
Mitchell also competed in the 200 at the games.
Jack Todd, an employee of the SCSDB and Eye Opener meet director, whom served as an International Technical Official (ITO) in Sydney, a referee in Atlanta, the head track and field coach for the US Blind Team in Barcelona, the head coach for the United States Blind Team in Seoul, and assistant track coach at the 1984 Paralympics, and a guide runner at the 1980 Paralympics served as an ITO in Athens. Mitchell currently resides in Ardmore, Pa.
The Games, which were staged in the same facilities used by the able bodied Olympians, included the following sporting events: Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball (sitting), Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis. According to Todd, when a city places a bid to host the Olympics, it must also include a bid to host the Paralympics.
The Opening Ceremonies of the games was on Sept. 17 and the games closed on Sept. 28. 4,000 athletes representing 143 countries participated in the Games.
Athletics events are open to athletes in all disability classes and have been a part of the Paralympic program since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960. Events include track, throwing, jumping, pentathlon and the marathon. The rules of Paralympic track and field are almost identical to those of its non-disabled counterpart. Certain allowances are made to accommodate certain disabilities. For example, the blind and more severely visually impaired runners compete with guide runners, who are often attached by the wrist with a tether to the runner. Athletes with the following disabilities compete in Track & Field: dwarfs, amputees, blind/visually impaired, spinal cord injured/wheelchair, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke. (Source: USA Paralympics website).
Mitchell also competed in the 200 at the games.
Jack Todd, an employee of the SCSDB and Eye Opener meet director, whom served as an International Technical Official (ITO) in Sydney, a referee in Atlanta, the head track and field coach for the US Blind Team in Barcelona, the head coach for the United States Blind Team in Seoul, and assistant track coach at the 1984 Paralympics, and a guide runner at the 1980 Paralympics served as an ITO in Athens. Mitchell currently resides in Ardmore, Pa.
The Games, which were staged in the same facilities used by the able bodied Olympians, included the following sporting events: Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball (sitting), Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, and Wheelchair Tennis. According to Todd, when a city places a bid to host the Olympics, it must also include a bid to host the Paralympics.
The Opening Ceremonies of the games was on Sept. 17 and the games closed on Sept. 28. 4,000 athletes representing 143 countries participated in the Games.
Athletics events are open to athletes in all disability classes and have been a part of the Paralympic program since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960. Events include track, throwing, jumping, pentathlon and the marathon. The rules of Paralympic track and field are almost identical to those of its non-disabled counterpart. Certain allowances are made to accommodate certain disabilities. For example, the blind and more severely visually impaired runners compete with guide runners, who are often attached by the wrist with a tether to the runner. Athletes with the following disabilities compete in Track & Field: dwarfs, amputees, blind/visually impaired, spinal cord injured/wheelchair, cerebral palsy/brain injury/stroke. (Source: USA Paralympics website).