Jack Todd, meet director of the Eye Opener and employee at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind (SCSDB) is heading to Athens for the Paralympic Games. Joining Todd in Athens is Royal Mitchell.
Mitchell, whom has ties with the SCSDB is competing in the Games. Mitchell, a visually impaired athlete that was born in Hardeeville will compete in the 100, 200 and 400-meter events at the Games that start on Sept. 17 with the Opening Ceremonies and close on Sept 28. 4,000 athletes representing 143 countries will participate in the Games.
Todd, 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 will serve as an ITO in Athens beside nine other ITO's from around the world. Mitchell currently resides in Ardmore, Pa.
The Games, which will be staged in the same facilities used by the able bodied Olympians, include 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.
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's Profile
USA Paralympics Website
Official Paralympics Website
Mitchell, whom has ties with the SCSDB is competing in the Games. Mitchell, a visually impaired athlete that was born in Hardeeville will compete in the 100, 200 and 400-meter events at the Games that start on Sept. 17 with the Opening Ceremonies and close on Sept 28. 4,000 athletes representing 143 countries will participate in the Games.
Todd, 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 will serve as an ITO in Athens beside nine other ITO's from around the world. Mitchell currently resides in Ardmore, Pa.
The Games, which will be staged in the same facilities used by the able bodied Olympians, include 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.
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).