Paratriathlon Events
The key to sustainable growth of Paratriathlon in the UK is to ensure that our Events programme encourages and allows people with a wide range of disabilities to take part.
With a growing number of disabled people wanting to take part in triathlon it is essential that local events as well as national events understand the nature of adapting events and being as inclusive as possible.
British Triathlon defines events in two ways with regards to including disabled athletes, these are as follows:
Inclusive Event
A triathlon event that is open to all athletes including those with a disability. Every effort is made to include all TRI classes but it may not be possible, if for example the run section is off road or the bike or run section is very steep, making it difficult for wheelchair competitors. Medals may not be awarded in TRI classes and classification is not essential.
Paratriathlon Event
An event that is run under British Triathlon Federation rules with all TRI classes included, medals are awarded by TRI class, all areas are accessible and all competitors are classified.
British Triathlon organises specific paratriathlon competitions through any given season and more information on these can be read on the British Triathlon website , however this section is focussed more on enabling events of all shapes and sizes to develop to be as inclusive as possible.
British Triathlon Event Organisers Guide
British Triathlon has one of the strongest histories of organising paratriathlon and inclusive competitions, and over the past five years has developed a bank of experience which has been pooled to create the ‘British Triathlon Federation Paratriathlon Event Organisers Guide’. The outline to this guide is as follows, and the full document can be downloaded here:
- Introduction
- Pre Race – entry, advertising, route planning, volunteer recruitment and training
- Race Briefings
- Swim / Bike / Run / Transition -a very technical area including in-depth planning and delivery
- Access
- Post race
- Resources and glossary of terms
This guide is for use by anybody from a major event organiser or a club sized event, and if you require any further information about adapting your event please contact either your Regional Development Manager or the British Triathlon event team.