Athletics

Overview

• Athletics are divided into four types: track events, field events, road events, and combined events

*Events held at the 24th Summer Deaflympics (2022, CAXIAS DO SUL)

Track Events	Short-, middle- and long-distance races, relays, and hurdles are held on tracks inside the stadium. Athletes compete to see who can run the designated distance the fastest.
Field Events ＜Jump＞	Long jump, high jump, pole vault, and triple jump events are held in the areas inside and outside the tracks. Athletes compete to see who can jump the highest or longest.
Field Events ＜Throw＞	Shot put, javelin throw, hammer throw, and discus throw events are held in the areas inside and outside the tracks. Athletes compete with hand-thrown equipment to see who can throw the longest distance.
Road Events	Marathons are held on paved roads over a distance of 42.195 km.
Combined Events	Each athlete participates in multiple events composed of running, throwing, and jumping, and competes based on the total of points gained from each event. Men compete in 10 events held over two days. (DAY 1 - 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m / DAY 2 - 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, 1500m) Women compete in seven events held over two days. (DAY 1 - 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m / DAY 2 - long jump, javelin throw, 800m)

Features as deaf sport

Same international regulations as hearing sport are applied to deaf sport.
The difference lies in how the athletes are informed of the start of their competition.
Since athletes compete at a level of 1/1000th of a second, it’s essential that they begin moving at the start signal, but deaf athletes cannot hear this signal.
Previously, athletes would start by watching the starters or nearby athletes.
But this meant that they had to keep their face lifted to see the start signal, forcing them to take a disadvantageous posture, especially in short-distance events that use the crouch start.

Thus, the starting light was developed to ensure that the athletes are provided with visual information.
This device gives the start signal using light, and is linked with the gun. It flashes red at “on your mark”, yellow at “get set”, and green at the sound of the gun.
Setting up start lights within the line of sight of the athletes has enabled them to start under the same conditions as hearing athletes.

Event

24th Summer Deaflympics (2022, CAXIAS DO SUL)

Men

100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, 3000m steeplechase, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, triple jump, javelin throw, hammer throw, discus throw, marathon, decathlon

Women

100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, 3000m steeplechase, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault, shot put, triple jump, javelin throw, hammer throw, discus throw, marathon, heptathlon

Mixed

4x400m relay

Venue

• Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Stadium, etc.

Deaf sport federation website

• Japan Deaf Athletics Association