Athletics for blind and partially sighted people

Guide and Naqi Rizvi speeding along track event Metro Blind Sport’s 43rd Athletics Open — Track events: Naqi Rizvi
Metro Blind Sport’s 43rd Athletics Open 2019 held at Mile End Stadium, London.
Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography for Metro Blind Sport
Date: June 22, 2019

Athletics is an integral component of the Paralympic Games, each sport being divided up according to sight category, with track events carrying the option of a sighted guide runner (attached via rope) for those with low or no vision.

Annual Metro Athletics Open

Held every summer in London, blind and partially sighted athletes from all over the country attend, and overnight accommodation can be provided if needed.

Visit our dedicated Athletic Open page and download event results

The Annual Metro Athletics Open are a highlight of our year. They remain the number one event for blind and partially sighted athletes, in the region, regardless of experience. Open to everyone from juniors to veteran athletes they incorporate a comprehensive track and field programme ranging the 60m sprint to 5,000m.

A huge thank you to Canary Wharf Group PLC for their continuing help in supporting our main event the Athletic Open each year!

Canary Wharf Group PLC Website: https://group.canarywharf.com/

Field events include the high and long jump, shot put, discus and javelin. Run in accordance with UK Athletics and International Blind Sports Association’s rules by a team of qualified officials, the event is a great day out for families and many new friendships are forged.

Metro Guide and Runner Bibs

Do you Need one – more info here: http://bit.ly/GuideBibs

You can Find a Guide Below

Guide runners database for the Vision Impaired This new exciting project was launched by England Athletics with British Blind Sport. The database will enable visually impaired people to search for guide runners locally supporting them to take up or develop their running

Guide Running Tethers now available from Britsh Blind Sport

British Blind Sport’s Product page Link:

https://britishblindsport.org.uk/product-category/products/

England Athletics and British Blind Sport Guide Runner.

England Athletics and British Blind Sport encourage all guide runners to be licenced.

Why should I be licenced?

England Athletics and British Blind Sport encourage all guide runners to be licenced. This is to ensure procedures are in place to help visually impaired people find guide runners who have had some training on guide running and have been through the relevant welfare checks in order to provide the visually impaired runner with a high quality, safe experience.

England Athletics and British Blind Sport will only help visually impaired runners to find licenced guide runners to support them.

How do I become licenced?

Step 1: Attend an England Athletics ‘Sight Loss Awareness and Guide Running’ workshop (contact your local Club and Coach Support Officer for workshop information, please note workshops are organised on a demand only basis and where guide runners are needed)*. www.englandathletics.org/your-area * existing guide runners who are experienced should contact disability@englandathletics.org to discuss workshop attendance As part of the workshop sign up process you will need to complete a licence application.
Step 2: You will be contacted by email with information on how to undertake a DBS check (unless you already hold one with UK Athletics in another capacity) and upload a passport photograph. For more information on DBS checks visit: http://bit.ly/1QeaOpl
Step 3: Once your DBS and application has been processed successfully you will receive your guide running licence.

For more information on this subject, please download the files below

EA Disability Running Plan Delivery – click here
England Athletics Guide Runner Workshop – click here

ENGLAND ATHLETICS – FIND A GUIDE DATABASE

This new exciting project was launched on the 29^th March 2016 in partnership with British Blind Sport. The database will enable visually impaired people to search for guide runners locally supporting them to take up or develop their running. Currently there are 112 guides on the database with a good number in London. EA will be training a further 250+ by March 2017.
Running is a great way to get fit and meet new people. If you want to give it a go and need someone to support you why not search for a guide runner at:

Website: www.englandathletics.org/findaguide

Have you thought of visiting Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with a sighted guide?

Sighted Guides Services at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Over 40 volunteers have received the Level 1 “My Guide” training and are ready and raring to be a guide!

As part of the Paralympic legacy, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park has been designed to be as accessible as possible for all visitors. Thanks to a partnership with Guide Dogs, the community sighted guides form an important part of the Park’s wider Park Mobility service.

“Guide Dogs London are pleased the Park is continuing to develop its trainers and volunteers in sighted guide skills and to be working in conjunction with them to increase accessibility of an iconic site.” – Craig Weeks, Guide Dogs

What can we offer?

Meet and greet at Stratford Station
Free tours around the Park* – comments on what’s around them, sounds and smells
Sighted guides with an incredible knowledge and passion for the Park
First class customer service!

“All the volunteers really made the whole experience enjoyable for everyone with their knowledge, friendliness and understanding. I would highly advise others to utilise such a wonderful service.” – Laura Ross, East London Vision

Want to know more?

For further information on our accessibility services and Sighted guides , please email the Volunteer Manager: Adele Lefebvre:adelelefebvre@londonlegacy.co.uk or call 07855 136 893

*Small fee may apply to group bookings. The fee will be reinvested into the Mobility Service as it is delivered by Our Parklife, the Park’s Community Interest Company which delivers volunteering, training and employment opportunities on the Park.

Dublin May Games

Metro also considers subsidy requests for athletes to attend the May Games in Dublin, which are organised by Irish Blind Sports. Click here for the Irish Blind Sports homepage.

Want to know more?

For further information about athletics for blind and partially sighted people,

please contact our (Metro Sport Development Officer)

Lucy Simper – Sports Development Officer
Email: lucy.simper@metroblindsport.org
or call 07966 260089 (Mon-Fri, 9 – 5pm)

You may also find these external links of interest:
UK Athletics (UKA) www.uka.org.uk
International Blind Sport Association (IBSA) www.ibsa.es
International Paralympic Committee (IPC) www.paralympic.org
British Blind Sport (BBS) www.britishblindsport.org.uk
England Athletics www.englandathletics.org/disabilityathletics
England Athletics Guidance to Competiton

BBS guide in Supporting Visually Impaired People in Athletics

Download the PDF version

This resource is all about helping mainstream athletics providers to be VI friendly through their provision of training, resources and support.

This resource will enable coaches, leaders and parents/carers to:

Have a better understanding of the needs of people with a visual impairment.
Apply their knowledge to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment.
Use basic communication skills to support the needs of people with a visual impairment.
Understand where you can obtain further support to ensure your club/group is fully accessible and inclusive to people with a visual impairment.

You can also download a comprehensive information pack on guide running in PDF format at the link below.

Intro To Guide Running the Update Running and Sprinting with Guides document.