Vancouver 2010 Olympic And Paralympic Games

Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Paralympic Sport of the Day: Biathlon

WHISTLER PARALYMPIC PARK

Athletes compete against others with a similar disability in the categories of standing, sitting or visually impaired. Competitors alternate between skiing a loop of a cross-country course and, from the prone position, taking five shots at a target. In the short distance biathlon, competitors ski a 2.5-km (1.5-mi) loop three times and shoot twice, while in the long distance biathlon skiers complete the loop five times and shoot four times. Athletes with a visual impairment line up the target using an acoustic system. Events include individual and pursuit.—Sheri Radford

Paralympic Sport of the Day: Alpine Skiing

WHISTLER CREEKSIDE

Athletes compete against others with a similar disability, in one of three categories. Standing skiers have a locomotive disability; they use the same equipment as able-bodied skiers and can use a prosthesis, plus stabilizing crutches instead of ski poles. Sitting skiers have no use of their legs; they use a mono-ski, which looks like a chair attached to skis. Skiers with a visual impairment must ski with a guide. Racers can exceed 100 km/h (62 mi/h) on vertical drops of 120 to 800 m (395 to 2,625 ft). Events include downhill, slalom, giant slalom, super-G (super giant slalom) and super combined.—Sheri Radford