The speed of a sprinter, the strength of a thrower, the power of a jumper and the endurance of a distance runner are what draws the crowds to Athletics. The track and field events at the Paralympic Games attract the largest number of athletes and spectators. They offer a wide range of competitions and the largest number of events. 

Athletics has been part of the Paralympic Games since 1960 and events are open to male and female athletes in all disability groups. Advances in technology and athletes' dedication to the sport have made once unimaginable feats become realities. Some compete in wheelchairs, others with prostheses and athletes with blindness/visual impairment compete with the guidance of a sighted guide. Athletes compete according to their functional classifications in each event and these events are continually being redefined to include as many athletes as possible. Athletics includes:

• Track events: Sprint (100m, 200m, 400m), Middle Distance (800m, 1500m), Long Distance (5,000m, 10,000m) and Relay races (4x100m, 4x400m)
• Road event: Marathon
• Jumping events: High Jump, Long Jump and Triple Jump
• Throwing events: Discus, Shot Put, Javelin
• Combined events: Pentathlon (track and road events, jumping events and throwing events, depending on the athletes' classification). 

In 2009, Athletics is practiced by athletes in more than 100 countries worldwide and governed by the IPC with co-ordination from the IPC Athletics Sports Manager and Technical Committee.

More detailed information on IPC Athletics can be found at http://ipc-athletics.paralympic.org.