ATHLETICS

The 2009 Global Games include the 7^th Athletics World Championship of the International Sports Federation for People with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID). More than 210 athletes from 23 countries will compete for the medals. The competitions are similar to competitions of athletes without disabilities. Medals will be given in 26 events.

The events for both men and women will be divided into two categories – individual and team events, with the result of only the best ranking athlete for the given country counted for the team events. Countries are eligible to enter the teams event if they have at least three participating athletes.

Records in the individual sports are close to the records of athletes without disabilities; therefore, competitions of athletes with intellectual disabilities undoubtedly show quality. Lenine Cunha of Portugal has been the brightest star of the last years. The record-holder for heptathlon is very likely to break some of the world records at the Jablonec athletics stadium. Cunha shows great promise and keeps improving with every event. To demonstrate his performance, it will suffice to day that this 27 years-old multitalented athlete managed to win nine disciplines at the Prague European Championships two years ago.

The Portuguese athletics delegation is the largest one with 23 athletes representing Portugal at the Global Games. The second largest athletics delegation is that of Venezuela (21 athletes). Unfortunately, Czech athletes have not reached the top level of world athletics. Only Zuzana Svátková is likely to enter the events at the 2009 Global Games.