With a rich history within the Paralympic Games, athletics presents opportunities for both athletes and fans following the competition, including a growing interest in online betting on websites.
Paralympic athletics includes a wide range of events on both the track and field. These events are divided into categories that take into account the type of disability of the athletes, ensuring fair competition. Some of the most common categories are:
- Physical disabilities: Athletes with amputations, cerebral palsy or spinal cord injuries, among others, compete in this category. Depending on their skill level, athletes may run with prosthetics or in wheelchairs.
- Visual disabilities: Athletes with different levels of visual impairment compete with the assistance of a guide, especially in sprint races.
- Intellectual disabilities: Athletes with intellectual disabilities also have the opportunity to compete in specific events within athletics.
Featured Track & Field Events
Track Events:
- Sprints (100m, 200m, 400m)
- Middle and long distance races (800m, 1500m, 5000m)
- Relays and marathon
Field Events:
- Long jump
- Javelin, discus and shot put
Paralympic athletics is characterised by its ability to showcase not only athletic prowess but also the determination and competitive spirit of athletes, making it an exciting sport for both the public and punters.
Types of Online Betting on Paralympic Athletics
With the growing popularity of online sports betting, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be no exception, and athletics is one of the most followed disciplines. There are several types of bets that fans can place:
- Race Winner Bet: The most common type of bet in athletics is predicting the winner of a specific event, whether it is a track race or a field event. This involves analysing the athletes’ previous performance, their ranking and their fitness before the competition. Bookmakers offer odds based on the odds for each competitor.
- Live Betting: A very popular option is to bet in real time during events. Live betting allows you to adjust predictions as the competition unfolds, which is especially exciting in sprint races or relays, where results can change in a matter of seconds.
- Medal Betting: This type of bet allows you to predict not only who will win gold, but also who will complete the podium with silver and bronze medals. In some cases, bets can include whether an athlete from a specific country will win medals in various disciplines.
- Handicap Bets: Similar to other sports, handicap bets offer a fictitious advantage to certain competitors to balance the odds. This is useful when there is a clear favourite, and allows punters to get better odds when betting on a winning margin.
- Prop Bets: In some cases, bookmakers offer prop bets that focus on specific aspects of an athlete’s performance. For example, in a 100-metre race, one might bet on whether a Paralympic or world record will be broken, or whether the race will end with less than a second between the top three places.
- Country Bets: Another interesting type of bet is predicting which country will win the most medals in a specific category, such as athletics. This requires an analysis of the strength of the national delegations and their track record in Paralympic events.
Fun Facts About Paralympic Athletics at Paris 2024
New Technological Innovations: The use of advanced technologies such as high-tech prosthetics and aerodynamic wheelchairs has evolved significantly in recent years, allowing Paralympic athletes to compete at higher levels than ever before. This has changed the landscape of athletics, allowing for faster times and longer distances in field events.
Increased Inclusion of Young Athletes: Paris 2024 has emphasised the importance of inclusion and development of young Paralympic athletes. Many emerging athletes from the youth categories are expected to compete at the highest level at these Games, which could lead to surprises in betting.
Weather Impact: Paris is known for its variable weather, which could influence athletes’ performances in outdoor events. Weather conditions can play a key role in the outcome of track races and field events, which is something punters should take into account when making their predictions.
In short, Paralympic athletics at Paris 2024 promises to be a top-level spectacle, and online betting adds an extra level of excitement for fans. With a variety of bet types available, from the simplest to the most complex, the Paralympic Games offer a unique opportunity to enjoy the sport and put predictions to the test.