Of the five Para-sports set to be contested at this summers Commonwealth Games, swimming looks to play an important part in the programme, making up six of the twenty two para medal events. bespoken takes a look at the para swimming programme.

Unlike the para-cycling events, which are contested exclusively by partially sighted athletes, the para-swimming programme will be contested by athletes of various categories, including swimmers who have lost either both hands or one arm, and swimmers with intellectual impairments. The full category list for the para-swimming programmes is as follows:

S8 – Swimmers who have lost either both hands or one arm. Also athletes with severe restrictions in the joints of the lower limbs are eligible to compete in this class.

S9 – Swimmers with joint restrictions in one leg, double below the knee amputations, or an amputation of one leg.

S10 – This category features athletes with minimal impairments of eligible swimmers. Eligible impairments would include the loss of a hand or both feet and a significantly limited function of one hip joint.

S14 – This category will be contested by swimmers with intellectual impairment, who also meet the sport specific criteria.

The Tollcross International Swimming Centre will play host to all swimming events at the 2014 Commonwealth games, including both able bodied and para swimming contests. In order to facilitate the increased spectatorship expected for the Commonwealth Games, an additional 1,000 permanent spectator seats have been installed as part of the extension work, and at the time of the games an extra 3,000 temporary seats will be provided. This will bring the total capacity of the Tollcross International Swimming Centre up to 5,000.

The full para swimming programme at the 2014 Commonwealth Games is as follows:

Thursday 24 July – SM8 Men’s 100m Freestyle

Friday 25 July – S8 Women’s 100m Freestyle

Saturday 26 July – S9 Men’s 200m Freestyle

Sunday 27 July – SB9 Women’s 200m Breaststroke

Monday 28 July – S14 Men’s 200m Individual Medley

Tuesday 29 July – SM10 Women’s 200m Individual Medley

Will you be attending any of the para-swimming events at this summers Commonwealth Games, or know someone who will be in attendance? If so we would love to hear from you.