The summer of 2014 looks set to be an exciting time for para sports, with the forthcoming Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow. Over the coming months bespoken will be featuring a series of articles on the para sport events of the games, as well as the athletes involved.

The 2014 edition of the Commonwealth games, the twentieth edition of the games to be held, will boast the biggest number of para sports medal events in the history of the Commonwealth Games, contested across the most ever para sporting events. A total of twenty two para sport medal events will take place over the eleven days of the games, a massive increase on the previous high of fifteen. The medals will be contested across five different para sports, which will include the very first appearance of para cycling in a Commonwealth Games programme. The para sports programme will also include athletics, power lifting, swimming, and lawn bowls.

Unlike the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games does not feature para sports as a separate programme. Instead all para sports events will be integrated into the full schedule of the games.  This means that all medals gained within para sports events will be incorporated into the full medals table for the games.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has given their seal of approval to the Glasgow based games, going so far as to say that they expect Glasgow to stage the most successful Para-Sport programme in Commonwealth Games history.  Xavier Gonzalez, the chief executive officer of the IPC, recently visited Glasgow as part of high level in depth briefings with games officials on subjects including transport planning and venue accessibility for disabled spectators. During his visit he commented that:

“I was very impressed with what I saw in Glasgow. Not only do the venues look really good theatres for sport, but the city is also moving forward in improvements in accessibility and transport. Events such as this help build momentum, especially so here in Great Britain following last year’s Paralympic Games. We believe this can be the best ever Commonwealth Games. Glasgow is a sport-mad city and all Scots are passionate about their elite sport. I am sure, just like London, that people from all over the Commonwealth will turn out in force to support their athletes taking part in the five Para-Sports here.”

The stage certainly seems to be set for a scintillating summer of sport. Keep an eye on the bespoken website over the coming months for further articles regarding the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

If you are planning on going to the Games we would love to hear from you!