Marathon in Christchurch, New Zealand, bans wheelchair-using competitors

From ONE News:

Organisers of this weekend's Christchurch Marathon are in the firing line for banning competitors in wheelchairs.

The new ruling has upset the paraplegic community - and one man in particular, who planned to take part.

Ian Walker lost the use of his legs three-and-a-half years ago in a cycling accident. He is now training for the New York Marathon on a handbike and was planning on using this weekend's Christchurch Marathon as a warm-up.

"I thought to do an actual event would give me a good idea of riding with a crowd, with people around," Walker says.

But he was told he could not participate.

Handbikes have been banned for a few years, but now wheelchairs are also out due to record entries and safety concerns.

Race director Chris Cox says things like pot holes on the course, combined with all the other runners, could create a problem.

That has angered the paraplegic community and Ken Sowden from Parafed Canterbury says traffic safety is provided for able bodied athletes, so athletes with disabilities should be no different.

It has even upset the official charity of the marathon - the New Zealand Spinal Trust.

"I don't like to be excluded from something that previously I've been involved with and I think it's a pity that in this day and age they would've made that decision," says wheelchair user, Andrew Hall, from NZ Spinal Trust.

Marathon competitors run along the Avon River for much of the race. It is a pretty track and also completely flat, which is exactly why wheelchair bound athletes wanted to enter.

"New York and London allow use of wheelchairs and handbikes, but Christchurch doesn't," says Walker.

However, Cox says they hope to try and introduce wheelchair competitors to the event from next year.