These include specific programmes aimed at different age groups, impairment groups or sporting classifications.
The ‘original’ Multi-sports Panathlon Challenge – first seen in 1999, was aimed at secondary school age children.
Panathlon operates a standard model and is open to young people with a range of physical impairments, including deaf, hearing impaired and visually impaired children, as well as those with severe and complex learning difficulties.
A regular multi-sport competition sees four teams compete over six rounds, featuring the following sports:
* Boccia
* Polybat (pictured, left)
* Table cricket
* New age kurling
* Athletics field events: javelin (pictured, above), long jump, wheelchair slalom & precision beanbag throw
* Athletics races: wheelchair manual and powered, lower leg impairment and ambulant
Teams are awarded points for their finishing place in each round and the team with the highest number of points over all six rounds is crowned the winner. Medals and certificates are awarded to all those who compete, and overall team trophies for the winners and runners up too.
In London, teams from all 32 boroughs compete in a series of regional heats, with the top teams qualifying for the London Finals, held at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park.
Outside of London, competitions are held – some with qualifying rounds – to find county champions, whilst county champions got to step up to the next level of competition through a series of regional finals – where 54 were held across our sporting menu in 2018/19. This leads to Divisional Finals and in Swimming and Primary Panathlon to National Finals.
Hundreds of schools across the country took part in 62 multi-sport competitions last year, with thousands of active hours of sport provided. Panathlon has delivered over 1,000 of these multi-sport competitions since 1999, so we have the experience to know it works.
Whilst focused largely on secondary-aged students, Panathlon’s multi-sport events work for any students aged ten to 19, depending upon ability. A separate Primary Panathlon format exists with foundation sports more appropriate for our younger competitors.
This short film shows what Secondary Multi-Sport is:
We also have specific Panathlon programmes for swimming, football and boccia, which work well as standalone competitions.
For more information on our multi-sport format or any Panathlon programme, please email us at enquiries@panathlon.com.
