ATHLETICS:Double-amputee Oscar Pistorius will compete in the 400 metres and the 4x400m relay for South Africa at the Olympics. Pistorius's inclusion in the relay team meant the double-amputee athlete would also be able to take part in the 400m race, Tubby Reddy, chief executive of South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee said.

Pistorius (25), who races wearing carbon fibre prosthetic blades, will become the first double-amputee athlete to compete on the track at a Games. His chance of taking place in the 400m event looked to have eluded him when he failed to reach a second A qualifying standard time by the cut-off on June 30th. He achieved the A time when he clocked 45.20 in South Africa in March but Sascoc required athletes to achieve the time twice. However, Pistorius’s inclusion on the relay team opened up his opportunity to race in the 400m. “He was named in the [relay] team and then the question arose as to whether he was allowed to run the 400m and he can because he is part of the team,” Reddy said.