By Duncan Mackay

Martin McGuinnessApril 27 - British Athletics' decision not to hold an event which double Paralympic champion Jason Smyth can compete in at the Sainsbury's London Anniversary Games has taken a political turn with Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness urging them to change the programme.


The visually-impaired Smyth, who won the 100 and 200 metres in the T13 category at London 2012, this week voiced his frustration at the decision to include a sprint event only for amputee sprinters at the event in the Olympic Stadium on July 28. 

British Athletics claimed that they had to "selective" about their choice of events and had chosen to include a 100m which would showcase Jonnie Peacock, winner of the T44 category at the Paralympics. 

Both McGuinness and the runner are from County Londonderry and the former wrote on Twitter: "Dissapointed Jason Smyth star 4 time Oly'cParalympic Gold Medalist might not be at the London Anniversary Games this summer. Please sort it."

Jason Smyth with Fastest Paralympian on the Planet flagJason Smyth won two gold medals in the Olympic Stadium at London 2012

Paralympics Ireland chief executive Liam Harbinson revealed that they are also trying to persuade British Athletics, whose chairman Ed Warner is also head of the International Paralympic Committee's Athletics Sport Technical Committee, to change their mind.

"My understanding is that the Anniversary Games event is run by UK Athletics and they primarily want to focus [the Paralympic day] on UK athletes," said Harbinson.

"But I would like to see Jason compete and we are working in the background in the hope of helping to make that happen."

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