The 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships was held in Christchurch, New Zealand from January 21 to 30, 2011. Athletes with a disability competed, and the Championships was a qualifying event for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Over 1000 athletes competed, including Oscar Pistorius, the Blade Runner, who competed in class T44 at the 100m, 4 × 100 m relay, 200m, and 400m events. A warm-up meet, with free entry for the audience, was held on Friday January 14. Estimates placed the total visitor spend in the city at around $12 million. Venue The championship was staged in the 20,000-seat Queen Elizabeth II Park stadium that was built in 1973 for the 1974 British Commonwealth Games. Three weeks after the championship closed, the venue was damaged beyond repair in the 22 February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and has since been demolished. Coverage At least 120 journalists from 13 countries reported on the Championships. The countries included Brazil, Egypt, Finland, Switzerland, Algeria, Australia, Colombia and the United Kingdom. The internet-TV channel ParalympicSport.TV, owned by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), in conjunction with Sky Television and Kordia, broadcast daily live coverage of the Championships. ParalympicSport.TV also added clips to their YouTube channel. Events Opening ceremony The opening ceremony was held at Cathedral Square on Friday January 21 as a free event. Over 1000 athletes paraded through the streets of Christchurch. At Cathedral Square, the athletes were greeted by a Pōwhiri, a Māori welcoming ceremony. The New Zealand flag was raised and the national anthem performed. The Championships were Officially opened by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon. John Key. Classification F = field athletes T = track athletes P = pentathlon 11–13 – visually impaired, 11 and 12 compete with a sighted guide 20 – intellectual disability 31–38 – cerebral palsy 41–46 – amputation, les autre 51–58 – wheelchair athletes Where there are more than one classification in one event, (for example discus throw F54/55/56), a percentage system is used to determine who's the winner. Schedule The 1st and 2nd placed athletes in any individual medal event on the London 2012 Paralympic Games Programme, qualify the NPC for one (1) qualification slot (per placing) for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Medalists The sighted guides who run together with athletes with a visual impairment at the Championship, did not receive a medal. This will change for the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London. For