After Usain Bolt, the fastest man on two legs, Manchester will play host to “the fastest man on no legs” as Oscar Pistorius arrives for the fifth BT Paralympic World Cup, which begins today.

The South African will have some serious competition here for the first time when he lines up on Sunday in the 100 metres because one of his American rivals has finally agreed to participate. The presence of Jerome Singleton, the American single-amputee sprinter who almost beat Pistorius at the Paralympics in Beijing last year, will mean that winning is not just a formality for him. Singleton led for about 98 metres in Beijing, before Pistorius, the double amputee, caught him on the line to win in 11.17sec.

The annual four-sport competition tips off today with four of the five best wheelchair basketball teams in the world. Australia, the Paralympic champions but never winners here, play Great Britain at the Manchester Regional Arena tomorrow. Australia, who did not compete in Manchester last year, have some scores to settle after losing finals in 2005 (to Britain), 2006 and 2007.

First Britain face the United States, whom they beat to win the bronze medal at the Paralympics in Beijing. Britain lost to the US in the final here last year, but, with both sides fielding young line-ups, this competition is more about the future than the past.

Track cycling begins at the Manchester Velodrome today, but Friday looks likely to be the highlight. Jason Queally will start his attempt to become the first man to win Olympic and Paralympic gold medals as he begins a fast-track programme to pilot Anthony Kappes in the tandem.

Kappes, who is partially sighted, won the tandem sprint and 1km time-trial in Beijing, the event that Queally won at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Three to look out for

Jerome Singleton (United States, sprinter): Burst on to the scene in last year's Paralympics in Beijing, outstripping Brian Frasure and Marlon Shirley, his more famous countrymen, and almost Oscar Pistorius.

Natalie du Toit (South Africa, swimmer): Eleanor Simmonds, who became a double Paralympics gold medal-winner at 13, will be Great Britain's star in the pool on Sunday and Monday. However, Du Toit is the queen in Manchester. She joined an exclusive club of disabled athletes to have competed at the Olympics after she qualified for Beijing by coming fourth in the 10km open-water World Championship last year, despite having only one leg.

David Weir (Great Britain, wheelchair racer): It is always worth watching Weir, a double gold medal-winner in Beijing, especially when he has a point to prove. He will be smarting after coming second to his Australian arch-rival, Kurt Fearnley, in the Flora London Marathon.

Tickets for the BT Paralympic World Cup can be purchased via the event website: btparalympicworldcup.com or the ParalympicsGB website: paralympics.org.uk or by calling 0844 847 1622. Tickets cost £3 per session.