paralympics

 

The Paralympic Games, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, are international multisport events for athletes with a range of disabilities, held in both Winter and Summer formats. Since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, the Paralympics have been scheduled shortly after the respective Olympic Games. They are overseen by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The Paralympics began in 1948 as a small event for British World War II veterans and grew significantly with the 1960 Games in Rome, which featured 400 athletes with disabilities from 23 countries, an initiative led by Dr. Antonio Maglio. Today, the Paralympics are among the world's largest sporting events, exemplified by the 2020 Summer Paralympics, which hosted 4,520 athletes from 163 National Paralympic Committees. Despite striving for equal treatment, Paralympians face a significant funding gap compared to their Olympic counterparts.

The Paralympic Games are organized alongside and in a similar fashion to the Olympics. While the Special Olympics World Games focus on athletes with intellectual disabilities and the Deaflympics (established in 1924) are for deaf athletes, since 1992, the Paralympics have also included athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Para athletes compete in several categories based on their disabilities, which are classified into ten eligible impairment types: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment, and intellectual impairment. These categories are further divided into various subcategories to ensure fair competition.

The Paralympic Games trace their origins to July 29, 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, when Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organized the first competition for wheelchair athletes, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games. This event marked a significant moment in Paralympic history, involving 16 injured servicemen and women competing in archery.

The Stoke Mandeville Games eventually evolved into the Paralympic Games, which debuted in Rome, Italy, in 1960 with 400 athletes from 23 countries. Since then, the Paralympics have been held every four years.

In 1976, the first Winter Paralympic Games were held in Sweden, introducing the Winter format, which also takes place every four years and includes both Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Since the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, and the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Albertville, France, the Games have been hosted in the same cities and venues as the Olympics, thanks to an agreement between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Here's a list of sports that are currently included in the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games:

Summer Paralympic Sports:

1. Archery
2. Athletics (track and field)
3. Badminton
4. Boccia
5. Canoe Sprint
6. Cycling (road and track)
7. Equestrian
8. Football 5-a-side
9. Goalball
10. Judo
11. Powerlifting
12. Rowing
13. Shooting Para Sport
14. Sitting Volleyball
15. Swimming
16. Table Tennis
17. Taekwondo
18. Triathlon
19. Wheelchair Basketball
20. Wheelchair Fencing
21. Wheelchair Rugby
22. Wheelchair Tennis

Winter Paralympic Sports:

1. Alpine Skiing
2. Biathlon
3. Cross-Country Skiing
4. Para Ice Hockey
5. Snowboard
6. Wheelchair Curling

Each sport has various classifications to accommodate athletes with different types and levels of disabilities, ensuring fair competition.