What Paralympics Are....

Paralympics is athletic sporting event for the physically disabled. For example, amputees are included, people who are blind or have low vision, parapelgics, or people who suffer from cerebral palsy. The Paralympics originated or in other words began at Stroke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England. This was in honor of the veterans who suffered from spinal injuries in World War II (1939-1945). All the inspiration behind Paralympics came from Ludwig Guttman, a jewish nuerologist and refugee from Nazi Germany.

History on Paralympics

From 1952 these games were staged in Olympic years and begin to grow with each and every celebration. The first Paralympic game took place in 1960 in Rome, Italy, where 23 nations and 400 athletes were ready to compete.Paralympics games played in winter were at first held in 1976. In the year of 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, there were 82 competing nations and about 3,500 athletes at the Paralympics games that were played in the summer. An estimated 400 athletes and 120 nations were expected to compete in the year of 1996 paralympics games that were played in the summer at Atlanta, Georgia.

The Paralympics Today

Track events at the Summer Paralympics include 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 1500 meter, 5000 meter, and 10000meter and also 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Sports and games include arcchery, basketball, boccie (lawn bowls), bowling, cycling(bike riding), equestrian events, fencing, goalball, judo, soccer, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, and weightlifting. Events at Winter Paralympics include Alpine and Nornic, skiing, ice-sledge hockey, ice-sled racing, and biathalon. Modern technology has radically improved the range of possible activities for physically disabled people. As a result, the intensity of the competition at the paralympics has increased. This in turn has increased publicity and financial support of games. To complete in the paralympic games each athelete must meet rigorous qualifying standards that are catorgorized according to disability type and severity, and then be selected to his/her country's team. The paralympics are recognized and supported by the international olympic commitee and governed by the international paralympic commitee.