Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games or Paralympics are a series of international sports events for athletes with different kinds of disabilities. There are both Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which have been held after the Olympic Games since 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. All Paralympic events are organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The Paralympics started as a small group of British World War II veterans. The first big event happened in 1960 in Rome, with 400 athletes from 23 countries. Today, it is one of the biggest international sports events, like the 2020 Summer Paralympics with 4,520 athletes from 163 countries.

The Paralympic Games are similar to the Olympic Games in how they are organized. There are also events like the Special Olympics World Games for athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the Deaflympics for deaf athletes, which have been held since 1924.

Athletes in the Paralympics compete in ten different types of disabilities, such as muscle power problems, vision impairment, and intellectual impairment. These types are divided into smaller groups to make sure everyone can compete fairly.

Forerunners

Athletes with disabilities have participated in the Olympic Games before the Paralympics began. One example is George Eyser, a gymnast from German-American background who competed in the 1904 Summer Olympics with one artificial leg. Other athletes with disabilities, such as Olivér Halassy from Hungary and Károly Takács also from Hungary, took part in Olympic events before the Paralympics started.

The first organized sports event for athletes with disabilities that matched the Olympic Games happened on the opening day of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Doctor Ludwig Guttmann from Stoke Mandeville Hospital arranged a competition for British World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. This event was called the 1948 International Wheelchair Games. Over time, these games grew and included athletes from other countries, and in 1960, they were held in Rome for the first time outside the UK, the same year as the 1960 Summer Olympics. These early games are considered the beginning of the Paralympic Games.

Milestones

Further information: Chronology of the Paralympic Movement

The Paralympic Games have grown over time with several important moments. The first official Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960, with athletes from 23 countries. At first, only athletes in wheelchairs could compete, but this changed in 1976 when athletes with different disabilities were allowed to join.

A big step happened in Seoul during the 1988 Summer Paralympics. For the first time, the Paralympic Games were held right after the Olympic Games in the same city, using many of the same places to compete. This tradition continued and was made official in 2001, lasting until at least 2032. The Winter Paralympics also started using the same venues and organizers as the Winter Olympics beginning in 1994.

Winter Games

Main article: Winter Paralympic Games

The first Winter Paralympic Games took place in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. This was the first time that athletes with different kinds of disabilities could compete together in winter sports. The Winter Games happened every four years, just like the Olympics. After the 1992 Games in Albertville, France, the Winter Paralympics and the Winter Olympics started happening in different years. Now, the Winter Games occur two years after the Summer Games.

International Paralympic Committee

The International Paralympic Committee is the main group that oversees the Paralympic Games. It has 211 members, including groups from many countries and organizations for different sports. Andrew Parsons is the current president, and the group’s main office is in Bonn, Germany.

The IPC organizes both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and helps manage five main sports: Para athletics, Para swimming, Para powerlifting, Shooting Para sport, and Para ice hockey. It also works with other sports groups and makes sure the rules are followed.

Since 1989, the IPC has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee. Though they are separate, they share ideas and help each other. The Paralympic Games focus on celebrating athletes’ skills, not their challenges. The number of athletes has grown a lot over time. English is the main language used in the Paralympic movement, along with the languages of the host country.

Name and symbols

Main article: Paralympic symbols

The name "Paralympic" started as a mix of words, but now it means games that happen alongside the Olympic Games. The first time this name was used officially was in 1988 in Seoul.

The motto of the Paralympic movement is "Spirit in Motion." The Paralympic flag, used since 2020, has three colors—red, blue, and green—shaped like moving forms called Agitos. These colors come from many nation flags, and the shapes show athletes coming together from everywhere. The goal of the Paralympic movement is to help athletes with disabilities compete and to inspire the world. The official anthem is called "Anthem of the Future."

Ceremonies

The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games begins with the host country's flag and national anthem. Athletes from each country then enter the stadium, usually in alphabetical order, with the host country's athletes entering last. The host nation also shows performances of their culture and traditions. Important speeches are given, and the Paralympic flag is brought in with its anthem played. Athletes, coaches, and judges take oaths, and the Paralympic flame is carried into the stadium and lit in a special cauldron.

The closing ceremony happens after all the sports events are finished. Athletes from all countries enter together, and the Paralympic flag is taken down. The flag and anthem of the next host country are shown, and the games are officially closed. The Paralympic flame is then put out, and the next host country gives a short cultural performance.

After each event, a medals ceremony is held. The top three winners stand on a special podium to receive their medals. The flags of the winners are raised, and the national anthem of the gold medalist is played. Volunteers from the host country help with these ceremonies.

Equality

Relationship with the Olympics

In 2001, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee agreed to link the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This means that cities hosting the Olympics must also host the Paralympics. This agreement started with the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics. It was adjusted over time and extended to cover games up to the 2032 Summer Olympics.

The Olympic Charter says that everyone should have equal access to sports, no matter who they are. This includes people with disabilities. The Paralympic Charter also says that no one can be treated unfairly because of their disability.

Paralympians at the Olympics

Some Paralympic athletes have also competed in the Olympics. For example, Neroli Fairhall from New Zealand was an archer with a disability who competed in the 1984 Olympics. In 2008, Oscar Pistorius from South Africa, who races with special carbon fibre blades instead of legs, tried to qualify for the Olympics but did not make it. However, he did compete and win medals in the 2008 Paralympics.

Media coverage

For many years, the Paralympics did not get as much TV coverage as the Olympics. But things are changing. In 2023, the International Paralympic Committee said that more TV networks are showing the Paralympics. In 2000, the Sydney Paralympics were a big step forward, with many countries showing the games on TV and the internet for the first time. Some countries still don’t show much coverage, but this is improving.

Outside the Games

The Paralympics can help change how people think about disabilities. After the 2010 Vancouver Games, many people in Canada noticed improvements in accessibility, like better sidewalks and public spaces. In China, the 2008 Beijing Paralympics helped change attitudes and improve facilities for people with disabilities.

Down syndrome participation

There have been discussions about including athletes with Down syndrome in the Paralympics more fairly. Right now, athletes with Down syndrome compete in a category for intellectual impairments, but this doesn’t fully consider their physical challenges. Some groups are working to create a special category for athletes with Down syndrome to make competition fairer.

Classification

Further information: Disability sport classification

Categories

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has ten groups of disabilities for athletes to compete in the Paralympics. These include physical, visual, and intellectual impairments. Athletes are grouped based on how their disability affects their ability to play sports, which can change depending on the sport.

Physical Impairment – There are eight types of physical impairments. These include reduced muscle power, limited movement in joints, loss or shortage of limbs, shorter legs, shorter height, increased muscle tension, lack of coordination in movements, and uncontrolled movements.

Visual impairment – Athletes with visual impairments range from partial vision to complete blindness. Some athletes with visual impairments have guides who help them during competitions, and these guides are also considered part of the team.

Intellectual disability – Athletes with significant intellectual impairments can also compete. These athletes must have been diagnosed before age 18.

Classification system

Main article: Disability sport classification

The Paralympics use a system that focuses on how an athlete’s disability affects their performance in sports. For example, in swimming or athletics, athletes are placed in different classes based on their disability and how much it affects their performance.

In some sports, athletes must use special equipment to make things fairer. For example, swimmers with the most severe visual impairments must wear blackened goggles.

In team sports, each player has a score based on their disability. Teams can only have a certain total score on the field at one time to keep the competition fair.

Sports

Main article: Paralympic sports

The Paralympic Games include many different sports for athletes with various disabilities. In the Summer Paralympics, there are twenty-two sports, and in the Winter Paralympics, there are six sports. Some sports have many events. For example, alpine skiing includes events like downhill and slalom. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) helps manage most sports, but some are overseen by other groups, such as the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation, the International Blind Sports Federation, and the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association. Each country also has its own groups to support these sports and choose athletes.

Alleged cheating

Main article: Cheating at the Paralympic Games

After the 2000 Sydney games, a Spanish basketball player said that some members of the gold medal-winning team did not have the required disabilities. This caused a big problem, and an investigation showed that some athletes did not follow the rules. Because of this, competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities were stopped for a while. Rules were made stricter before they started again.

There have also been issues with athletes using banned substances to improve performance. For example, at the 2008 Games, some athletes were banned for using such substances. The Paralympic Committee works hard to test athletes and make sure everyone follows the rules.

There are also concerns about athletes hurting themselves to improve performance, and about the use of special treatments that might give unfair advantages. The Paralympic Committee continues to work with experts to keep the games fair for everyone.

In 2016, the entire Russian team was not allowed to compete because of problems with following these rules. Later, Russian athletes could compete under a neutral flag, but faced restrictions again due to other events.

Notable champions and achievements

Further information: Lists of Paralympic medalists and List of multiple Paralympic gold medalists

Trischa Zorn from the United States is the most decorated Paralympian ever. She competed in swimming for people who are blind and won 55 medals, with 41 of them being gold. Her Paralympic career lasted 24 years from the 1980 Summer Paralympics to the 2004 Summer Paralympics. She was also chosen for the 1980 American Olympic swim team but didn’t go to the Olympics because the United States and some other countries decided not to participate.

Ragnhild Myklebust from Norway holds the record for the most medals at the Winter Paralympic Games. Competing in many events between 1988 and 2002, she won 22 medals, 17 of which were gold. After winning five gold medals at the 2002 Games, she retired at the age of 58. Neroli Fairhall, an archer from New Zealand who used a wheelchair, was the first Paralympian to compete in the Olympic Games. She took part in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and placed thirty-fourth in the Olympic archery competition. She also won a Paralympic gold medal in the same event.

Host cities

Main article: List of Paralympic Games host cities

^a Postponed to 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the first time that the Paralympic Games has been postponed. They are still called the 2020 Summer Paralympics, even with the change in scheduling to one year later. The Games were held from 24 August to 5 September 2021.