Paralympic Games
WHAT ARE THE PARALYMPIC GAMES?
The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world,
conceding top honors only to the Olympics. The multi-sport competition
showcases the talents and abilities of the world's most elite athletes
with physical disabilities. The Games feature 21 sports, 18 of which
are also contested in the Olympics.
The Paralympic Games are distinctly different than the Special Olympic World Games. The two, which are often confused as one in the same, are totally separate competitions. The Paralympic Games provide world-class competition for elite disabled athletes at the highest level. Much like Olympians, Paralympians compete for gold, silver and bronze medals against the best-disabled athletes in the world. In contrast, Special Olympics International focuses on participation of everyone and involves athletes from ages 8 to 80 with mental retardation. All participants are considered winners and receive medals.
The first Paralympics were held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. Only 400 athletes
from 23 countries participated. It wasn't until the 1988 Paralympics
in Seoul, Korea, that the modern-day practice of the Olympic-host nation
also hosted the Paralympic Games.
Today more than 4,000 athletes from 120 countries participate in the
Summer Paralympics, while more than 1,100 athletes from 36 countries
compete in the Winter Paralympic Games. After this summer's Summer Paralympic
Games in Athens, Greece the next Winter Paralympics will be in Torino,
Italy in 2006 and the next summer games will be in Beijing, China in
2008.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PARALYMPIC GAMES?
Participants in the Paralympic Games must meet eligibility standards
established through the International Paralympic Committee. Disability
groups represented include amputees, blind or visually impaired athletes,
athletes with cerebral palsy, athletes with spinal cord injuries and
athletes who are affected by a range of other disabilities that do not
fall into the aforementioned categories, such as multiple sclerosis
or dwarfism.
For more information on U.S. Paralympics, visit www.usparalympics.org