What Are The Paralympic Games

The Ultimate Guide to the Paralympic Games

What are the Paralympic Games?

The Paralympic Games, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, is a series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of physical and intellectual disabilities.

History of the Paralympic Games

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, just a few weeks after the Olympic Games. The Games were originally called the "International Stoke Mandeville Games" and were organized for athletes with spinal cord injuries. The name "Paralympic Games" was first used in 1988, and the Games have grown significantly in size and scope since then.

The Program of the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games programme includes 22 sports: archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, canoeing, cycling, equestrian, football 5-a-side, football 7-a-side, goalball, judo, powerlifting, rowing, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, and wheelchair tennis.

The Paralympics are held every four years, alternating between the Summer and Winter Games. The 2016 Paralympic Games were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while the 2020 Paralympic Games were held in Tokyo, Japan.

The Paralympic Movement

The Paralympic Movement is a global movement that promotes the rights and opportunities of people with disabilities through sport. The movement is led by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which is based in Bonn, Germany.

The Paralympic Games and the Olympic Games

The Paralympic Games are not a separate event from the Olympic Games. They are part of the Olympic Movement, and the athletes who compete in the Paralympic Games are just as much Olympians as those who compete in the Olympic Games.

The Paralympic Games are an important part of the Olympic Movement because they promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of society. They also provide a platform for athletes with disabilities to achieve their full potential and inspire others.