What are the Paralympics?

The Paralympics are international, multi-sport events contested by athletes with a range of disabilities. There are summer and winter Paralympic Games, each occurring after the Olympic Games, every four years.

There are over 600 medal events over the summer and winter games, with athletes from around 170 nations set to compete in the next Paralympics.

It all began in 1944, when Dr. Ludwig Guttmann presided over a spinal injuries centre in the Stoke Mandeville Hospital to assist those injured in WW2. Ludwig believed sport played an important role in rehabilitation for injured military personnel that not only helped them build strength, but-self respect too. Under his directorship, sport for rehabilitation soon became recreational, and then competitive.

Guttmann organised the first Stoke Mandeville Games on 29 July 1948, the same day as the beginning of the London Olympics. The annual event continued to expand until Guttmann’s vision finally came to fruition in 1960 when it was held alongside the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

This was the first official Paralympic Games, and while it would continue to expand and open its doors for more people to compete in the future, it was an international milestone for athletes with disabilities.

2020 Summer Paralympic Games

The 2020 games are now planned to be held in Tokyo between 24 August 2021 and 5 September 2021. It will be the second time Tokyo has hosted the games.

Examples of Paralympic events

Sitting volleyball
Taekwondo
Alpine skiing
5-a-side football
Wheelchair curling

What is the Paralympic symbol?

The main symbol for the Paralympic Games features three ‘agitos’ (crescent moon shapes). The agitos are red, blue and green, as these are the colours that are most widely represented on national flags throughout the world.

‘Agito’ comes from the Latin ‘I move’, and by encompassing a central point on the flag they symbolise motion, inviting athletes from all over the world to participate in the events.

Famous Paralympians

Trischa Zorn – Born blind, Trischa won 55 medals in Paralympic swimming, 41 of which were gold. She is the most successful Paralympian ever.
Gerd Schönfelder – Gerd is one of the most decorated para-alpine skiers in history. He’s won 22 Paralympic medals in his career, 16 of which are gold, and also won Best Male at the Paralympic Sports Awards for his performance in 2010.
Neroli Fairhall – Neroli took up archery after she was paralysed from the waist down in a motorbike accident. In 1984, she became the first paraplegic to compete in the Olympic Games. She’s also won medals in the Paralympics.