The History and Significance of the Paralympic Games

The History and Significance of the Paralympic Games

Although sport for athletes with disabilities has existed for over 100 years, the modern Paralympics have their origins in the aftermath of World War II. In 1948 Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition for British World War II veterans who had spinal cord injuries in the English town of Stoke Mandeville, and these early competitions have become known as the “Stoke Mandeville Games.”

In 1960 the ninth link togel annual Stoke Mandeville Games were held in Rome to coincide with the Olympics, and these later became the first official Paralympic Games. Four hundred athletes from 23 countries competed, and the Paralympic movement was launched.

The History and Significance of the Paralympic Games

By 1976, the Games were no longer limited to spinal cord injured veterans, and athletes with a variety of disabilities including amputees and those with vision impairments began competing in the Games. In order to make the contests fair, the organizers introduced classification systems for athletes that grouped them by the extent of their disability.

The Paralympic Games have been held every four years since their inception, and they are now considered to be one of the world’s leading sporting events with a strong track record for driving social inclusion. Today, athletes from more than 50 countries compete in a wide range of summer and winter Paralympic sports.

The opening and closing ceremonies for the Paralympics are much like those of the Olympic Games, with celebrity appearances and performances. Athletes enter the stadium grouped by their nation, and they stand to applaud their fellow competitors as they take their places on the track and field.