While it is a season of the Paris Paralympic Games 2024, many would have been thinking (just like me) about what it is and why it is similar to the Olympics, and those who know about it must have a question in mind about how it came into being. Right? So let us explore a few interesting facts and details about the Paralympics!
What is Paralympics?
Paralympics, which seem closely similar to the Olympics, and yes, it is. The term Paralympics is a combination of “paraplegic,” which means a person paralyzed with lower body, and “Olympics.” Although the term paraplegic originally referred to a person paralyzed in the lower body, these games later became inclusive of everyone with any kind of disability and impairment, whether physical or mental.
Paralympic Games are a grand international event for sports competition, particularly organized for people struggling with various kinds of disabilities that include physical impairment, verbal impairment, blindness, mental disabilities, etc. Paralympics are held every four years; they include summer and winter sports events, including various kinds of sports such as wheelchair basketball, para-alpine skiing, wheelchair curling, etc., which are organized just right after the Olympic Games.
Origin of Paralympics:
The origin of the Paralympic Games is found back in 1948 at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. Dr. Ludwig Guttman, who was a neurologist at the Mandeville hospital, first innovated the idea to use sports as a rehabilitation or therapy technique for injured soldiers, especially for those with spinal cord injuries. On the occasion of the opening of the 1948 Olympics Games in London, Guttman inaugurated the “Stoke Mandeville Games” for sixteen injured soldiers, including women. Initially, it contained only archery, and became the first organized sports competition event for players with physical disabilities. In 1952, Stock Mandeville Games received honor of an international sports event when a Dutch ex-soldier joined it, and here the trail ofthe International Paralympic Games started to come into existence.
While the roots of Paralympics are from 1948, the first official International Paralympic Games took place in Rome, the city of Italy, which were held back in 1960. This first international event hosted 400 participants from 23 countries, featuring 8 sports, including archery, swimming, and wheelchair basketball. From this event, Paralympics got its identity as an event for athletes with various kinds of disabilities and also excluded the idea of restricting these sports to paralyzed people only.
Evolution of Paralympics:
This idea of sports for disabled people made a great revolution in the world and soon made the Paralympics a global recognition. In 1976, the foundation of Winter Paralympic Games was laid by organizing the first Winter Paralympic Games in Örnsköldsvik, the city of Sweden, that featured games like cross-country skiing and Alpine skiing.
In 1988, the Seoul Paralympic Games were the first which to be held in the same city and the locations where Olympic Games were held, which initiated a step towards the association of Paralympics with the Olympics.
In 1992, the trend of organizing Paralympic Games in the same location as the Olympics continued to foster the connection of both events.
These events massively helped Paralympics grow and expand worldwide.
Modern Developments in Paralympics:
Development of Paralympics continued rapidly by the time. In 2000, Sydney Paralympics laid out significant global recognition for the Games through a broader media coverage. This event expanded the list of games, along with participation of many more athletes.
Finally, in 2001, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed a contract which said that the Paralympic Games will always held in same locations or venues as the Olympic Games. This contract was the biggest achievement for Paralympics.
The most recent achievement and development is the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic which hosted a large number of participants from various countries, and also introduced new games like taekwondo (a dynamic martial art which involves acrobatic kicks and punches.) and badminton to the Paralympic event.
So, we have discussed enough about the origin of Paralympic Games; now let us discuss briefly about Paris Paralympics 2024.
Paris Summer Paralympic Games 2024:
Paris Summer Paralympic Games 2024, happening in Paris, the capital of France, started on the 28th of August 2024 and will be continued till the 8th of September 2024. This 17th summer event inaugurated with an opening ceremony and was followed by exciting games including para canoe, blind football, para badminton, para cycling road, taekwondo, para powerlifting, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, para triathlon, sitting volleyball, and many more thrilling games. There are 549 matches in 22 sports of this 11-day event, in which teams and athletes (4,463 in numbers) from more than 50 countries are participating, including host France, China, Malaysia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Egypt, etc., while China is honored with having the most participants this year. There are more than one thousand gold,
silver, and bronze medals for the winners with the distinctive appearance of braille in order to make players recognize their medals who can only sense with touch.
After knowing a few important things about this Summer Paralympic event, let us move towards knowing details about sports, which are the main part of this event.
Paralympic is consisted of various special sports. Let us find about few of them:
1. Para Archery: It has been part of the event since the beginning. It involves shooting for any kind of physically disabled athlete who can shoot whether standing or sitting at the chair. The bows used in para archery are similar to bows used in standard archery, while sports rules are similar as well. Athletes commonly target 70 meters for recurve bows and 50 meters for compound bows, and whoever targets higher gets more points. It is also the largest sport in the Paris Paralympics 2024.
2. Goalball: This sport is designed for visually impaired people, and it has been a part of the event since 1976. This game is played by two teams and consists of three players. One team has to throw a ball in the opponent’’s net and defend its own net to refrain the opponent’’s goal, just like a football. The ball contains ringbells to locate it, and this game is played by senses of hearing and touch. It takes a turn for each team to throw a ball and another to defend the goal, and each turn lasts for 12 minutes. Goalball is also one of the two sports in the Paris Paralympics 2024 that is without an Olympic counterpart.
3. Wheelchair Basketball: Wheelchair basketball is a popular sport adopted through standard basketball for those who are paralyzed with
legs, supporting their dreams to make them able to play basketball while sitting on a wheelchair. It is also a team sport, each team consisting of five players and targeting the ball into the opponent’s basket while defending your own basket. Players classification is based on each player’s different disability; each player is assigned a point value ranging from 1.0 (for the most disabled player) to 4.5 (for the least disabled person). Rules, scoring, and court for this sport are the same as the standard one, while wheelchairs are especially designed lightweighted for the feasibility of the players.
4. Para swimming: Para swimming is also one of the initial sports of Paralympic Games. For athletes with cognitive, vision, or physical disabilities, para swimming is a competitive activity. In order to ensure equitable competition, swimmers are categorized according to their level of disability for a variety of events, including freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly. The sport uses Olympic swimming standards with modifications, like “tappers” for swimmers who are blind or visually handicapped. High skill and endurance are required for para swimming, which gives competitors a chance to show off their skills and deny stereotypes about people with disabilities through para swimming.
5. Boccia: A precise ball sport called Boccia was created especially for athletes with severe physical limitations, especially those suffering from
ailments like cerebral palsy. The goal of the indoor game, which is played on a smooth, level surface, is to roll or toss leather balls as close as you can to a target ball, called the “jack.”
Boccia is a highly strategic game that can be played alone, in pairs, or in teams. It is for tactful thinking, accuracy, and ability. Based on their degree of physical handicap, players are categorized, and some may position the ball with the aid of assistance or assistive equipment like ramps. Since its inclusion in the Paralympic Games in 1984, Boccia is one of the few Paralympic sports without an Olympic equivalent. Like goalball, it is also a sport in the Paris Paralympic Games 2024 without an Olympic counterpart.
6. Para Rowing: A modified kind of rowing designed for athletes with physical or visual limitations is called para-rowing. There are solo and
team races, and the 2,000-meter course is on flat water. Based on their functional ability, athletes are categorized, and boats and equipment are
modified to meet their requirements. When para rowing was included in the Paralympic Games in 2008, it gave athletes with disabilities a chance to compete at the highest level by combining strength, endurance, and technique. It is a kind of strength and stamina testing sport for players with durability and solidity. In Paris 2024 Games, there are up to 104 athletes competing.
7. Para Triathlon: As we know, triathlon is a potential sport combining three sports together i.e., cycling, running, and swimming; para triathlon is a modified form of the standard triathlon designed for competitors with cognitive, visual, or physical disabilities. Running (5 kilometers), cycling (20 kilometers), and swimming (750 meters) are the three continuous disciplines for this sport. To ensure fair competition, athletes are
categorized into various groups according to their disabilities. Handcycles, tandem bikes for athletes with vision impairments, and wheelchair racing are examples of adaptations. The paratriathlon was added to the Paralympic Games in 2016 and tests participants’ multisport adaptability, speed, and endurance. The sport’s Paralympic inclusion has given it a vibrant and welcoming stage, showcasing the amazing fortitude and athleticism of para-athletes and encouraging increased awareness and acceptance of adaptive sports around the world.
8. Wheelchair Tennis: Played on any ordinary tennis court, wheelchair tennis is a modified version of the sport for athletes with physical
limitations. Except that the ball can bounce twice before being returned, the rules and regulations are the same as for standard tennis. Wheelchairs that are lightweighted and incredibly maneuverable are custom-designed for players, allowing them to move quickly and agilely on the court. In order to promote equitable competition, the sport includes both singles and doubles bouts. Athletes are categorized according to the degree of their impairment. Since it was added to the Paralympic Games in 1992, wheelchair tennis has served to promote diversity in the sport while highlighting the athleticism, talent, and strategy of para-athletes. This sport requires wheelchair mobilizing techniques and flexible moves to play.
9. Sitting Volleyball: Played on a smaller court with a lower net, sitting volleyball is a modified form of volleyball designed for athletes with
physical disabilities. When hitting the ball, participants must maintain contact between their buttocks and the ground while seated on the floor.
The net height for men and women is 1.05 meters and 1.15 meters, respectively, on a 10 by 6 meter court. Teams are consisted of six players,
and the ball can only be touched three times before it needs to cross the net. Sitting volleyball, which debuted at the 1980 Paralympic Games, is
renowned for its quick play and strategic approach. It also provides intense competition along with highlighting the talent and mobility of para-
athletes. In the Paris 2024 Games, eight teams of men and women each are participating.
10. Para Judo: Para judo is a modified form of judo for athletes who have visual impairments, such as being blind or partially sighted. The rules and regulations of the sport are based on traditional judo, with certain modifications to accommodate the needs of the athletes. In competitions, competitors try various techniques to throw, pin, or submit their opponents. Competitors use a “judo grip,” which involves grabbing one other’s sleeves and collars rather than the opponent’s uniform. Tatami mats are used for fighting matches, and strategy, ability, and skill are all important in this sport. Since its inclusion in the Paralympic Games in 1988, para judo has served as a platform to demonstrate the extraordinary skills and spirit.
11. Para Equestrian: Para equestrian is a modified version of equestrian sports for athletes with physical or visual limitations. It comprises
disciplines like dressage, in which riders complete a sequence of predefined exercises, and para-dressage, a popular sport at the Paralympic Games. Athletes are classified according to their disabilities to promote fair competition, with groups ranging from riders with minimal leg
function to those with more severe physical problems. Para equestrian focuses on the synergy between horse and rider, emphasizing the sport’s
talent, precision, and relationship requirements. Para equestrian, known for its elegance and complexity, has been a part of the Paralympic
movement since 1996, giving athletes with a unique platform to showcase their abilities and achieve greatness in equestrian disciplines. It was
initiated in 1996 at Atlanta, and is the only artistic sport of Paralympic sports.
12. Para Cycling: It is a modified approach to cycling for athletes who have physical, visual, or cognitive limitations. It includes a variety of sports such as road races, time trials, and track cycling, as well as classifications to accommodate different sorts of disabilities. Athletes ride specially adapted bikes, such as hand cycles for people with upper-body limitations, tandem bikes for visually impaired riders, and tricycles for those with balance concerns. Para cycling involves remarkable endurance, strength, and technical know-how as competitors race over long distances and through a variety of terrains. The sport has been a part of the Paralympic Games since 1988 and has grown in popularity, highlighting para cyclist’s incredible ability and promoting inclusivity. Para cycling not only demonstrates athletic capability, but it also motivates and encourages increased involvement in adaptive sports.
13. Para Taekwondo: It is a Korean martial art and, a defensive and combat sport, which is also helpful in safety purposes. Para taekwondo is
an adapted kind of taekwondo intended for athletes with physical or intellectual disabilities. It uses the same dynamic martial arts methods,
such as kicks, blows, and forms, but with adjustments to meet different limitations. Athletes participate in several weight categories and are
classified according to their level of disability to promote fair competition. Matches are held in a regular taekwondo ring, and contestants receive points for effectively executing techniques and plans. Para taekwondo, demonstrates para-athletes’ talent, discipline, and tenacity. The sport emphasizes their ability to do complex moves and compete at the highest levels, fostering inclusivity and motivating others by demonstrating that physical and intellectual disabilities do not preclude athletic greatness. It was introduced recently in the Tokyo Paralympic Games, held in 2021, Paralympics, up to 120 athletes are competing in 10 medal events.
So, here is a list of various sports of Paralympic sports I have found out about, although there are so many more amazing sports for special people too. Amazing! Isn’t it?
Positive Impacts of Paralympics on Society:
There are many benefits of Paralympic Games, not only for people with physical impairments and unhealthy conditions, but it also have positive impacts on society overall. I want to highlight some of these valuable impacts of Paralympics, so let us start it:
• Denial of Stereotypes: In our society, physically or mentally impaired people are usually considered useless and unable to do anything for
society and especially for themselves. This initiative of Guttman and the amazing success of the Paralympics denied this stereotype and created a sense of acceptance in society for such people, which is definitely appreciable.
• Equity: Paralympics promote equity in the field of sports, as people who have some kind of physical or mental impairment can also take part in sports that are especially organized for them according to their stamina and strength, and can challenge their strength by utilizing their talents that would have certainly been ignored if there were not any initiative like Paralympics for them.
• Inclusion: Paralympics promote the inclusion of each and every person in society in the field of sport, which creates harmony between people.
• Encouragement: It encourages millions of people with physical disabilities and mental impairments to believe in themselves and contribute to society instead of considering themselves useless or inferior to anyone, which in turn creates a sense of accepting flaws, and it also develops a willpower and motivation in differently-abled individuals to do something bigger and more productive, and this thought also ensures their
abilities to groom and make their future better.
• Community Building: Participating in sports and winning awards creates a sense of pride and belonging among the players, supporters,
and people with shared impairments, which makes them feel like a united community full of harmony and adaptation.
• Inspiration: Paralympics inspire a lot of people with imperfections to do something creative in spite of their flaws and make themselves shine in the world while crossing any hurdles they face on the way. It also inspires people with healthy bodies and minds to learn from these optimistic people to do something great to change their lives. It is also a huge inspiration for fields other than sports to initiate such projects for differently-abled people in society so they can also take part in productive activities.
Lastly, I would say Dr. Ludwig Guttman was indeed a great human being to initiate this amazing idea for these amazing talented people who can do a lot in life by having such exposures and opportunities.
Although there are many other fields that are working for disabled people, there is still a need to highlight the importance of these initiatives, as these events are really underrated and underestimated, especially in Pakistan.
Furthermore, our society should take steps for creating more events and organizations like Paralympics in many fields like technology, music, art, etc. to make these talented and vulnerable people empowered and acknowledged in society. Only then can we make our society harmonic and inclusive for everyone.
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