History of Paralympics

The Paralympic Summer Games are today the second largest sporting event just after the Olympic Games. In a rather short time, the Paralympic Winter Games has also become a major event on the Olympic calendar. The winter event began in 1976 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden.

The history of Paralympics began less than fifty years ago, in Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England. However, the earliest beginnings of an athletic Games event for people with disabilities can be traced back to World War II and the relentless efforts of one man; a doctor from England- Ludwig Guttmann. Dr. Guttmann has been christened the “Father of Sport for People with Disabilities”. He was a strongly advocated of use of sports therapy for enhancing the quality of life for people injured or wounded during the War.

Dr. Guttmann organized the International Wheelchair Games in1948 to coincide with the London Olympics the same year. To organize a worldwide sports competition for people with disabilities as “the equivalent of the Olympic Games” was his dream. It took Twelve years to turn his dream into a reality.

The first Paralympic Games in the history of Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960 with participation of 400 athletes from 23 countries. Earlier only wheelchair athletes were invited. The present day Paralympics include six types of athletes: persons with visual impairments, persons with physical disabilities, amputee athletes, people with cerebral palsy, people with spinal cord injuries, and Les Autres - athletes with a physical disability not included in the categories mentioned above (e.g., people with Muscular Dystrophy).

The Paralympic Games now are held in two seasons: summer and winter. In the history of Paralympic Games Athletes with disabilities have been competing in the Winter Games since 1976. The first Winter Games took place in Sweden which included 12 countries competing in Alpine and Cross-country skiing events. In 1992, the four-year cycle was modified to make the winter and summer Paralympics to coincide with the Olympics.

Sir Ludwig Guttmann died in 1980, but name has become immortal in the history of Paralympics. The value of sport in the lives of athletes with disabilities extends far beyond the rehabilitative benefits Dr. Guttmann had thought about. The athletic talents of competitors with disabilities are achieving worldwide recognition, just as Dr. Guttmann had dreamt about.

2008 Beijing Paralympics
History of Paralympics	Torch Relay for Beijing Paralympics 2008
Medals of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics	Competition Venues for 2008 Beijing Paralympics

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