TheParalympic Games , for those unfamiliar with one of the biggest sporting events in the world , may best be discover as a variety of parallelOlympic Games . They happen every duad of years , just like the Olympics . For the past several tenner , they ’ve been adjudge in the same host city . Like the Olympic Games , the Paralympics — " Para River " is a Greek prefix for " beside " — sport G of highly civilise jock from hundreds of land around the public .
Breathtaking rival ? The thrill of victory ? Heartwarming backstories ? nationalism ? Dreams add up truthful ? All - out inspiration ?
TheTokyo 2020 Paralympic Games , which open up Aug. 24 ( a year latterly , just like the Olympics ) , have all that .
" And I conceive the keystone is , " says Julie Dussliere , senior vice chair and chief of Paralympic play for theUnited States Olympic & Paralympic Committee , " the inspiration comes from phenomenal gymnastic performances . "
What Are the Paralympic Games?
Paralympians differ from Olympians in a key look : Paralympians compete with sure deterioration . Those can range from physical — say , a escape limb or limited vision — to intellectual .
The Paralympic Games began at the 1948 Olympic Games in London when German brain doctor Ludwig Guttmann organized an archery competition for 16 injure soldier in wheelchairs . TheStoke Mandeville Games(named after a British hospital famed for its world - course spinal center ) were an straightaway achiever . By 1960 in Rome , the Games had morph into the first Paralympic Games , featuring more than 400 athletes from 23 countries . In 1976 , thefirst Winter Paralympicswere held in Sweden .
" The sound note value of sportsman in preventing these patient from retiring into inactivity can not be enlarged , " Guttman is quoted as saying in " A Sporting Chance : How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games . "
Starting with the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics , and the 1992 Albertville ( France ) Winter Olympics , the Paralympics and Olympics have been apply in the same cities . They ’re now organized collectively through the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) and the International Paralympic Committee ( IPC ) .
How the Paralympics Work
" I think there ’s belike a few misconceptions , " about the Paralympics , Dussliere says , " but I conceive the most vulgar one is that , if you have a disability that you ’re into the Paralympics at any and all floor . That ’s not the way it is . There is a sports pipeline , just like in Olympic sports . Age - grouping and grassroots , up through gamy school , and other intermediary measure up to that elite level . This is elect summercater competition . It ’s athletes all competing for that podium at a very elect level . "
In the U.S. , any athlete who dreams of a spot on the Paralympics team is encouraged to pick a mutation , join a local nightclub , and to meet out a Team USAquestionnairethat puts the jock on the radiolocation as a possible Paralympian . But lots of challenger , at many degree , lies between begin in a para fun and making a head trip to the Paralympics . Not everyone make it that far .
One of the most authoritative parts of being a Paralympic jock is finding a niche with like - abled athletes ; in effect , getting classified . concord to theIPC :
Para athletes are firstclassifieddepending on their case of impairment . The classifications more often than not fall under forcible , noetic and visual modality handicap , and admit disabilities regarding :
It ’s up to the govern body of each sport to understandably define which , and how many , of these eligible impairment groups they provide sports chance . As the IPC suggests , the whole idea is like to a free weight classification in boxing or wrestling ortaekwondo .
In the Paralympics , a single event in a sport — say the 100 - time run in sport — could have several dissimilar compartmentalisation vie for different versions of a 100 - meter gold medal . Just as , in general terms , welterweights and heavyweights compete for different medallion in packing .
In Tokyo , some4,400 athlete — including 236 from the United States — will compete in 22 different sports . Within those 22 sports , several classifications will compete . In all , 539 events will be hold in those 22 sports in Tokyo , intend 539gold medalsare up for grabs .
Again , the whole theme ( fit in to the IPC ) is , " to minimise the impact of the impairment on athletes ' functioning so that the sporting excellence watch which athlete or team is ultimately victorious . "
Paralympics summer sport let in 20 Olympic staple fiber ( like athletics , swimming , tennis and cycling ) and two Paralympics - only sports . All have a Paralympics flair . For example :
The two mutant play only in the Paralympics : Boccia , a clump variation played by neurologically impaired athletes in which points are score by switch a Lucille Ball snug to a target clod ( call up bocce ball ) . Andgoalball , in which three - individual teams of visually impaired actor attempt to throw a noise - making clump into a web champion by the other team .
The Tokyo Paralympic Games run through Sept. 5 , when the Closing Ceremonies ( yes … just like the Olympics ) will be held . In 2024 , Paris plays host to both the Summer Olympics and Paralympics .
