Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are the equivalent Olympics for athletes with physical, visual or mental disabilities.
Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition in 1948 which became known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, involving World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries; in 1952 competitors from the Netherlands took part in the competition, giving an international notion to the movement. The first Olympic Style games for athletes with a disability were held in Rome in 1960 which became the Paralympic Games. The first Winter Paralympics were held in Örnsköldsvik;, Sweden in 1976. The Games are now always held alongside the Olympic Games as of June 19, 2001 when an agreement was signed between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) securing this practice for the future.
The IPC logo denotes three Tae-Geuks, one in red, blue and green. The three Tae-Geuks symbolise the most significant components of the human being: Mind, Body, Spirit. "Mind, Body, Spirit" was adopted as the IPC motto.
The next Paralympic Games are going to be held in Athens, Greece from 17th to 28th September 2004. These will be the 12th Paralympic Summer Games.
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2 Winter Games 3 Summer Sports 4 Winter Sports 5 External links |
Summer Games
Winter Games
Summer Sports
Winter Sports
External links