The Paralympics History

 The journey toward the Paralympics has been remarkable, shaped by visionary individuals and the resilience of athletes with disabilities.

The history of impairment and sport is rich, spanning over a century. A pivotal moment occurred in 1888 in Berlin, where sports for people who are deaf or hard of hearing were first organised, marking the beginning of a long journey towards the Paralympics.

Set up an innovative approach to health for these types of patients

The history of the Paralympics is indeed fascinating and inspiring. It all began in 1948 at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in the UK. Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish refugee from Europe, revolutionised the treatment of paralysed patients. Sports.

On July 29, 1948, coinciding with the opening of the London Olympics, Dr. Guttmann organised the first competition for wheelchair athletes, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games. This event marked a significant milestone, involving 16 injured servicemen and women competing in archery.

From its humble beginnings, the Paralympic Movement has grown into a global phenomenon. By 1960, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome, uniting 400 athletes from 23 countries. This international platform continues to inspire and celebrate the incredible abilities of athletes with disabilities.

1952, Dutch veterans joined the games, competing against British ex-servicemen, marking the beginning of international competition 3.

1960 saw a significant transformation as the games were renamed the Paralympic Games. The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, featuring 400 competitors from 23 nations.

Ref. 1,2,3.

1964, the games evolved, becoming known as the International Sports Organisation for the Disabled (ISOD), which opened the games to all people with disabilities1.

From 1976 to 1986, the games became more inclusive. In 1986, the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association and the International Blind Sports Federation, along with organisations for the deaf and those with intellectual disabilities, became members.

The four international organisations experienced the need to coordinate the Games, so they created the "International Co-coordinating Committee Sports for the Disabled in the World" (ICC) in 1982. The ICC was initially composed of the four presidents of CPISRA, IBSA, ISMGF and ISOD, the general secretaries and one additional member (in the beginning, it was the Vice-President, and later on, the Technical Officer). The International Committee of Sport for the Deaf (CISS) and International Sports Federations for Persons with an Intellectual Disability (INAS-FID) joined in 1986, but the deaf still maintained their organisation. However, the member nations demanded more national and regional representation in the organisation. INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE IS BORN Finally, on 22 September 1989, the International Paralympic Committee was founded as an international non-profit organisation in Dusseldorf, Germany, to act as the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The word “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic”. Its meaning is that the Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olympics, illustrating how the two movements exist side-by-side.

The term “Paralympic,” derived from the Greek words “para” (beside or alongside) and “Olympic,” beautifully captures the essence of these extraordinary sporting events. The Paralympics stand proudly alongside the Olympics, not as a lesser event but as a parallel and complementary celebration of ability, determination, and the human spirit. Together, they embody the true spirit of sports and the potential of human achievement.

Reference.1,2,3

hppt//. paralympics.org/ipc/history

Reference 1 The Mandeville Legacy - Paralympics Documentary (youtube.com)

Reference 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Summer_Paralympics 

1. paralympics.org/ipc/history 2. The Mandeville Legacy - Paralympics Documentary (youtube.com) 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Summer_Paralympics  The journey toward the Paralympics has been remarkable, shaped by visionary individuals and the resilience of athletes with disabilities.