The Paralympics Games is a periodic series of international multisport competitions that feature competitors with a variety of disabilities. This includes impaired muscle power, visual impairments, intellectual disabilities, and limb deficiencies. The major international multi-sport events have grown over the years. It is held soon after the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics of the year. This year France held the Paralympics 2024 for the first time.
Paralympics defies all the odds and reflects the values of courage, determination, and inspiration, allowing not only the athletes but also the global audience about the human spirit’s potential. As the Games grow in size and scope. Paralympic Games help to create a more inclusive and diversified sporting landscape, with far-reaching implications both within and outside of sports. Athletes from various nations participate and compete at the highest levels, demonstrating that disability does not limit potential.
When and How was the Paralympic Games formed?
The Paralympics’s history started as a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948. It began at a hospital for war veterans in Stoke Mandeville, located 60 kilometers north of London. Sir Ludwig Guttman, a German neurologist, was seeking a technique to speed up the rehabilitation of his paraplegic patients. All of whom were World War II veterans.
His specialty team was made up of Royal Air Force pilots with spinal cord injuries, all of whom needed wheelchairs. Dr. Guttman organised sporting events during the Olympic Games in London. The inaugural International Stoke Mandeville Games are held. With a team of Dutch veterans competing alongside British teams. The International Stoke Mandeville Games continue to grow, with 14 countries presently participating.
The majority of the athletes, who are all paraplegic, come from hospitals or rehabilitation clinics where medical directors have followed Stoke Mandeville’s lead by incorporating sport into their physical therapy courses. The Fourth International Stoke Mandeville Games take place, with 18 countries and 200 participants competing.
The International Stoke Mandeville Games in 1960 became the inaugural Paralympic Games. Around 5k people attend the Opening Ceremony at the Acqua Acetosa Stadium, in Rome. 23 nations take part, sending 400 athletes to the competition. There were only eight sports in the first edition, Para athletics, wheelchair basketball, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para archery, snooker, dartchery (a combination of darts and archery), and wheelchair fencing.
The Paralympic Games run parallelly and in a manner comparable to the Olympic Games. In 1989 the International Paralympic Committee was established. IOC-recognised Special Olympics World Games feature athletes with intellectual disabilities (however, since 1992, people with intellectual disabilities have also competed in the Paralympic Games), while the Deaflympics, which have been held since 1924, are exclusively for deaf athletes. The Paralympic Games have two events just like the normal Olympics. The Summer Paralympics and the Winter Paralympics.
Summer Paralympic Games; The Main Attraction of Paralympics
The Summer Paralympic Games are just as important as the Summer Olympics. This happens right after the Summer Olympic Games at the same venue where the very multinational event has taken place. It was done in the 1988 Paralympic Summer Games following the 1988 Summer Olympics, in the same host city, and with the majority of the venues. This established a model, which was followed in 1992, 1996, and 2000.
In 2001, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed an agreement that formalised it. Summer Paralympics has 22 different sports adapted to accommodate various physical, visual, and intellectual impairments. Some of the most popular sports include
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Para Athletics
- Para Archery
- Goalball
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Boccia
- Para Swimming
- Para Cycling,
- Wheelchair Tennis,
- Sitting Volleyball
- Powerlifting
This year the Summer Paralympic Games was held in Paris. The nation made its debut for hosting the major event. Fans saw some of the greatest athletes participate in this game. They defied the odds and helped their nations in every possible way to win a medal. The forthcoming event will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Winter Paralympic Games; Blazing a Trail on Ice and Snow
The Winter Paralympic Games made its debut back in 1976 in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. This has featured some of the most inspiring and intense athletic performances in a winter sports scenario. Athletes compete in tough conditions, displaying extraordinary talent, perseverance, and determination in sports specifically designed to accommodate various types of impairments. At first, the Winter Para Games featured alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.
This was open to athletes with physical disabilities like amputations or visual impairments. Over the years Winter Paralympics has gained both in the number of sports and participating nations. It has expanded to include athletes with a wider range of impairments. The multinational event now attracts global attention as a premier sporting event. This event was previously held in some of the most iconic winter sports destinations, including Sochi (2014), PyeongChang (2018), and Beijing (2022). These are some of the games that feature in the Winter Paralympics.
- Para Alpine Skiing
- Para Cross-Country Skiing
- Para Snowboarding
- Para Ice Hockey (Sledge Hockey)
- Wheelchair Curling
- Biathlon
The upcoming Winter Paralympic Games is yet to be held. Milan and, Cortina d’Ampezzo are the hosts for the major event. Alongside the Winter Olympics as per the rule, it has to be held in the same venue. So Italy’s famous cities Milan and Cortina got the opportunity to hold this event. The 2024 event was a grand success the management will look to hold the Winter Games similarly to the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Paris 2024 Paralympics: Bold Showcase of Global Excellence
Paris Paralympics 2024; Host City and Venues
France’s capital Paris hosted the Paralympics 2024 edition. Athletes from 168 delegations participated in the multinational event. The Champs-Élysées to the Place de la Concorde held the opening ceremony in the heart of Paris. Over 4,000 athletes competed in 22 sports events of the competition. It was a success after hosting the Paris Olympics. There were different venues for particular sports in the major event.
Here are the venues where every sport was held
- Stade de France (Saint-Denis)
Events: Athletics (Track and Field) - Champ de Mars Arena (near the Eiffel Tower)
Events: Wheelchair Rugby, Para-Badminton - La Défense Arena (Paris)
Events: Para Swimming - Roland-Garros (Paris)
Events: Wheelchair Tennis - Paris Expo Porte de Versailles (Paris)
Events: Boccia, Para Table Tennis - Arena Paris Nord (Le Bourget)
Events: Para Powerlifting, Sitting Volleyball - Arena Bercy (Accor Arena) (Paris)
Events: Wheelchair Basketball - Yvelines – Château de Versailles (Versailles)
Events: Para Equestrian - Invalides (Paris)
Events: Para Archery - Place de la Concorde (Paris)
Events: Para-Cycling (Road)
Here’s the full schedule and key events table for Paris Paralympics 2024
| Date | Sport | Venue |
| August 29 – September 7 | Swimming | Paris La Défense Arena (Nanterre) |
| August 29 – September 6 | Goalball | Stade Pierre de Coubertin |
| August 29 – September 8 | Table Tennis | Porte de Versailles |
| August 30 – September 5 | Archery | Esplanade des Invalides |
| August 30 – September 8 | Athletics (Track & Field) | Stade de France (Saint-Denis) |
| August 30 – September 1 | Judo | Champ de Mars Arena |
| August 30 – September 5 | Powerlifting | South Paris Arena 6 |
| August 31 – September 7 | Cycling (Track & Road) | Vélodrome National & Various Locations |
| August 31 – September 4 | Shooting | National Shooting Centre, Châteauroux |
| September 1 – September 7 | Badminton | Porte de Versailles |
| September 1 – September 2 | Rowing | Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium |
| September 1 – September 2 | Triathlon | Pont Alexandre III and Surrounding Areas |
| September 2 – September 8 | Boccia | Porte de Versailles |
| September 2 – September 6 | Equestrian | Versailles |
| September 4 – September 8 | Wheelchair Fencing | Grand Palais |
| September 4 – September 8 | Wheelchair Rugby | South Paris Arena 6 |
| September 5 – September 7 | Taekwondo | Grand Palais |
| August 29 – September 7 | Wheelchair Basketball | Bercy Arena |
| August 30 – September 7 | Sitting Volleyball | Porte de Versailles |
This year’s Paralympics was amazing it saw some excellent athletes take on the field and showcase their best in the multinational event for their respective countries. We will take a look at some of those athletes who performed amazingly in the competition.
5. Patrick Anderson (Canada): Wheelchair basketball
Patrick Anderson of Canada is widely regarded as the best wheelchair basketball player in the world and one of the greatest to have ever played the sport. He has three gold medals and one silver in wheelchair basketball. However his team this time failed to win the medal losing out to Germany in the bronze medal match. But he once again proved to be his team’s best player.
4. Sumit Antil (India): Para-athletics
Sumit Antil has been the best para-athlete for India. The Javelin thrower has won the gold in the men’s javelin throw F64 event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Sumit was the flag bearer for India in the Paris Paralympics 2024. He is a two-time gold medalist at the World Para Championships.
3. Shae Graham (Australia): Wheelchair rugby
Shae Graham competed in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, in her first Paralympic Games. She is the first female to be chosen for the Steelers. In the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she earned a bronze medal. Graham made her international debut at the 2019 Four Nations tournament in Alabama, USA.
2. Avani Lekhara (India): Para shooting
Avani Lekhara won the gold medal in the 10m air rifle standing event in the 2024 Paris Paralympics and defended her gold from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. This made history by winning two gold medals in a row. She also won bronze in the 50m rifle 3 positions SH1 event in Tokyo. It made her the first Indian woman to win two medals at the same Paralympic Games.
1. Gustavo Fernandez (Argentina): Wheelchair tennis
Gustavo Fernandez is an Argentine professional wheelchair tennis player. Fernandez is the world No.1 in men’s singles. He created history in 2017 by being the first Latin American wheelchair tennis player to become the world number one. Gustavo won the bronze medal in the Paralympics 2024. After this, he became the first Argentinian player and South American to win a Paralympic medal in any wheelchair tennis category.
These stars have created a massive impact on the Paralympic Games over the years. They have showcased their talents on the biggest stage and helped to make a name for themselves and earn respect from their respective nations. We take a deeper look into the impact that the Paralympic Games have had.
Impact of the Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games have had a significant impact on changing public perceptions about disability. The Games are more than just a showcase for elite sporting skill; they also serve as a platform for promoting equality and accessibility in general. Paralympics has continually grown, with the 2024 edition projected to be one of the most viewed yet.
Furthermore, with increased media coverage and commercial partnerships, Paralympic athletes are obtaining the recognition they deserve. It is more than just a sporting event; it represents a movement toward a more inclusive world. As we have completed the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, there is a lot of excitement about new achievements and inspiring stories that will continue to break stereotypes and motivate future generations.
Do you guys have a favorite memory of witnessing the Paralympics from the stadium or on television? Let us know in the comments and also comment on your favourite Paralympian of all time and if you ever met them or not. For more such updates on Paralympics follow sportsdrip.co.
