From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
Summer Paralympic Games
Summer Paralympic Games Paralympic Games: Australia, Austria, France, Great Bri-
tain, Italy, Netherlands, and the United States.
The United States have been the top ranking nation
for eight of the 13 Paralympic Summer Games: 1964, 1968,
1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996. China have been
the top ranking nation for the two most recent Games,
2004 and 2008. Italy (1960), West Germany (1972) and
Australia (2000) have been the top ranking nation one
time each.
The Opening Ceremony in Athens for the 2004 Summer
Paralympics. Qualification
Games Qualification rules for each of the Paralympic sports are
1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 set by the International Federation (IF) that governs that
1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 sport’s international competition.
2004 • 2008 • 2012 • 2016 • 2020 • 2024 • 2028
Sports (details) History
Archery • Athletics • Boccia • Cycling • Equestrian The first official Paralympic Games, was held in Rome in
Football 5-a-side • Football 7-a-side • Goalball • Judo •
1960.[1] 400 athletes from 23 countries competed at the
Powerlifting • Rowing
Sailing • Shooting • Swimming 1960 Games though only athletes in wheelchairs compet-
Table tennis • Volleyball • Wheelchair basketball ed.
Wheelchair fencing • Wheelchair rugby • Wheelchair tennis At the 1976 Summer Games athletes with different
disabilities were included for the first time at a summer
The Summer Paralympic Games or the Games of the Par- Paralympics. With the inclusion of more disability classi-
alympiad,
alympiad are an international multi-sport event, where fications, the 1976 Summer Games expanded to 1,600 ath-
athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes letes from 40 countries.[2]
athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blind- The 1988 Summer Paralympics were the first to use
ness, and Cerebral Palsy. The Paralympic Games are held the same facilities as the Olympics of that year.
every four years, organized by the International Para- London, United Kingdom will hold the 2012 Summer
lympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, Paralympics. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will be the host city of
with gold medals for first place, silver for second and the 2016 Summer Paralympics, becoming the first South
bronze for third, a tradition that the Olympic Games American city to host either the Summer or Winter
started in 1904. Games.
The United States have hosted two Summer Para-
lympic Games, more than any other nation. The United
Kingdom will have hosted two Summer Paralympic
Classification
Games when the Games take place in London in 2012. Within the six disability categories the athletes still need
Other countries that have hosted the summer Olympics to be divided according to their level of impairment. The
are Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, classification systems differ from sport to sport, and is in-
Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and West Germany. In tended to even the playing field so as to allow as many
the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Rio de Janeiro will host athletes to participate as possible. Classifications vary in
the first Summer Games in South America. No cities have accordance with the different skills required to perform
hosted two Summer Paralympic Games. the sport.
Twelve countries — Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bel- Archery:
Archery Archery is open to athletes with a physical
gium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Nether- disability. Classifications are broken up into three divi-
lands, Switzerland, United States — have been represent- sions: W1, spinal cord injured and Cerebral Palsy athletes
ed at all Summer Paralympic Games. Seven of those coun- with impairment in all four limbs. W2, wheelchair users
tries have won at least one gold medal at every Summer with full arm function. W3, standing amputee, Les Autres
and Cerebral Palsy standing athletes. Some athletes in
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
broken up into divisions 2, 3 and 4. Athletes in division
two are the most severely disabled. While athletes in di-
vision four are considered to be higher functioning. Visu-
ally impaired athletes compete together with no separate
classification system. They ride in tandem with a sight-
ed guide. Amputee, spinal cord injury and Les Autre com-
petitors compete within the classification groupings LC1
– for riders with upper limb disabilities, LC2 – for riders
with disabilities in one leg but who are able to pedal nor-
mally, LC3 – essentially for riders with a handicap in one
lower limb who will usually pedal with one leg only, and
LC4 for riders with disabilities affecting both legs.[7]
Equestrian:
Equestrian Equestrian is open to all disability groups,
with riders divided into four grades. Grade 1 incorporates
severely disabled riders with Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres
and spinal cord injury. Grade 2 incorporates Cerebral Pal-
sy, Les Autres, spinal cord injury and amputee riders with
reasonable balance and abdominal control. Grade 3 is for
Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres, amputee, spinal cord injury
and totally blind athletes with good balance, leg move-
ment and co-ordination. Grade 4 incorporates athletes
who have Cerebral Palsy, Les Autres, amputation(s), spinal
cord injury and/or are visually impaired. This last group
A wheelchair basketball game at the 2008 Summer Paralympics comprises ambulant athletes with either impaired vision
or impaired arm/leg function.[8]
the standing group will sit on a high stool for support but Fencing:
Fencing Fencing is open to wheelchair athletes.
will still have their feet touching the ground.[3] There are only three classes; class A incorporates those
Athletics:
Athletics Athletics is open to all disability groups and athletes with good balance and recovery and full trunk
uses a functional classification system. A brief classifica- movement; class B is for those with poor balance and re-
tion guide is as follows: prefixing F for field athletes or T covery but full use of one or both upper limbs; class C is
for track athletes. F or T 11–13 are visually impaired, F or for athletes with severe physical impairment in all four
T 20 are learning disabled, F or T 32–38 are Cerebral Palsy, limbs.[9]
F or T 40–46 amputee and Les Autres, T 51–54 wheelchair Football:
Football There are two forms of football played at
track athletes and F 51–58 wheelchair field athletes.[4] the Paralympics. The first is 5-a-side football, which is
Basketball:
Basketball Basketball is open to wheelchair athletes open to visually impaired athletes. The second is 7-a-
and athletes with a learning disability. Wheelchair ath- side football, which is open to athletes with Cerebral Pal-
letes are classified according to their physical ability and sy. 5-a-side football is open to all visually impaired ath-
are given a points rating between 0.5 – 4.5. The individ- letes. Since there are different levels of visual impair-
uals who rate at 0.5 are the most severely disabled and ment, all players except the goalie (who acts as a guide)
those at 4.5 are the least disabled. A team on the court are required to wear eye shades. The field dimensions
comprises five players and may not exceed a total of 14 are smaller than able-bodied football, there are only five
points at any given time.[5] players on the pitch and the ball makes a sound. Other-
Boccia:
Boccia Boccia is open to athletes with cerebral palsy wise the rules are exactly the same as able-bodied foot-
or related neurological conditions who compete from a ball.[10] Athletes competing in 7-a-side football are bro-
wheelchair. Classifications are split into four groups; BC1: ken down into classes 5, 6, 7 and 8. All classes comprise
Athletes are either throwers or foot players (with Cere- ambulant athletes; class 5 being the least physically able,
bral Palsy). Athletes may compete with an assistant BC2: progressing through to class 8 who are minimally affect-
For throwing players (with Cerebral Palsy). Players may ed. Teams must include at least one athlete from either
not have an assistant BC3: Athletes (with severe disabil- class 5 or 6. Furthermore no more than three players
ity) who use an assistive device and may be assisted by from class 8 are allowed to play at the same time. Other
a person, but this assistant must keep their back to the than the fact that the game is played with seven players
court. BC4: For throwing players. Players may not have the rest of the rules and dimensions of the playing field
an assistant (non Cerebral Palsy).[6] are the same as able-bodied football.[11]
Cycling:
Cycling Cycling is open to amputee, Les Autre, Cere- Goalball:
Goalball Goalball is open to visually impaired ath-
bral Palsy and visually impaired athletes who compete in letes who must wear "black out" masks to ensure all par-
individual road race and track events. Classifications are ticipants can compete equally, therefore eliminating the
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
The Swedish goalball team at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
A Paralympian in the women’s butterfly at the 2008 Summer
Paralympics
need for classification. The ball has a bell in it to help the
players react to the ball. Complete silence at the venue is
Swimming:
Swimming The Paralympic swimming competition
required so that the athletes can orient themselves and
features all four of the strokes used in able-bodied swim-
to ensure fairness.[12]
ming competitions. Classification is divided into three
Judo:
Judo Judo is open to visually impaired athletes. The
groups: S1 to S10 are those with physical impairment.
rules are the same as able-bodied judo except that the
S1 will have the most severe impairment and an S10 a
players are allowed contact with their opponent prior to
lesser impairment. Athletes are judged on their muscle
the start of the match. There are no classifications; par-
strength, joint range of motion, limb length and move-
ticipants are divided into weight categories in the same
ment co-ordination. S11 to S13 are those with a visual im-
way as able-bodied judo athletes.[13]
pairment. S11 will have little or no vision, S12 can recog-
Powerlifting:
Powerlifting Powerlifting is open to athletes with
nise the shape of a hand and have some ability to see, S13
Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injuries, amputations (lower
greater vision than the other two classes but less than 20
limb only), and Les Autres. Since the competition is a test
degrees of vision. S14 is for athletes with a learning diffi-
of upper body strength the classifications are by weight
culty.[17]
category as in able-bodied powerlifting competition. [14]
Tennis:
Table Tennis Table tennis is open to athletes with
Sailing:
Sailing Sailing is open to amputee, Cerebral Palsy, vi-
a physical disability. There are individual, doubles and
sually impaired, spinal cord injured and Les Autres ath-
team events. A match is 5 sets of 11 points each. The ath-
letes. There are three events, one for single, double, and
letes are broken down into ten divisions based on their
triple-crew boats. Classification for sailing in the three-
level of function. Classes 1 to 5 are for athletes competing
person event is based on a functional points system with
from a wheelchair with class 1 being the most severely
low points for severely disabled athletes rising by scale
disabled and class 5 the least disabled. Classes 6 to 10 en-
to high points for less disabled athletes. A classification
compass ambulant athletes with class 6 the most severely
committee evaluates each sailor and assign a point from
disabled and class 10 the least.[18]
one to seven based on their level of ability. Each crew
Tennis:
Tennis Tennis at the Paralympics is played with all
of three is allowed a maximum of 14 points. The single-
the same rules as able-bodied tennis with the exception
person event can be crewed regardless of points but the
that the ball is allowed to bounce twice, and the first
sailor must have at least a minimum level of disability
bounce must be with in the bounds of the court. It is open
which prevents them from competing on equal terms
to athletes with a mobility related disability which means
with able-bodied sailors. The two-person event is de-
that they cannot compete on equal terms with able-bod-
signed for more severely disabled athletes.[15]
ied tennis players. The game is played from a wheelchair,
Shooting:
Shooting Shooting is open to athletes with a physical
with two classes, paraplegic (at least one leg must have
disability. There are only two classes of competition,
a permanent and substantial loss of function) and quad-
wheelchair and standing. There are two types of events,
riplegic (at least three limbs must have a permanent and
pistol and rifle. The athletes are broken down into classes
substantial loss of function).[19]
based on their upper body functionality, balance, muscle
Volleyball:
Volleyball Volleyball is open to athletes with a phys-
strength and limb mobility. The three classes are
ical disability and is performed from a seated position. In
SH1-competitors do not require a shooting stand,
sitting volleyball the court is smaller than the standard
SH2-competitors cannot support the weight of the gun
court and has a lower net. In the sitting games the only
and require a shooting stand, and SH3-Rifle competitors
classification rule is that each team may have only one
with a visual impairment.[16]
player who fits the minimum disability rule, which is that
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
Sport Years
Archery all
Athletics all
Basketball ID 1996–2000
Boccia since 1984
Cycling since 1988
Dartchery 1960–1980
Equestrian since 1996
Football 5-a-side since 2004
Football 7-a-side since 1984
Goalball since 1976
Judo since 1988
Lawn bowls 1968–1988, 1996
Powerlifting since 1984
Sport Years
Rowing since 2008
Sailing 1996, since 2000
Shooting since 1976
Snooker 1960–1976, 1984-1988
Swimming all
Table tennis all
Volleyball since 1976
Weightlifting 1964–1992
Wheelchair basketball all
Wheelchair fencing all
Wheelchair rugby 1996, since 2000
Wheelchair tennis 1988, since 1992
Wrestling 1980–1984
their disability prevents them from competing on equal
terms with able-bodied athletes. The other players on the
List of Summer Paralympic
team must demonstrate a higher level of disability.[20] Games
rugby:
Wheelchair rugby Athletes are classified on a points
system similar to wheelchair basketball, with the most
severely disabled athlete being graded at 0.5 points rising
to 3.5 points. Each team has four players and is allowed
a maximum of eight points on the court at any one See also
time.[21]
• All-time Paralympic Games medal count
• Cheating at the Paralympic Games
List of Paralympic sports • Winter Paralympic Games
• Multi-sport event
Main article: Paralympic sports
• Summer Olympic Games
A number of different sports have been part of the Para-
lympic program at one point or another.
This color indicates a discontinued sport
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
Games Year Host Dates Nations Competitors Sports Events Ref
Total Men Women
I 1960 Rome, Italy 18 – 25 Septem- 23 400 8 57 [22][23]
ber
II 1964 Tokyo, Japan 3 – 12 November 21 375 307 68 9 144 [22][23]
III 1968 Tel Aviv, Israel 4–13 November 29 750 10 181 [22][23]
IV 1972 Heidelberg, West Germany 2 – 11 August 41 1004 10 187 [22][23]
V 1976 Toronto, Canada 3–11 August 32 1657 1404 253 13 447 [22][23]
VI 1980 Arnhem, Netherlands 21–30 June 42 1973 12 489 [22][23]
VII 1984 Stoke Mandeville, United 17–30 June (US) / 54 2091 18 903 [22][23]
Kingdom / New York, Unit- 22 July - 1 August
ed States (UK)
VIII 1988 Seoul, South Korea 15–24 October 61 3057 16 732 [22][23]
IX 1992 Barcelona, Spain 3–14 September 82 3020 15 487 [22][23]
X 1996 Atlanta, United States 16–25 August 104 3259 2469 790 20 508 [22][23]
XI 2000 Sydney, Australia 18–29 October 127 3846 2867 979 20 551 [22][23]
XII 2004 Athens, Greece 17–28 September 136 3806 2646 1160 19 517 [22][23]
XIII 2008 Beijing, China 6–17 September 148 4200 20 472 [22][23]
XIV 2012 London, United Kingdom 29 August - 9 future event
September
XV 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 7–18 September future event
Notes SportProfiles/Equestrian.aspx. Retrieved
2010-04-07.
[1] "Paralympics traces roots to Second World War", [9] "Fencing Classification Rules" (PDF). International
CBC, September 3, 2008 Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation. p. 10.
[2] "History of the Paralympic Games". Government of http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/assets/File/Fencing/
Canada. http://www.canada2010.gc.ca/101/histor/ IWF_Classification_Rules.pdf. Retrieved
010203-eng.cfm. Retrieved 2010-04-07. 2010-04-07.
[3] "Archery". Australian Paralympic Committee. [10] "Football 5-a-side". International Paralympic
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ Committee. http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/
SportProfiles/Archey.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-07. IOSD_Sports/Football_5-a-side/index.html.
[4] "Athletics". Australian Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ [11] "Football". Australian Paralympic Committee.
SportProfiles/Athletics.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-07. http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/
[5] "Basketball". International Paralympic Committee. SportProfiles/Football.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/IF_Sports/ [12] "Goalball". International Paralympic Committee.
Wheelchair_Basketball/index.html. Retrieved http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/IOSD_Sports/
2010-04-07. Goalball/index.html. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
[6] "Boccia rules of play" (PDF). Cerebral Palsy [13] "Judo". International Paralympic Committee.
International Sports and Recreation Association. http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/IOSD_Sports/
pp. 6–8. http://www.cpisra.org/files/manual10p/ Judo/index.html. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
CPISRA_Sports_Manual_10th_Edition_Section_B_Sports_Rules_Boccia_2010-02_Release_006.pdf. Committee.
[14] "Powerlifting". Australian Paralympic
Retrieved 2010-04-07. http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/
[7] "Cycling". Australian Paralympic Committee. SportProfiles/Powerlifting.aspx. Retrieved
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ 2010-04-08.
SportProfiles/Cycling.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-07. [15] "Sailing". Australian Paralympic Committee.
[8] "Equestrian". Australian Paralympic Committee. http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ SportProfiles/Sailing.aspx. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Summer Paralympic Games
[16] "Shooting". Australian Paralympic Committee. SportProfiles/Volleyball.aspx. Retrieved
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ 2010-04-08.
SportProfiles/Shooting.aspx. Retrieved [21] "Wheelchair Rugby". International Paralympic
2010-04-08. Committee. http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/
[17] "Swimming". Australian Paralympic Committee. IF_Sports/Wheelchair_Rugby/index.html.
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ Retrieved 2010-04-08.
SportProfiles/Swimming.aspx. Retrieved [22] ^ Past Games, International Paralympic Committee
2010-04-08. (IPC)
[18] "Table Tennis". Australian Paralympic Committee. [23] ^ IPC Historical Results Database, International
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/ Paralympic Committee (IPC),
SportProfiles/TableTennis.aspx. Retrieved http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/
2010-04-08. index.html?type=games&games=2008PG
[19] "Wheelchair Tennis". International Paralympic
Committee. http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/
IF_Sports/Wheelchair_Tennis/. Retrieved
2010-04-08.
External links
[20] "Volleyball". Australian Paralympic Committee. • Official Site of the Paralympic Movement
http://www.paralympic.org.au/Sport/
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Categories:
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