The Paralympic Games

Paralympic football

The Paralympic Games are organized by the International Paralympic Committee. They are held every four years just after the Olympic Games.The deaf can participate in Deaflympics. Now people with intellectual disabilities can also participate in Special Olympics. Previously they had been excluded since 2000.

History:

paralympic race

Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital near London, had the idea of establishing in 1948, the first « World Wheelchair and Amputee Games ». He wanted the rehabilitation through sport, of veterans and victims of the Second World War who had become paraplegic. The name of the two mascots are Wenlock and Mandeville. They represent the last two drops of steel used to build the Olympic Stadium in London. The mascots have only one eye and a yellow light on the head inspired by London taxis. Wenlock is named after the town of Much Wenlock located in Shropshire and Mandeville is named after the village of Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire, were organized in 1948 the first "World Games wheelchair and amputee" that will become the Paralympics in 1960.




Objective:

The objective of the Paralympic Movement is the opportunity for athletes with a physical disability to excel and achieve sport performances comparable to Olympic athletes.
Rules:
The Paralympic Games include athletes with physical or visual handicaps, of the following categories: quadriplegics and paraplegics, neurological sequelae, and similar amputees, cerebral palsy, severely disabled (muscular dystrophy, electric wheelchairs), blind and visually impaired. For competition, athletes are grouped in categories according to their disability. For  athletics events, there are races for the blind, for amputees running with a prosthesis and wheelchair racing.  

Categories:

Paralympic basketball

Athletics
Rowing (sport)
Boccia (sport like bowls, played with leather balls by handicapped persons )
Wheelchair basketball
cycling
riding
Wheelchair Fencing
Football 5 (played by visually impaired athletes or blind)
Football 7 (played by athletes with motor disabilities)
Goal-ball
weight lifting
Judo (played by visually impaired athletes or blind)
Swimming

Paralympic swimming

Wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair tennis
Table tennis
Archery
shooting sports







LINKS to

- the opening ceremony of olympic games:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd4FgGSY5BY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIRHMmM2z7c

 - To the men's 200 meters in Athltics
 to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Wlp1sTnoY

- to the men's 100 meters in swimming pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90TwuJIt-Y

Written by Simon

QUIZZ: Answer the 2 questions  (in the comment box)

1) What is the name of the two mascots of the Paralympic Games in London?
                              
2) What is the objective of the Paralympic Games?