Paralympic sports

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Paralympic sports are competitive sports practiced by athletes with disabilities, governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). These sports are contested in the Paralympic Games, which are held every four years, following the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games include both the Summer Paralympic Games and the Winter Paralympic Games.

History[edit | edit source]

The origins of Paralympic sports can be traced back to the late 1940s when Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition for British World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital. This event evolved into the Stoke Mandeville Games, which eventually became the Paralympic Games.

Classification[edit | edit source]

Athletes in Paralympic sports are classified based on their disabilities to ensure fair competition. The classification system is designed to minimize the impact of impairments on the outcome of the competition. The main categories of disabilities include:

Summer Paralympic Sports[edit | edit source]

The Summer Paralympic Games feature a wide range of sports, including:

Winter Paralympic Sports[edit | edit source]

The Winter Paralympic Games include sports such as:

Governance[edit | edit source]

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. It coordinates the organization of the Paralympic Games and oversees the development of Paralympic sports worldwide.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

Categories[edit | edit source]



Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD