The Paralympic Games began in 1948 after Sir Ludqig Guttmann determined that there was a need for a sporting event that would allow World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries the ability to participate. The games began in England and began repeating themselves every four years, in conjunction with the timing of the Olympic Games. The games slowly grew and now give disabled persons from a number of disability groups the ability to participate in an international competition.

When the Paralympic Games were developed they were held the same year as the Olympic games, but were not necessarily held in the same location. The years 1988 and 1992 marked the beginning of the Paralympic Games being held in the same countries and venues as the Olympics. In 2001, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee agreed that, moving forward, the country that hosts the Olympic games will also be obligated to host the Paralympics.

Who Can Participate in the Paralympics?

The Paralympics are open to individuals with a variety of disabilities. These disabilities are broken down into six main groups in order to give each group a fair chance at overcoming their own limitations in order to develop the best athletic ability possible. The rules of each sport are modified to accommodate each type of disability.

The six disability groups include those with visual impairments, cerebral palsy, amputees, intellectual disabilities, spinal cord injuries, and les autres. The “les autres” group encompasses everyone who does not fit into the first five participating groups.

There are groups of individuals, known as classifiers, who help determine which class an athlete should participate in. The decision to have an athlete participate in a particular class is not final and can be reviewed multiple times over the course of the participant’s athletic career.

What Sports are Included in The Paralympics?

There are four winter sports and over two dozen summer sports played during the Paralympic games.

Winter sports include alpine skiing, ice sledge hockey, Nordic skiing, and wheelchair curling. The skiing division, for example, is split into three categories for each disability. Depending on the disability, different types of sports equipment will be used. An amputee may use an orthopedic aid, while someone with a visual impairment might be allowed to use voice signals provided by a sighted guide.

The summer Paralympics tend to offer a wider variety of sports options. Athletes can choose to participate in archery, track and field events, boccia, bowls, football, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, volleyball, basketball, fending, tennis – amongst many others.

Many of these sports, such as archery, were originally used as rehabilitation methods for those with injuries. While archery might not seem like a sport to some, it’s been an incredible help and source of inspiration for others. Different types of bows are available for those with different levels of expertise or ability, while increased interest in the sport, and in the Paralympics themselves, has allowed archery to remain one of the main events during the summer games every two years. Individuals and teams alike showcase their accuracy, upper body strength, and ability to concentrate while shooting at designated targets from set distances.

Are Paralympic Participants Exempt from Anti-Doping Rules?

While it may seem as though those with certain disabilities might have a need for medications that aren’t needed by those participating in the Olympics, the International Paralympic Committee and a number of other committees have grouped together to form the very serious “IPC Anti-Doping Code,” which was adopted in January of 2004.

Tests for illegal substances were originally only conducted at a few of the wheelchair events, but eventually became mandatory for all participants in all events. The International Paralympic Committee maintains that the sports are supposed to be about “the spirit of the sport” and nothing more. Thus, the use of illegal drugs of any kind is an example of unethical athletic conduct that has the capacity to give some athletes an unfair advantage over others.

The athletes themselves are not the only ones held to anti-doping standards. Coaches, trainers, emergency medical personnel and anyone else participating in the Paralympic Games are all subject to the rules and testing. The committee in charge of enforcing the rule does review the list of prohibited drugs regularly, especially because some end up being used for genuinely therapeutic purposes.

The 2008 Paralympic Games

The summer 2008 Paralympic Games will be held in Beijing from September 6^th through September 17^th. The games are scheduled to being just under two weeks after the completion of the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games enjoy the prestige of having their own torch travel the world. This year the torch travels through Vancouver, London, Sochi, Hong Kong, Beijing, Wuhan, Hohhot, Urumqi, and a host of other cities in both modern and ancient China.

For a comprehensive Beijing Olympics Guide, download this free 185-page eGuide detailing each Olympic event, places to stay during the Olympics, a convenient restaurant guide near each event, and a detailed listing of each major attraction for sightseeing while in Beijing.

A visit to China is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many. If you’re going to be there for the Olympics, consider extending your stay so that you can take in some of the Paralympic Games as well. It’s an experience you’ll carry with you forever.

Photo Credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5