International Paralympic Committee

The Paralympic Games

International Paralympic Committee IPC (just like IOC) The word “Paralympic”

derives from Greek “para” (meaning beside) and then word Olympics (since the Paralympics are parallel to the Olympics

Purpose of the IPC Committed to enabling Paralympic athletes

to achieve sporting excellence They also develop sport opportunities for all

persons with a disability from beginner to elite

The Paralympic Values Courage Determination Inspiration Equality

The Paralympic Mission “To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve

Sporting Excellence and Inspire and Excite the World”

The Paralympic Motto “Spirit in Motion” The strong will of each Paralympian, the

elite performances and the spirit behind the meaning of sport

The Paralympic Flag Three colours – red, blue and green, that

are most widely represented in national flags around the world

The symbol appears in motion, with three “Agitos” encircling a centre point

This emphasizes bringing athletes from all over the world together and enabling them to compete

The IPC and IOC Partnership started in 1988 after the Seoul

Olympic Games. Since then, the Paralympics have been

held in the same city and venues as the Olympics

History of Sport for Persons with a Disability Sport for people with a disability has

existed for over 100 years Particularly after World War I and II, sports

therapy became highly important This assisted the medical and mental

needs for injured ex-soldiers This created a sense of new and great

possibilities for injured persons

Paralympic Sports Track and Field Swimming Goalball Seated Volleyball Sledge Hockey Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Rugby Hand cycling

Wheelchair Track & Field

Diving Rowing Kayak/Canoe Blind Sailing Wheelchair Curling Many others!

http://www.yomansports.com/view_video.php?viewkey=0a8be87ebaa7ef6ac3ec

Photos of other Paralympic Sports

Levels of Disability Can be VERY confusing at first! Athletes compete within their gender and

their disability level. For example, blind athletes compete

against other blind athletes, Single leg amputees compete against other single leg amputees, etc

Five Categories of Disability Amputee – one major joint on limb missing Athletes with cerebral palsy Visual impairment or blindness Wheelchair athletes Les Autres or “the others” – meaning

disabilities not covered in the previous four categories (dwarfism, etc).

Examples of Classification in Visually Impaired Sports Sport: Five-A-Side Football, Goalball, Judo B1 – no ability to perceive light or inability

to recognize the shape of a hand B2 – recognize the shape of a hand with

2/60 vision or field of vision less than 5 degrees

B3 – standard vision between 2/60 and 6/60 and field of vision greater than 5 degrees and less than 20 degrees.

Example of Classification System in Athletics (Track & Field)

T11-13: varying levels of visual impairment T32-38: different levels of cerebral palsy.

32-34 in wheelchairs, 35-38 walk/run T40-46: varying amputations and Les

Autres T51-58: different levels of spinal cord

injuries and/or amputations