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Paralympics WorldHistory of paralymics

LONDON 2012All you have to know about paralympicsBest athletes

INDEX :HISTORY OF PARALYMPICS LONDON 2012 MEDALS BEST ATHLETES LEADING ATHLETES

References :http://usuarios.multimania.es/SPOR/DParaolimpicos/deportes_paraolimpicos.htm

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HISTORY OF PARALYMPICS 3

The Paralympic Games are the second largest event in the world; it started fifty years ago in Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury, England because of an England doctor named Ludwig Guttmann, he was called “The Father of Sport for people with disabilities. He liked using sport as a therapy to increase the quality of life for people who was casualty during the Second World War. Doctor Ludwig Guttmann dreamed that people with disabilities could be part of the Olympic Games that’s organized the 1948 International Wheelchair Games to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics and after twelve years later his dream came true.

The first Paralympic Games began in Rome Italy; in 1960 this event involved 400 athletes form 23 countries unfortunately only wheelchair athletes were invited to compete nevertheless todays Paralympic games include five major classifications of athletes:

1. Persons with visual impairments

2. Persons with physical disabilities

3. Amputee athletes

4. People with cerebral palsy

5. People with spinal cord injuries

The Paralympic Games are held in two seasons: Summer and winter. Winter games were inaugurated in 1976, it took place at Sweden; 12 countries were part of the competition in Alpine and Cross- Country Skiing events.

Initially the Paralympic and Olympic Games were implemented at different times, but in 1992 the approach was modified and nowadays these events are held within two weeks of difference using the same organizing committee.

Unfortunately Sir Ludwig Guttmann died in 1980, but his idea of making the sports something motivating for people with disabilities continues today and become recognized worldwide as Dr. Guttmann intended.

“The skill and talent of high-performance athletics and competition are evident in the performance of today’s Paralympians from all nations.” (Paralympic Schools Program , 2009).

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London 2012 Paralympic games

This year the Paralympic games are taking place in the united kingdom which is the country where the Paralympic games where invented giving the best possible experience to participating athletes, spectators and global audiences.

We are determined to create new standards of delivery,Facilities, accessibility and opportunity. London’s aim isto ensure that the world’s best athletes have the best possibleconditions to achieve their best and showcase their talent tothe world.

For the first time in history, planning for the Olympic andParalympic Games will be fully integrated.London will strive to create a festival of sport, culture and

diversity to inspire a new era in public attitudes towards

disability and a new profile for sport for athletes with

a disability.

SPORTS ArcheryAthleticsBoccia

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Cycling RoadCycling TrackEquestrianFootball 5-a-sideFootball 7-a-sideGoal ballJudoPowerliftingRowingSailingShootingSwimmingTable TennisSitting VolleyballWheelchair BasketballWheelchair FencingWheelchair RugbyWheelchair Tennis

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Medal CountRank by Gold Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 People'sRepublic of China 72 61 53 186

2 Great Britain 32 39 39 110

3 RussianFederation 31 31 23 85

4 Ukraine 28 18 23 69

5 Australia 25 18 26 69

6 UnitedStates of America 24 22 28 74

7 Germany 14 21 17 52

8 Brazil 14 10 5 29

9 Poland 10 11 6 27

10 Netherlands 9 7 16 32

11 France 8 13 14 35

12 IslamicRepublic of Iran 8 6 6 20

13 Cuba 8 5 2 15

14 Italy 7 5 9 21

15 Republic of Korea 7 5 6 18

16 Ireland 7 3 5 15

17 Spain 6 13 11 30

18 Tunisia 6 5 4 15

19 Nigeria 6 5 1 12

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Rank by Gold Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

20 South Africa 5 7 9 21

21 New Zealand 5 5 4 14

22 Canada 4 11 7 22

23 Egypt 4 4 6 14

24 Belarus 4 1 3 8

25 Algeria 3 4 8 15

25 Mexico 3 4 8 15

27 Hong Kong, China 3 3 4 10

27 Japan 3 3 4 10

29 Switzerland 3 3 2 8

30 Sweden 3 2 3 8

31 Thailand 3 1 2 6

32 Belgium 3 1 1 5

32 Finland 3 1 1 5

34 Morocco 3 0 1 4

35 Hungary 2 4 5 11

36 Austria 2 3 6 11

37 Azerbaijan 2 3 3 8

38 Serbia 2 3 0 5

39 Norway 2 2 2 6

40 Kenya 2 1 1 4

41 CzechRepublic 1 6 3 10

42 Turkey 1 4 3 8

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Rank by Gold Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

43 Greece 1 3 5 9

44 Slovakia 1 1 2 4

45 Latvia 1 1 0 2

45 Namibia 1 1 0 2

45 Romania 1 1 0 2

45 UnitedArabEmirates 1 1 0 2

49 Denmark 1 0 4 5

50 Fiji 1 0 0 1

50 Iceland 1 0 0 1

50 Jamaica 1 0 0 1

50 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 1 0 0 1

54 Israel 0 2 4 6

55 Croatia 0 2 3 5

56 Iraq 0 2 1 3

57 Argentina 0 1 4 5

58 Taipei (ChineseTaipei) 0 1 2 3

59 Bulgaria 0 1 1 2

59 Portugal 0 1 1 2

59 Singapore 0 1 1 2

62 Colombia 0 1 0 1

62 Ethiopia 0 1 0 1

62 India 0 1 0 1

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Rank by Gold Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

62 Malaysia 0 1 0 1

62 Slovenia 0 1 0 1

62 Uzbekistan 0 1 0 1

68 Venezuela 0 0 2 2

69 Angola 0 0 1 1

69 Indonesia 0 0 1 1

69 Sri Lanka 0 0 1 1

Best athletesMichael Teuber (Germany) – Paralympic Cycling Germany’s Michael Teuber has taken gold in four European and three World Championships as well as at

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two Paralympic Games. He took up Cycling after breaking his back in a car accident in 1987.

In 2005, Michael set a world ‘best one hour performance’ of 39.326 km/h. He is a multiworld record holder.

Wheelchair Tennis

This remarkable Dutch athlete was once a Wheelchair Basketball player before turning to the sport of Wheelchair Tennis. She made the world number one spot own from 2000 to 2006. Esther won the singles and doubles titles at both the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Leading medals

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MEN

WOMEN

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Although Mexico is not in the top countries of this Olympics is doing a great job by being in the twenty five place with fifteen medals in different disciplines .

Paralympic memories: highlights from an amazing

Games

‘We want to thank the volunteers for being so amazing’For athletes, winning a medal was an obvious highlight. Wheelchair Basketball team member Brandon Wagner of Canada commented, ‘This was my first games and it was an 14

eye-opening experience. It was life altering and the pinnacle of my career. It was overwhelming... it feels like we just got here. I have so many awesome memories that will last forever. Last night we beat Australia and became gold medalists. That was my highlight.’

For the athlete Johanna Pretorius of South Africa, the reception and treatment by volunteers made their Games. ‘We’ve been treated like royalty and we don’t want to go back to normal life. It’s been an amazing experience and we’re not ready for it to end. We want to thank the volunteers for being so amazing.’

‘Cheering for the team that was losing’For young visitors to the Games, watching live sport was a revelation.

Nine-year-old Saba, visiting the Park, said: ‘I will remember all the sports I’ve seen and all the people working here. They’re all so nice and friendly and help you if you want something. When the Park opens again I really want to come here and play sport. I want to play tennis but I’m not very good!’

Seven-year-old Louise said: ‘I will remember how it was really fun to cheer people on, even when they were from another country. Everyone was cheering the players, even though you didn’t really know who they were. I liked cheering for the team that was losing because then they knew you were supporting them and they tried even harder.’

'If you can swim with no arms, you can do ANYTHING'People have also been sharing personal highlights through Twitter, many were focused on individual athlete performances.

For @OlympicMcLovin the story of Haitian athlete Josue Cajuste story stood out. ‘Josue Cajuste in F42 throwing javelin 2 days after having prosthetic legs fitted moved me to tears.’

@asiansnax nominated ‘Maciej Lepiato of Poland jumping 2.12m with the roar

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of the 80,000-strong crowd behind him.’

For others it was the opportunity to watch amazing athletes live. @cobartlett described his Paralympic memory as ‘being able to go to sport for such amazing prices. Being in the stadium for Johnny Peacock was very special.’

And the inspiration provided by the Games was the stand-out aspect for some. @StoriesForTots described her highlight: ‘My 4yo g/daughter, with CP [cerebral palsy], telling her school assembly "If you can swim with no arms, you can do ANYTHING!"

Tell us your #ParalympicMemories

Everyone has a favorite moment. What was yours? #ParalympicMemorieshttp://usuarios.multimania.es/SPOR/DParaolimpicos/deportes_paraolimpicos.htm

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