What are the Paralympics? A periodic series of multi-sports events just like the Olympic Games, the Paralympics involve athletes with various disabilities. These disabilities range from impaired muscle power, movement abilities, vision, stature, intellectual impairment and much more. With both winter and summer Paralympics, these events have been conducted almost immediately following the Olympic Games ever since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

Like every big event, the Paralympics are also monitored and governed by an established and capable team called the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The IPC consists of 176 National Paralympic Committees, which are the governing committee for the Paralympic Games in each country. Along with the National Paralympics Committees, the IPC also consists of four disability-specific sports federations. These international sports federations are recognised by the IPC as the only representative for a Paralympic sport; these federations are also independent. With Andrew Parsons, a Brazilian sports administrator and journalist, currently serving as the IPC President, the IPC is expected to oversee all necessary things such as coordinating and supervising the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games for each of the nine sports in includes – athletics, shooting, cross-country skiing, powerlifting, ice sledge hockey, para-alpine skiing, biathlon, swimming, and wheelchair dance sport.

Designed with the ideology of focusing on abilities rather than disabilities, the Paralympic Games have evolved from a small group of British Veterans in 1948 to one of the largest global sporting events in the early 21^st century. As the years have passed, the games within this international sporting event have also grown to showcase the ability of the participants and deterring focus from their disabilities.

The Paralympic Forerunners

With its early inception in 1948, with a small gathering of British Veterans that breathed life to the largest international sporting event we see today call the Paralympic Games.

Even before the Paralympics were a thing, its seeds were already beginning to be sown as far back as 1904. It all started with George Eyser, a German-American gymnast, who was the first disabled athlete to partake in the 1904 Olympic Games with one artificial leg.

Similarly, Károly Takács who severely injured his right hand that led to amputation partook in the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics in the shooting events. Another disabled sportsperson, Liz Hartel, a Danish equestrian athlete won a silver medal in the dressage event despite contracting polio in 1943.

However, it was Jewish-German born Dr Ludwig Guttmann, of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital, who would eventually lay out the groundwork for what would be the Paralympics we know today. It was he, who is responsible for conceptualising and coordinating the first-ever Paralympic event. Dr Ludwig fled Nazi Germany with the help of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) in 1939; he hosted the competition for British World War II veterans with injured spinal cords and named them the ‘1948 International Wheelchair Games’ to coincide with the 1948 Olympic Games. He aimed to create an elite sports competition equivalent to the Olympic Games, for people with disabilities; effectively making Dr Ludwig Guttmann, the founding father of the Paralympics.

Paralympics Milestones

Like any other internationally popular evolving event, the Paralympics also established multiple milestones that put it on the global map and made it well-loved by audiences and participants alike.

The first milestone was established as the founding father of the Paralympics conducted a competition for the British World War II war veterans on wheelchairs in 1948. This competition continued in 1952 with Dutch and Israeli veterans joining in participation with the British veterans, making it the first international Paralympic competition. At the time, these early competitions were named the Stoke Mandeville Games and are considered the most defining milestone in Paralympic history.

The next big milestone was established when the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960. The turning point of this event was when participation was no longer limited to war veterans. With 400 athletes from 23 countries, the 1960 Paralympic Games showcased riveting success and from then was conducted in the same years as the Olympic Games.

Following this milestone, it was noticeable that the Paralympics only featured athletes in wheelchairs. However, the 1976 Paralympic games took a turn for the better as many athletes with other disabilities were welcomed for the first time at the Summer Paralympics. Expanding to 1,600 athletes from 40 countries, the 1976 Paralympic games turned a new chapter in Paralympic history.

It was however the 1988 Seoul Summer Paralympic Games that was the most defining moment in Paralympics history. It was the first-ever to be held directly under the belt of the 1988 Summer Olympics. It was held not only in the same host city as the Olympics but also used the same facilities. Following this, the Summer Paralympic Games of 1992, 1996, and 2000 also continued to take place in association with the Olympics. The first Winter Paralympics to run in association with the Winter Olympics and use the same facilities only took place in 1992.  In 2001, the IPS and IOC (International Olympic Committee) signed an agreement formalising the association between the two large sports events. The agreement has been renewed once before and a second time recently, extending the contract to 2032.

Apart from these major milestones, the Paralympics also contributed to other significantly important milestones either directly or indirectly. Some of these include the establishment of the Spinal Injuries Centre by Dr Ludwig at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1944, the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf was officially recognised by the IOC in 1955, the IPC established a sports science committee in 1993, the development of a Universal Classification Code was approved in 2003 by the IPC governing board and many more such milestones that earn the Paralympics its name and fame.

The Paralympic Ceremony

As with the Olympic games, the Paralympic Ceremony also has three main parts – The Opening, The Medal Presentation, and The Closing.

The Opening Ceremony constitutes various elements, most of which were established during the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp. Beginning traditionally with the hoisting of the host country flag and then singing its national anthem, the Paralympics opening ceremony follows by parading nationwide athletes into the stadium based on the host country’s chosen language. However, the host country’s athletes are always the last to enter the stadium. This practice was established post the 1988 Summer Paralympics which also gave rise to multiple arts, music, theatre, and dance displays by the host country. The usual formal speeches are addressed to the audiences, followed by a formal introduction, and opening of the games. The Paralympic torch is then finally brought into the stadium and passed around till the final torchbearer which is usually an athlete from the host country; the athlete lights the Paralympic flame in the stadium’s cauldron.

The Medal Presentation Ceremony is awaited by everyone present at the Paralympics. Standing on top of a three-tiered rostrum, the winners, and the second and third place holders are awarded their medals by a member of the IPC. Each medallist earns their nation a flag hoist during this ceremony, while the national anthem of the gold medallist is played. For every Paralympic event, the Medal Presentation Ceremony is often held a day after the respective event’s finals. Volunteers from the host nations also serve as volunteers during the medal ceremony, often helping the members of the IPC and anyone associated with the presentation ceremony to ensure smooth sailing of events. These volunteering hosts also act as flag bearers during the medal presentation ceremony.

The Closing Ceremony of the Paralympics like the opening also constitutes various elements. Taking place after the conclusion of all the sporting events, the closing ceremony begins as the flag bearing athletes from each nation enter the stadium followed by all the other athletes without being classified by nationality. Following this, the Paralympic flag is taken down. However, ever since the 1988 Winter Olympics, the Flag of the next host nation is hoisted, and their national anthem is sung at the closing ceremony. This element also has some exceptions. Following this, the Paralympic Games are officially concluded, and the flame is extinguished. The next host nation then briefly introduces themselves and showcases a variety of artistic displays that highlight their cultural tradition.

Standing tall in Equality

The Paralympics have been a beacon of hope and light for all people with disabilities with a passion for sports. From their association with the Olympics and the participation of Paralympic athletes in the Olympic Games, the Paralympics have given these athletes a shot at equality in various spheres. These include the funding they receive, the media coverage of the Paralympic Games and athletes, as well as in areas outside the Paralympic Games.

The IOC in their charter mentioned, “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play… any form of discrimination about a country or person on grounds of race, religion, politics, and gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.”

Paralympian athletes have also pursued equal opportunities to participate in the Olympic Games. Neroli Fairhall, a paraplegic archer was the first disabled athlete to participate in the 1984 Olympic Games, setting a precedent for so many more athletes such as Marla Runyon who is visually impaired, Mellissa Taper who suffers from nerve damage in her right arm, Zahra Nemati who was left paralysed in a car accident, Pepo Puch who is paraplegic, and several other Paralympic athletes.

While initially not receiving sufficient funding from the designated authorities, the Paralympics eventually overcame this hurdle and earned their due. Ever since the 1992 Summer Paralympics, the international sports event has been sponsored by major global brands whose logos are often displayed within the stadiums and on uniforms.

As for media coverage, the Paralympics initially did gain much media momentum and established their territory in the public eye. However, achieving consistent media coverage is a battle the committee still fights today. They have been vocal about the different media platforms and their reluctance to cover the Paralympic Games but still fight for earning their space on the global media stage.

With the rising popularity of Paralympic games, people with disabilities were seen in a new light; one of hope and acceptance. A study on the Olympic Games Impact by the University of British Columbia showed that people and society started accepting disabled people through their actions. The results showcased that “of roughly 1,600 Canadian respondents, 41–50 per cent believed the 2010 Paralympic and Olympic Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada triggered additional accessibility of buildings, sidewalks, and public spaces. 23 per cent of employers said the Games had increased their willingness to hire people with disabilities.”

In another instance the Chief Executive Officer for the IPC, Xavier Gonzales highlighted the impact of the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China; he said, “In China, the (Paralympic) Games were a transformation tool for changing attitudes across the board in China towards people with disability; from building accessibility facilities in the city, to changing laws to allow people with a disability to be a part of society.”

Maintaining sole focus on their para-athletes, the Paralympic Movement holds values of courage, determination, inspiration, and equality at its core. It continually strives to make the Paralympics a safe space to honour athletic talents and a passion for sports amongst people while eliminating the possibility of any hindrance from their disabilities.