Paralympic Athletes

The Paralympics are Olympic type games for disabled athletes. They are held in the Olympic years. To be able to participate in the Paralympics an athlete must be in one or more of the following disability categories: amputee, blind, cerebral palsy, deaf, intellectually disabled, spinal injury, or  Les Autres, which includes all those that do not fit into the aforementioned groups .

According to the International Paralympic Committee, a paralympic competitor is someone who cannot compete on reasonably equal terms in a sport with the ‘able-bodied’. The reason he cannot compete on equal terms is because of a physical disadvantage that is due to a permanent disability. The disability must be certified by a medical doctor. In order to take part in a competition, a competitor must be classified according to the rules of the sport event in which he/she is entering. Athletes are grouped in classes defined by the level of disability.

In 2004 there were 26 Paralympic sports. Thirteen of these sports (Archery, Athletics, Cycling, Bowls, Equestrian, Powerlifting, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Alpine Skiing, Nordic Skiing, Ice Sledge Hockey and Wheelchair Dance Sport) are governed by the IPC. Seven sports are governed by International Organisations of Sport for the Disabled. Included in this group are the sports; Boccia, Football 5-a-Side, Football 7-a-Side, Goalball, Judo, Wheelchair Fencing and Wheelchair Rugby.

The remaining sports (Sailing, Volleyball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Curling and Wheelchair Tennis) are governed by International Sports Federations.

Check that you understand what these words mean in this document
Disabled: an illness, injury or condition that makes it difficult for someone to do the things that other people do.
To participate: to take part.
Amputee: a person who has had an arm or leg cut off.
Blind: people who are unable to see because of disease, an accident or a genetic reason.
Cerebral palsy: a medical condition that causes from slight to major problems in movement and speech.
Deaf: the inability to hear because of disease, an accident or a genetic reason.
Intellectually disabled: people who are unable to learn and reason as a result of a problem with their intellect (the capacity for knowledge and understanding).
Spinal injury: an injury to the spine that causes varying degrees of paralysis.
Able-bodied: having no disabilities that limit one's ability to compete. 
Physical disadvantage: not having the advantage because of the inability to compete based on a physical condition.
To certify: to guarantee as meeting a standard.
Classified: grouped according to specific characteristics or criteria.

For further information visit:
http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/IPC/IPC_Handbook/index.html http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/faq.html