Paralympics Vs Special Olympics?

The Paralympics and the Special Olympics are similar in that they both focus on sport for athletes with a disability and are run by international non-profit organisations. The first Paralympic Games were held in 1960 while the first Special Olympics were held in 1968. Apart from that, the Paralympics and the Special Olympics differ in three main areas: 1) the disability categories of the athletes that they work with, 2) the criteria under which athletes participate, and 3) the structure of their respective organisations.

The Paralympics, as the largest sports competition for athletes with a disability world-wide, involve athletes from several disability categories. The six main disability categories are: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability (currently under suspension), visually impaired, spinal injuries and Les Autres (French for "the others", a category that includes conditions that do not fall into the categories mentioned before). In contrast, the Special Olympics are solely for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

To participate in the Paralympic Games, athletes have to fulfil certain criteria and meet certain qualifying standards in order to be eligible. These criteria and standards are sports-specific and are determined by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the international sports organisations. The Paralympics are about elite performance sport, where athletes go through a stringent qualification process so that the best can compete at the Games. On the other hand, the Special Olympics does not make as clear a distinction between elite and recreational sport as the Paralympics. No qualifying events are held and there is instead a system of random selection of participants for the Special Olympics. Thus, while the Paralympics emphasises high-level performance, the Special Olympics emphasises participation from those who can and are willing. 

The Paralympics are run by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Special Olympics are run by Special Olympics International (SOI). SOI has established national foundations around the world, which are financed mainly through charity.

Check that you understand what these words mean in this document Disability: an illness, injury or condition that makes it difficult for someone to do the things that other people do.
Amputee: a person who has had an arm or leg cut off.
Visually impaired: a person who has limited or no ability 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: people who are unable 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).
Under suspension: temporarily or permanently stopped.
Spinal injuries: injuries to the spine that cause varying degrees of paralysis.
To meet certain qualifying standards: to reach a standard that allows them to participate in a competition.
Stringent qualification process: selection process demanding very high performance standards.