What Are the Paralympics Sports?

The Paralympics are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. The Paralympics include athletes with a wide range of disabilities, including amputees, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and blindness.

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Introduction

The Paralympics are a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. The Paralympics are held every four years, following the Olympics, and are open to athletes from all over the world.

There are a huge range of Paralympic sports, including athletics, wheelchair basketball, para-alpine skiing and more. Many of the sports are similar to their able-bodied counterparts, but have been adapted to be accessible for athletes with a range of disabilities.

Some of the most popular Paralympic sports include:

Athletics: This sport includes a range of track and field events, from sprints and hurdles to long distance running, javelin and shot put. Wheelchair racing is one of the most popular events in the Paralympics.

Basketball: This sport is played by teams of five players, each in a wheelchair. The sport is fast-paced and highly competitive, with scoring similar to able-bodied basketball.

Equestrian: This sport features dressage, show jumping and eventing competitions for riders with a range of disabilities. Equestrian was first introduced to the Paralympics in 1964.

Swimming: This sport is open to athletes with a range of disabilities, including amputees, cerebral palsy sufferers and those with visual impairments. There are a range of swimming events, from sprints to long distance races.

What are the Paralympics?

The Paralympic Games are a multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. It is similar to the Olympic Games, but with athletes with different disabilities competing. The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy in 1960. There are now more than 4,000 Paralympic athletes from over 100 countries competing in the Paralympics.

History of the Paralympics

The Paralympics are an international multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. It is hosted by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The Games are governed by the rules of the International Paralympic Committee.

The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960. 400 athletes from 23 different countries took part in eight sports: archery, athletics, wheelchair basketball, lawn bowls, Stoke Mandeville games (a precursor to wheelchair tennis), swimming, weightlifting and a demonstration sport of javelin throw.

Since then, the Paralympics have been held every four years, parallel to the Olympic Games. The number of athletes and sports has increased greatly over the years. The 2012 London Paralympic Games were the largest ever, with 4,302 athletes from 166 countries competing in 20 sports.

The Different Types of Paralympic Sports

The Paralympics are a major international multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately after their respective Olympic Games.

All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The IPC is responsible for the global coordination and management of the Paralympic Movement.

There are a wide variety of Paralympic sports, with new sports being added to the programme on a regular basis. Currently, there are 23 sports on the programme: Archery, Badminton, Boccia, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Judo, Para Alpine Skiing, Para Nordic Skiing, Para Athletics (track and field), Para Dressage, Para Rowing, Powerlifting, Sailing, Shooting Para sport (target shooting), Sitting Volleyball ,Swimming ,Table Tennis ,Wheelchair Basketball ,Wheelchair Curling ,Wheelchair Rugby ,Wheelchair Tennis.

Most sports on the programme are for wheelchair users but there are also some events which athletes with different types of physical impairment can compete in together; these include Boccia, Judo, Para Athletics (track and field), Powerlifting, Sitting Volleyball and Table Tennis.

Archery
Badminton
Boccia
Canoeing
Cycling
Equestrian
Football 5-a-side
Football 7-a-side
Goalball
Judo
Para Alpine Skiing
Para Nordic Skiing
Para Athletics (track and field)
Para Dressage
Para Rowing Powerlifting Sailing Shooting Para sport (target shooting) and Wheelchair Curling

Sitting Volleyball Swimming Table Tennis Wheelchair Basketball

Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Tennis

Conclusion

Now that we have looked at the different types of Paralympic sports, it is evident that there is a sport for everyone. Whether you are looking for an invigorating team sport such as wheelchair rugby, or an individual challenge such as boccia, the Paralympics has something to offer. With over 20 sports on the program, there really is something for everyone. So why not get involved and try one today?