The Paralym
pic Games
What Are the Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic Games are a series of sports competitions where the athletes competing have a variety
of disabilities. The Paralympics take place shortly after each Olympic Games, in the same host city.
The Stoke Mandeville Games
The Paralympic Games go back as far back as 1948.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Ludwig Guttmann was the head of
Spinal Injuries at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England. He
worked with veterans from the Second World War, many
of whom had lost the use of their legs.
Dr. Guttmann held an archery competition for 16 disabled
veterans on 29th July 1948, the same day as the opening
ceremony of the London Olympics. In 1949, more events
and participants joined what Dr. Guttmann called the
‘Stoke Mandeville Games’.
The First Paralympic Games Classification of Disabilities
In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were In order to make sure that the Paralympic
held in Rome, Italy. Over 400 athletes from Games are fair, there is a classification
23 countries took part! It was decided that system for the athletes. For athletes to
the Paralympic Games would occur every compete, they must have at least one of the
four years and would run just after the following impairments:
end of each Olympic Games. The first ever
Paralympic Winter Games were held in
• Impaired muscle power
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, in 1976. • Impaired passive range of movement
• Limb deficiency
• Leg length difference
• Short stature
• Muscle tension
• Uncoordinated movement
• Involuntary movements
• Vision impairment
• Intellectual impairment
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The Paralym
pic Games
Summer Paralympic Events
The Summer Paralympics consist of 24
events, including the following:
Winter Paralympic Events
The most recent event added was
• Swimming
‘Snowboarding’ during the 2014 Games
• Archery (just like in the original in Sochi, Russia. The full list of events
‘Stoke Mandeville Games’) includes the following:
• Wheelchair basketball
• Alpine skiing
• Boccia ( similar to
• Biathlon
‘Lawn Bowls’)
• Cross-country skiing
• Cycling
• Para ice hockey
• Sitting volleyball
• Snowboarding
• Paratriathlon
• Wheelchair curling
• Wheelchair rugby
Did You Know…?
The Paralympic Games have four values at the heart of the competition: courage, determination,
inspiration and equality.
The Future of the Paralympics
The main aim of the Paralympics is to continue to challenge the way disabilities and impairments are
viewed. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) wants the Paralympic Games to have as strong
a following as the Olympic Games. From a small competition of 16 disabled British veterans, to over
4400 international athletes, the Paralympic Games are championing inclusion within sports.
Did You Know…?
Glossary The 2016 Paralympics
disabilities – A disability is a physical or mental in Rio, Brazil, were
difference that can affect the way someone walks, sees, record-breaking in TV
hears, speaks or learns. A disability can be something viewing figures! Over 4.1
a person is born with or it can be the result of an billion people watched
accident or illness. the games… 7% more
than the 3.8 billion who
neurosurgeon – A doctor who specialises in surgery of
tuned in to the London
the brain and spinal cord.
Paralympics in 2012!
veterans – Ex-members of the Armed Forces.
impairments – These are differences in either people’s
physical abilities or learning abilities.
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The Paralympic Games
Questions
1. What were the first Paralympic Games called?
• Ludwig Games
• Guttman Games
• Stoke Guttmann Games
• Stoke Mandeville Games
2. When was the first Winter Paralympic Games?
• 1960
• 1967
• 1976
• 1972
3. Name three of the disabilities used in the Paralympics Disabilities Classification.
4. Name two of the Paralympic values.
5. What is the most recent event to be added to the Winter Paralympics?
6. Why do you think the Paralympics are becoming more popular?
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The Paralympic Games
Questions
7. How do you think Dr. Guttmann would feel about the success of the modern
Paralympic Games?
8. If you could design a new Paralympics logo, what would it be? Share your design in the
box below.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralym
pic Games
What Are the Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic Games are a series of sports competitions where the athletes competing have a variety
of disabilities. The word ‘Paralympic’ means ‘to run alongside the Olympic Games’. The Paralympics
take place shortly after each Olympic Games, in the same host city.
The Stoke Mandeville Games
The Paralympic Games have origins as far back as 1948.
Neurosurgeon Dr. Ludwig Guttmann was the head of Spinal
Injuries at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England. He worked with
veterans from the Second World War, many of whom had lost
the use of their legs.
Dr. Guttmann organised an archery competition for these
injured veterans, to promote the fact that disabled people were
more than able to be accomplished athletes. This competition
took place on 29th July 1948, the same day as the opening
ceremony of the London Olympics; 16 disabled sportsmen took
part. The following year (1949), more events and participants
joined what Dr. Guttmann now called the ‘Stoke Mandeville
Games’. In 1952, the competition became international, with
athletes from around the world participating.
The First Paralympic Games Classification of Disabilities
In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were In order to make sure that the Paralympic
held in Rome. What had begun with 16 Games are fair and give competitors the
disabled veterans in 1948 had truly become best opportunity to succeed, there is a
inspirational, with over 400 athletes from classification system for the athletes. For
23 countries taking part! athletes to compete, they must have at least
one of the following impairments:
Due to its success, it was decided that the
Paralympic Games would occur every four • Impaired muscle power
years and would run just after the end of • Impaired passive range of movement
each Olympic Games. For the first 16 years, • Limb deficiency
the Paralympic Games only took place • Leg length difference
in the summer. The first ever Paralympic
• Short stature
Winter Games were held in Örnsköldsvik,
• Muscle tension
Sweden, in 1976.
• Uncoordinated movement
• Involuntary movements
• Vision impairment
• Intellectual impairment
Paralympians are grouped in the classifications
that best match their abilities.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralym
pic Games
Summer Paralympic Events
The Summer Paralympics consist of 24 events, many
of which are almost identical to those of the Olympic Winter Paralympic Events
Games, but with suitable adjustments for competitors.
These include the following: Although there are not quite as many events within
the Winter Paralympic Games, they are steadily
• Swimming increasing over time. The most recent event added
was ‘Snowboarding’ during the 2014 Games in Sochi,
• Archery (just like in the original Russia. The full list of events includes the following:
‘Stoke Mandeville Games’)
• Wheelchair basketball • Alpine skiing
• Boccia ( similar to • Biathlon
‘Lawn Bowls’)
• Cross-country skiing
• Cycling
• Para ice hockey
• Sitting volleyball
• Paratriathlon • Snowboarding
• Wheelchair rugby • Wheelchair curling
Did You Know…?
The Paralympic Games have four values at the heart of the competition: courage, determination,
inspiration and equality.
The Future of the Paralympics
The main aim of the Paralympics is to continue to challenge the way disabilities and impairments are
viewed. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) wants the Paralympic Games to have as strong
a following as the Olympic Games, a goal that is becoming increasingly achievable. From a small
competition of 16 disabled British veterans, to over 4400 international athletes, the Paralympic Games
are championing inclusion within sports.
Did You Know…?
Glossary The 2016 Paralympics
disabilities – A disability is a physical or mental difference in Rio, Brazil, were
that can affect the way someone walks, sees, hears, speaks or record-breaking in TV
learns. A disability can be something a person is born with viewing figures! Over 4.1
or it can be the result of an accident or illness. billion people watched
the games… 7% more
neurosurgeon – A doctor who specialises in surgery of the
than the 3.8 billion who
brain and spinal cord.
tuned in to the London
veterans – Ex-members of the Armed Forces. Paralympics in 2012!
impairments – These are differences in either people’s
physical abilities or learning abilities.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralympic Games
Questions
1. What were the first Paralympic Games called?
• Ludwig Games
• Guttman Games
• Stoke Guttmann Games
• Stoke Mandeville Games
2. When was the first Winter Paralympic Games?
• 1960
• 1967
• 1976
• 1972
3. Find the word that means ‘from around the world’.
4. Fill in the missing words: almost identical , but
with suitable adjustments for competitors.
5. What are the four Paralympic values?
6. Why do you think the Winter Paralympics don’t have as many events as the Summer
Paralympic Games?
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The Paralympic Games
Questions
7. Why do you think the Paralympic Games are becoming so popular? How do you feel
about this?
8.How do you think Dr. Guttmann would feel about the success of the Paralympics? Explain
your answer.
9. If you could design a new Paralympics logo, what would it be? Share your design in the
box below.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralym
pic Games
What Are the Paralympic Games?
The Paralympic Games are a series of sports competitions where athletes with a variety of disabilities
compete at an international level. The word ‘Paralympic’ comes from the Greek prefix ‘para’ and the
word ‘Olympic’, meaning ‘to run alongside the Olympic Games’. The Paralympics take place shortly
after each Olympic Games, in the same host city.
The Stoke Mandeville Games
The Paralympic Games have origins as far back as 1948. Neurosurgeon
Dr. Ludwig Guttmann was the head of Spinal Injuries at Stoke Mandeville
Hospital, England. He worked with veterans from the Second World War,
many of whom had lost the use of their legs.
Dr. Guttmann organised an archery competition for these injured veterans,
to promote the fact that disabled people were more than able to be
accomplished athletes. This competition took place on 29th July 1948, the
same day as the opening ceremony of the London Olympics; 16 disabled
sportsmen took part. The following year (1949), more events and participants
joined what Dr. Guttmann now called the ‘Stoke Mandeville Games’. In 1952,
the competition became international, with athletes from around the world
participating. Dr. Guttman’s vision of disabled sportspeople competing at
the same level as Olympians was starting to be fulfilled.
The First Paralympic Games Classification of Disabilities
In 1960, the first Paralympic Games were In order to make sure that the Paralympic
held in Rome. What had begun with 16 Games are fair and give competitors the
best opportunity to succeed, there is a
disabled veterans in 1948 had truly become
classification system for the athletes. For
inspirational, with over 400 athletes from
athletes to compete, they must have at least
23 countries taking part! Due to its success,
one of the following impairments:
it was decided that the Paralympic Games
would occur quadrennially and would run • Impaired muscle power
just after the end of each Olympic Games. • Impaired passive range of movement
Initially, the Paralympic Games only took • Limb deficiency
place in the summer; however, this soon • Leg length difference
changed. The first ever Paralympic Winter • Short stature
Games were held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, • Muscle tension
in 1976, with 196 athletes competing in • Uncoordinated movement
skiing and sledge-racing events. • Involuntary movements
• Vision impairment
• Intellectual impairment
Paralympians are grouped in the classifications
that best match their abilities.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralym
pic Games
Summer Paralympic Events
The Summer Paralympics consist of 24 events, many
of which are almost identical to those of the Olympic Winter Paralympic Events
Games, but with suitable adjustments for competitors.
These include the following: Although there are not quite as many events within
the Winter Paralympic Games, they are steadily
• Swimming increasing over time. The most recent event added
was ‘Snowboarding’ during the 2014 Games in Sochi,
• Archery (just like in the original Russia. The full list of events includes the following:
‘Stoke Mandeville Games’)
• Wheelchair basketball • Alpine skiing
• Boccia ( similar to • Biathlon
‘Lawn Bowls’)
• Cross-country skiing
• Cycling
• Para ice hockey
• Sitting volleyball
• Paratriathlon • Snowboarding
• Wheelchair rugby • Wheelchair curling
Did You Know…?
The Paralympic Games have four values at the heart of the competition: courage, determination,
inspiration and equality.
The Future of the Paralympics
The main aim of the Paralympics is to continue to challenge the way disabilities and impairments are
viewed. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) wants the Paralympic Games to have as strong
a following as the Olympic Games. From a small competition of 16 disabled British veterans, to over
4400 international athletes, the Paralympic Games are championing inclusion within sports.
Did You Know…?
Glossary The 2016 Paralympics
disabilities – A disability is a physical or mental in Rio, Brazil, were
difference that can affect the way someone walks, sees, record-breaking in TV
hears, speaks or learns. A disability can be something viewing figures! Over 4.1
a person is born with or it can be the result of an billion people watched
accident or illness. the games… 7% more
neurosurgeon – A doctor who specialises in surgery of than the 3.8 billion who
the brain and spinal cord. tuned in to the London
Paralympics in 2012!
veterans – Ex-members of the Armed Forces.
impairments – These are differences in either people’s
physical abilities or learning abilities.
visit twinkl.com
The Paralympic Games
Questions
1. What were the first Paralympic Games called?
• Ludwig Games
• Guttman Games
• Stoke Guttmann Games
• Stoke Mandeville Games
2. When was the first Winter Paralympic Games?
• 1960
• 1967
• 1976
• 1972
3. Find the word that means ‘from around the world’.
4. Fill in the missing words: almost identical , but
with suitable adjustments for competitors.
5. What are the four Paralympic values?
6. Why do you think the Winter Paralympics don’t have as many events as the Summer
Paralympic Games?
visit twinkl.com
The Paralympic Games
Questions
7. Why do you think the Paralympic Games are becoming so popular? How do you feel
about this?
8. How do you think Dr. Guttmann would feel about the success of the Paralympics? Explain
your answer.
9. Imagine that you are a Paralympian. Write a paragraph about how you feel to be
representing your country. What event would you participate in and what advice would you
give to young people dreaming of becoming a Paralympian?
10. Imagine you have been asked to add a new event for the Winter Paralympics. What
event would you add? What adjustments would you have to consider for different disability
categories?
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