History of the Paralympics

 History of the Paralympics


Before looking at the readings and videos I had no idea what the prefix “para” in paralympics meant. I hadn’t given the prefix’s meaning any thought, and if I were to guess, I would have said something along the lines of disability. After reviewing the material I learned the prefix means “alongside” so the Paralympics are the “parallel games”. Of course this makes sense, and aligns with what the Paralympics are, and what its goals are. 

After learning the meaning of the prefix I was curious about what the Paralympics mission statement was. A quick Google search revealed their mission statement is “to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence, inspire the world, and promote the Paralympic values.” (IPC). After learning this, I watched the video “History of the Paralympic Games’. I was surprised to learn how the games started. Veterans injured in World War II were just sitting around their hospital, lacking physical activities important for both mental, and physical recovery. The doctor Sir Ludwig Gutman created a program focused on fitness for rehabilitation. This helped show the young men, and women that were injured that their life wasn’t over. On July 29th, 1948 the first Stoke Mandeville Games were held for athletes in wheelchairs, these games later evolved into the Paralympics.

The origins of the Paralympics is not what I expected it to be. I think it is a very albeit sad but cool origin story, taking something that could have been very sad and creating positivity from it. The young adults that first participated in the games were going through a very mentally debilitating time. After sustaining life altering injuries in a very traumatic war, these people were no doubt in a very difficult time of their lives. Doctor Gutman’s idea and execution of the idea helped rehabilitate these people physically, but more importantly mentally. His idea not only helped teach these people that their life isn’t over, it became something that grew exponentially. An original concept of games to rehabilitate has turned into an elite international competition with Summer and Winter games and countless sport events. The para-athletes that win medals for the United States even get paid. If the para-athlete wins gold they receive $37,500, for silver $22,500, and $15,000 for bronze. 

The concept of the “parallel games” was at first to motivate, and rehabilitate those who were injured. Similar to when it first began the Paralympics still focuses on athletes abilities, rather than their disabilities. It promotes participation in sports, by providing a platform for competition at elite levels.

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