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What is Paralympics?
Paralympic Games or Paralympics is an international multi-sport event for athletes with a range of disabilities. The event usually takes place every two years and almost immediately after the Olympic Games. There are two versions of Paralympic games — Winter and Summer Games. All Paralympic Games are managed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Athletes who participate have a range of disabilities including impaired muscle power, hypertonia, ataxia, vision impairment, intellectual impairment, etc.
Categories Paralympic athletes compete in
Given the different types of disabilities, there are several categories for the Paralympic athletes to compete in. There are ten eligible impairment types. The categories are muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. They are further broken down into different classifications depending on the sport.
Paralympics began for the first time in 1948 with a small gathering of British World War II veterans. Now it has become one of the largest international sporting events with thousands of competitors from 100 countries. Paralympians want equal treatment with non-disabled Olympic athletes but there is a huge gap in funding for Paralympic games compared to Olympic Games.
The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960. 400 athletes from 23 countries took part in the Games. It was initially open only to athletes in wheelchairs. Later in the 1976 Summer Paralympic Games, athletes with other disabilities were also included.
International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
It is the global governing body of the Paralympic Movement. The body comprises 176 National Paralympic Committees and four disability-specific international sports federations. Currently, the IPC is headed by Brazilian sports administrator and journalist, Andrew Parsons.
The IPC manages the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. It is also the international federation for 9 sports. It regulates World Championships and other competitions for each of the 9 sports it manages.
Latest Updates on Paralympics
Singh, a Tokyo Games bronze winner, claimed his maiden gold medal at Paris after defeating Lukasz Ciszek of Poland in the final 6-0
Indian para shuttlers won five medals, including one gold, two silver, and as many bronze, at the Paris Games.
This historic performance is a testament to the resilience and determination of our para athletes, V Satish Kumar, Chairman and Director (Marketing), IndianOil, said during a felicitation function
India gave its best-ever performance in the Paralympic Games by winning 29 medals, including an unprecedented seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze medals
The 29-year-old from Haryana, who secured a historic gold medal in the SL3 class at the Paris Paralympics, said para shuttlers needed to be treated on par with their able-bodied counterparts
The 24-year-old Parmar became India's first Paralympic medallist in judo when he won a bronze in men's 60kg (J1) in Paris Games on September 4.
There was the customary dhol and euphoric chants hailing them as the athletes made their way out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport this morning.
Sports minister Mandaviya also pledged full support and facilities for para-athletes to aim for more medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.
This achievement is due to the unwavering dedication and indomitable spirit of our athletes, he said
As we proudly bask in the success of our para-athletes at Paris, political and corporate leaders may want to apply serious thought to making India a kinder, gentler place for differently-abled people
Despite his impressive muscle power and speed, the 23-year-old Navdeep struggled with technique, a shortcoming that led to a disappointing fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Paralympics
India thus concluded the Paris Paralympics with a record haul of seven gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, set to finish 18th in the overall medals tally
Some Paralympians live with a disability all their lives but lacrosse player Carson Clough is not one of those people.
Seven of these 29 medals are gold, which is another first for the country that started to make its presence felt only in the 2016 edition, where it won four medals
The 44th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly, held in New Delhi on Sunday, showcased India's commitment to sports and its achievements on the international stage.
The 23-year-old Indian javelin thrower won an unparalleled gold in the F41 classification at the Paris Paralympic Games.
India's Simran Sharma, the reigning world champion, breezed her way into the final of the women's 200m T12 race with a time of 25.03 seconds at the Paralympic Games here on Friday.
The Indian contingent's chef de mission Satya Prakash Sangwan said in a statement that the two athletes' performance will inspire the future generations.
Praveen not only improved his lifetime best but also broke the Asian record in the process.
Simran, who is the reigning world champion, topped her heat with a timing of 25.41s to make the semi-finals.