The four-yearly Paralympic Games, which began in Rome, Italy, in 1960, will be the 12th Paralympic Games in Athens in 2004. The origins of the Paralympics have to be traced back to post-World War II Europe.
In order to enable soldiers whose lower limbs were paralyzed as a result of spinal cord damage during the war to recover as quickly as possible, British neurosurgeon Sir Ludwig Gettleman and a number of prominent people who were passionate about the cause of the disabled organized their own games for a group of wheelchair athletes during the 14th Summer Olympics in London in 1948, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games.
Four years later, the International Federation of Stoke Mandeville Games was founded in the United Kingdom, and the first International Paralympic Games were held that year, which was the predecessor of the Paralympic Games. Since then, the International Stoke Mandeville Games held annually. 1960, in Rome, two weeks after the end of the 17th Olympic Games, from the world's 23 countries, 400 disabled athletes participated in the Ninth International Stoke Mandeville Games held in Rome, and this session of the Games was later also formally recognized by the International Olympic Committee for the first "Paralympic Games". The Games were later officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the first "Paralympic Games".
Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have been held every four years, and after the eighth Paralympic Games in Seoul in 1988, it has become a practice for the Paralympic Games and the Summer Olympics to be held in the same city. 44 years have passed, from the initial registration of more than 400 athletes from 23 countries and regions to the 12th Athens Paralympic Games, which featured 3,806 athletes from 136 countries and regions, marking not only the development of the era, but also the development of the Paralympic Movement and the development of the Paralympic Movement.
The 2008 Paralympic Games were held from September 6 to 17 of that year. The opening time is September 6, 2008, and the closing time is September 17th.
The Beijing Paralympics featured 20 major sports, namely archery, athletics, boccia, cycling, equestrian, 5-a-side soccer, 7-a-side soccer, goalball for the blind, judo for the blind, weightlifting, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. All sports were held in Beijing, except for sailing, which was held in Qingdao, and equestrian, which was held in Hong Kong. According to the rules of the Paralympics, all the sports will be graded according to the type and degree of disability of the athletes,*** with 471 gold medals to ensure fair competition in sports and the safety of the games.
Sports and competitions for the physically disabled and blind
Physically disabled people are categorized into amputations and other disabilities, spinal cord injuries, and cerebral palsy based on their disabilities.
Sports activities in which physically disabled people with amputation and other disabilities participate include weightlifting, aerobics, chess, track and field, swimming, archery, shooting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, and volleyball.
The competition programs are: athletics, swimming, weightlifting, archery, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, shooting, volleyball.
Spinal cord injury type of physically handicapped people to participate in sports activities are: gymnastics, chess, track and field, swimming, weightlifting, archery, shooting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair table tennis, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair dance and so on.
The competition programs are: athletics, swimming, weightlifting, archery, shooting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, table tennis, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair rugby.
Sports activities for people with cerebral palsy include: gymnastics, chess, track and field, swimming, table tennis, shooting, boccia, soccer, wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair rugby.
Competitions include: track and field, swimming, table tennis, boccia, soccer, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair rugby.
Sports activities for the visually impaired include: aerobics, chess, track and field, swimming, gateball for the blind, table tennis for the blind, judo, and soccer for the blind.
Athletics, swimming, gateball for the blind, judo, and soccer for the blind are listed as competitions.
Sports and Competitions for the Deaf
Currently, there are 20.57 million deaf people in China, accounting for 34.3 percent of the total number of disabled people.
Deaf people are suitable for the same sports activities as the able-bodied, of which the competition programs are divided into summer and winter: men's competitions in the summer games include basketball, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, tennis, water polo, track and field, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, wrestling, judo, shooting, etc.; women's competitions include basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, track and field, swimming, cycling, gymnastics, shooting The women's events include basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis, track and field, swimming, cycling, gymnastics and shooting.
The men's events in the Winter Games include speed sliding, large obstacle skiing, special obstacle skiing, ski jumping, 15 kilometers of skiing, 3 × 10 kilometers of relay skiing, etc.; the women's events include speed sliding, large obstacle skiing, special obstacle skiing, 5000 meters of skiing, 3 × 5 kilometers of relay skiing.
Sports and competitions for the mentally handicapped
Competitions for the mentally handicapped are divided into official competitions and national popularization programs.
The official competition programs are further divided into summer and winter. The International Summer and Winter Special Olympics Games alternate and are held every four years.
The official summer sports include: aquatics, golf, track and field, gymnastics, basketball, weightlifting, bowling, roller skating, cycling, softball, equestrian, tennis, soccer and volleyball. More popular sports are: boccia, badminton, table tennis, handball, sailing.
Official winter competitions include: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ice hockey, speed skating, figure skating. More popular programs include: snowshoe walking.
The mascot for the Beijing 2008 Paralympics was officially unveiled, and "Lele, the lucky cow" was chosen.
The good image of the cow implies the spirit of self-improvement and perseverance of disabled athletes, which is in line with the upward character of Paralympic athletes as well as the concept of "Transcendence, Integration, and *** Enjoyment" of the Beijing Paralympic Games.
The cow, simple, optimistic and diligent, embodies a positive attitude to life. The Olympic Games promote a positive philosophy of life, and the Paralympic Games advocate that people with physical disabilities enjoy the right to compete on the field as much as the able-bodied, and carry this spirit into their lives, be strong in life, and add strength to the progress of society.
The design of "Fukiu Lele" absorbs the styling and design of Chinese folk prints, New Year's paintings and toys, and combines the characteristics of modern cartoon styling, reflecting the perfect combination of traditional national style, popular interest and the atmosphere of the times.
Together with the five Olympic Fuwa, "Fu Niu Lele" will carry China's rich cultural heritage and the Chinese people's pursuit of the Olympic spirit. Together, they will convey the message of "One World, One Dream" to the world; together, they will make the promise of two Olympics with the same splendor; together, they will bring passion and joy, health and wisdom, good luck and prosperity to the world. They send an invitation to the world - Beijing welcomes you*** to enjoy the joy of the Olympic Games.