We are all inclined to observe the Olympic Games - it seems interesting to us, we support our favorite athletes and enjoy every medal. However, everyone knows that there are not quite ordinary games - Paralympic. What does this sport mean and how did the last Olympic Games go ?
History
The creation of the Paralympic Games is attributed to the neurosurgeon Ludwig Guttman. Having moved to the UK from Germany in 1939, he ordered a British government to open a new center for treating back injuries in the 1940s.
In the summer of 1948, the famous doctor Ludwig Guttman became the organizer of the first games for people with mobility-related diseases - they were called the “National Stoke Mandeville Games for Disabled People”. The games were held on the same day as the Olympic Games, which took place in London in 1948. It is known that the military who were injured during the service also participated in the competition.
For the first time, the team of the Soviet Union took part in the Paralympic Games, which were winter and took place in Austria. Unfortunately, then only two bronze medals in skiing were achieved for the visually impaired Olga Grigorieva. In the Paralympic Summer Games, Soviet athletes first performed in 1988 in South Korea, in Seoul. They fought for victory in sports such as swimming and athletics, winning as many as 55 medals, of which 21 were gold.
The Paralympic coat of arms first appeared at the 2006 Winter Games in Turin. The emblem is made up of three crescents located in the center of blue, red and green colors - three peculiar “agitos”, which means “to move”. This sign reflects the role of the IPC in the meeting of disabled athletes who inspire and motivate the world with their victories. Three hemispheres, the colors of which are red, blue and green, are clearly represented in the national flags of many parts of the world, meaning nothing more than Mind, Body and Spirit.
Characters
The main Paralympic symbol is painted on the Paralympic flag - the IPC logo, located in the center on white. Paralympic flag can be used only at official competitions and events.
The Paralympic anthem is a work of music performed by the Hymn de l 'Avenir orchestra, which means “anthem of the future”. It was composed by French musician and composer Thierry Darney in 1996 and confirmed by the IPC Board in the spring of 1996.
The Paralympic motto is Spirit in Motion. He quite clearly and concisely represents the very essence of this type of games - to allow people with disabilities to express themselves, to motivate the whole world with their achievements and victories.
2018 Paralympic Games
At the Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang athletes from 49 countries were involved. For the first time, teams from countries such as Georgia, Tajikistan and even the DPRK took part in the winter games.
Sports included a wide variety, completely new types for the Paralympic Games were added, such as, for example, a parasailboard. Also included were biathlon, skiing, curling, skiing and sledge hockey.
The logo of the Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang means a world that is accessible to everyone. It combines pictures of snow and ice, winter sports stars and people from all countries who gathered in Pyeongchang, where the sky meets the earth.
The medal standings of the Paralympic Games amounted to the largest amount of gold, silver and bronze in the USA, the smallest - in the Netherlands, a total of 241 medals were received.
Seasonal Games
As everyone knows, the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games are divided into summer and winter. They are also called seasonal. During these periods, competitions are held in various sports that are suitable for a particular season.
The Paralympic Winter Games were held from March 9 to March 18 in 2018. Summer, however, took place in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro.
During the summer and winter games, participants in many countries can show themselves, gain a reputation for themselves and their country, see another country, as many athletes do, and even learn something from rivals. This distribution of competitions by season is very convenient.
About Paralympics
This type of game was primarily aimed at the participation of patients in general competitions. They were created in order to show these people that they are capable of much, in particular, to overcome themselves and themselves and to teach a huge example to the whole world.
In order to participate in the Paralympics, it is necessary to comprehend a lot, to go through many difficulties. Persons with disabilities cannot become champions without investing tremendous work in the victory, sometimes exceeding the work of ordinary athletes by two, or even three times.
That is why this type of Olympic Games is so important for every country, they represent themselves as strong, able to overcome absolutely everything in this world and become champions.
In addition, nothing can replace the motivation presented at the Paralympic Games. A sense of strength and spirit (the main component of the motto of all paralympics) are the main criteria due to which many people with disabilities find themselves in sports and motivate people like themselves.