The Paralympic Games is one of the best things that ever happened in the history of humankind. It allowed people with a range of disabilities to compete and overcome their challenges.
There are many interesting things about the Paralympics, one of which was that it started in a hospital in the UK. Today, let us take a look at some of the most astonishing facts about the sister of the Olympics—the Paralympics.
1. The Medals Are Accessible
Like the Olympics, the athletes win medals here, too. But to help those with vision loss to identify the kind of medal they won, the medals are made in such a way that they are easily identifiable.
The medals have specific indentations to the side. One indentation means it is gold, two for silver, and then three for bronze. In the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the words “Tokyo 2020” were written in braille on the medal.
2. Wheelchair Rugby Used to Be Called Murderball
Oddly enough, rugby for the Paralympics was first called murderball. It was the name given to the game back in the 1970s. The reason being was that it was a brutal sport.
At that time, they battled on a basketball court. The game was aggressive, and players who were in their wheelchairs crashed onto each other. Those that crashed at full speed severely got hurt and got hurled in the air.
Now, the game is called Wheelchair Rugby. The change happened in the year 2000, and now it is one of the crowd favourites. In the 2020 Paralympics, one of the teams that fans rooted for was the Australian Steelers. They were aiming for their third consecutive gold medal. However, it was Great Britain that won.
3. The First Official Paralympics Happened in 1960
The first Paralympic games happened in Rome in 1960. 400 athletes participated, and 23 countries joined. Since then, the Paralympics team has become an event every four years. It was in 1976 that the Paralympics happened in winter for the first time.
There are two types of Paralympic games. The first is the Winter, and the other one is the Summer. All games are governed by a different body called the International Paralympic Committee.
4. The Paralympics Started as Rehabilitation Activities
The birth of the Paralympic games can be attributed to the Stoke Mandeville Games. These were also called Wheelchair Games. They were held for soldiers who got injured in the second world war.
The British government worked with a man named Dr. Ludwig Guttman to open and operate a spinal injury centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital. To help the soldiers suffering from spinal cord injury, Dr. Guttman started a rehabilitation process where they had to participate in sports.
It was during this period when he found out that sport was an important component of rehabilitation. Soon, the rehabilitation process turned into a national event.
This history is commemorated in a British Drama called The Best of Men. It was released in 2012, and it tells the story of how Paralympics was born.
5. The Gold Medals Are Made of Silver
Paralympic gold medals are not made of pure gold. The same thing goes with Olympic gold medals. They are made of silver and have gold plating.
Back in the day, gold medals were made of real gold. Athletes who won them bit the gold to check if they were real gold. Gold is a soft metal, and human teeth can easily dent them.
Today, athletes know that their gold medal is only gold on the outside. However, they bite the medal because it has become a tradition. Also, the champions who won the gold are told by photographers to strike a pose where they should bite the medal as if checking for authenticity.
6. The Paralympics Have a Complex Classification System
In the Olympics, the main classification happens between gender, then by weight. In the Paralympics, it is much more complicated than that. It is not as simple as accessing an account, like GGBet login, and then looking at the classification of games.
Those that have the same impairments fight in the same competition. Because there are many types of impairment among athletes, each sport has its classification system.
For example, Classes 1-5 are for people in a wheelchair. Class 6-10 are for standing athletes. Then, there is Class 11, which is reserved for athletes with intellectual impairments.
For the classes between 1 and 10, a lower number indicates that the degree of impairment is much more severe.
Summary
The Paralympic event is one that anybody must see in a lifetime. It represents how humans overcome barriers, break down walls, and become superstars in their own right.
The Paralympics will be here to stay forever, and it will continue to inspire people from around the world. It is a symbol of hope, determination, equality, and courage.
