You have probably heard of The Olympics, or The Olympic Games - the massive international sports competition. The Olympics occur every 4 years, and there are Winter Games and Summer Games. They follow a staggered, or alternating, schedule: Winter Games -- 2 years -- Summer Games -- 2 years -- Winter Games, etc. Over 200 nations all around the world compete, and they are considered some of the most competitive, and prestigious competitions in the sporting world.
But did you know there is also a competition for people with impairments? The Paralympics, or Paralympic Games, are a sports competition, also international and with many different sports, for people with a range of disabilities, including muscle impairment, limb deficiency (like after an amputation for example), blindness, and intellectual impairment.
The Paralympic Games has thousands of competitors from over 100 nations. Because there are many different kinds of impairments, the allowable disabilities are separated into 10 different types of disability:
1. Impaired muscle power
2. Impaired range of movement
3. Limb deficiency
4. Leg length difference
5. Short stature
6. Hypertonia
7. Ataxia
8. Athetosis
9. Vision Impairment
10. Intellectual impairment
Within these types there are also classifications specific to individual sports.
There are 22 sports in the Summer Paralympic Program and 5 sports in the Winter Paralympic Program.
Trischa Zorn
Trischa Zorn is a Paralympic swimmer from the United States. Trischa was born blind, but went on to compete in the Paralympics, and won 55 medals (41 gold, 9 silver, and 5 bronze). She is one of the most successful athletes in the history of the Paralympic Games, and was inducted into the Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tanni Grey-Thompson is a Welsh wheelchair-racer. She was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. Tanni has won 16 Paralympic medals: 11 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze. She also competed in wheelchair basketball as a young athlete, and won the London Marathon six times. Tanni is one of the most successful disabled athletes in the United Kingdom. She is retired from competing in the games but is also a politician and television presenter.
Reinhild Möller
Reinhild Möller is a German alpine ski racer. Reinhild lost half of her left leg in a farm accident when she was 3 years old. She is the only alpine skier to win 19 Paralympic medals. Reinhild is also the first athlete with a disability to receive a $1 million sponsorship contract.
What sport do you play?
Do you play more than one? If yes, which do you like more? Which one are you better at?
Is it a team sport? If yes, how many people are on your team?
How often do you practice?
Answer the questions below
Match the following sports to their description below:
Martial Arts 1. Shoot an arrow (with a bow), aiming at a target
Football 2. Get points by throwing a ball into a basket
Baseball 3. Kick a ball into a net to get a point
Archery 4. A ball is hit over a net with a racket
Golf 5. Includes Judo, Tae Kwon Do, and Karate
Basketball 6. A ball is hit into a hole using a club
Tennis 7. Team sport, played with a ball, bat, and bases
Interview a friend or family member who plays a sport, and write down their responses.
Use sample questions below, or make your own!
1. What sport do you play?/What sport did you used to play?
2. When did you first start?
3. How long have you played the sport?
4. How often do you practice?
5. Have you ever competed in a big competition or tournament?
6. Have you ever had a serious injury from the sport?
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