Introduction
The Paralympic Games are similar to the Olympic Games. The only difference is in, The Paralympic Games, the athletes have a range of physical disabilities. It is a major international, multi-sport event. The range of disabilities include: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, and so much more! These games are held in the Winter and Summer since 1988.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F90TwuJIt-Y
(being watching at 3 minutes)
Task
You probably don't know who George Eyser is. If you don't, he was the first athlete with a disability who competed in the Olympic Games prior to the start of the Paralympics. Eyser was a German American gymnast who competed in the summer Olympics in 1904. Eyser competed with a wooden prosthesis for a left leg. He lost his real leg after being ran over by a train, ouch! He managed to earn 6 medals in one day, including 3 gold and 2 silver. He earned gold in the vault. The vault was the event which includes jumping over a long horse without the help of a springboard.
This video shows Women's vault in the 2012 olympics. After watching, imagine how athletes with some type of disability do it. It is incredible how effortless they look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws1tth8XWhg
(being watching at 6 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r73K4LbpsX0
(here is a 8 sec clip of a special olympic vault)
Process
The 1904 Olympics were held in St. Louis, Missouri. Due to the wide variety of disabilities that Paralympic athletes have, they created several categories in which the athletes compete. The allowable disabilities are broken down into ten eligible impairment types: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairemnt, and intellectual impairment. These 10 categories are broken down into classifications. These classification vary in each sport, which has led to cheating controversies revolving around athletes who have over-stated their disability. These classifications also prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs that have been seen in other events.
The Paralympics started out as a small gathering of British WW2 veterans in 1948 and has become one of the largest international sporting events in the 21st century. Athletes that compete strive for equal treatment with non-disabled olympic athletes. Sadly though, there is a large funding gap between the 2 types of olympic athletes.
Evaluation
When an athlete is interested in first competing, that athlete has to undergo a process to verify they meet the classificatin criteria. That process is conducted by a classification panel, which is a group of individuals who are certified by Sport Federation. They determine the sport class of an athlete. This process includes:
1) the confirmation of the presence of a qualified impairment for their sport.
2) physical and technical assessment to determine the degree of limitations
3) the allocation of a sport class
4) the observation in competition
What if they are not eligible to compete in a sport?
If the athlete is not eligible to compete in a sport, it isn't questioning their impairement. It only means that the athlete does not have a primary impairment that makes them eligible to compete in that particular sport or that the severity of their impairment does not significantly impact the activities required in their particular sport.
What if their medical conditions change?
The athlete needs to notify the sport and ask for a re-assesssment.
http://www.teamusa.org/us-paralympics/paralympic-athletes?pg=68
Conclusion
If anyone meets the critera in the evaluation section, they could try out for the Paralympic Games. If they want to participate in the Games, they shouldn't simply hope they are good enough. They need to practice hard. There are many sports in the Games including; swimming, soccer, track and field, tennis, basketball, and so much more! The Paralympic Games are almost, if not, as popular at the Olympic Games.