Similar to the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games occur once every four years. Since 1988, the same city has hosted both events, with the Paralympic Games taking place shortly after the completion of the Olympics. From the first Paralympics in...
In sport, not all athletes are created equal, and each athlete brings his own unique mix of skill, athleticism and mental game to the playing field. Competing in the Paralympic Games is no different. Regardless of their physical limitations,...
The winter Paralympics hosts athletes who are ready to take on some of winter's most competitive sports. What sets these athletes apart is their spirit to overcome and do what many others have told them is impossible. The Paralympics includes many...
The summer Paralympic Games include four kinds of wheelchair sports. Wheelchair bound athletes who want to participate in the summer Paralympic Games, should look into the sports that are included. Team sports include wheelchair basketball and...
The Paralympic games is an international event organized very much like the Olympics. All athletes who complete must have a certified disability that affects mobility. Amputees, cerebral palsy, those with visual disabilities and people with...
The Winter Paralympic Games has three different skiing events that you can compete in. Alpine skiing, biathlon and cross country skiing. These are all individual sports. To prepare for these activities, look for a local team that trains...
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "paraplegic" as a person with paralysis of the body, involving the legs. Paraplegics include those who have lived with paraplegia their entire lives, as well as people who have become paralyzed later in life....
Wheelchair-bound athletes have gone from pushing around heavy wooden chairs on wheels, to using state-of-the-art wheelchairs that are easily lifted with one hand. Dating back to World War II, wheelchair sports have been used as a motivational tool...
Snowboarding with prosthetic devices on one or both legs is both possible and practiced on ski slopes around the world. Single and double-amputees take advantage of prosthetic technology to maintain their posture atop modified snowboards and...
People who have medical conditions or physical handicaps can engage in exercise and sporting events adapted to their limitations and capabilities. Adaptive activities cater specifically to the needs of the individual, whether he's diagnosed with...
Whether you are an armchair quarterback, a weekend warrior or an accomplished athlete, you know that sports and competition embody the determination and winning mindset of the American spirit. If you were born with or have acquired a disability,...
Although sitting volleyball originated in Holland in the 1950s, it's now played all over the world, with qualifying teams participating in the Paralympic Games. To qualify for the U.S. National Sitting Volleyball Team or to play in the...
Wheelchair fencing, an official sport of the International Paralympics, is exciting for competitors and spectators alike. Wheelchair athletes compete in three fencing styles, including foil, epee and sabre, while their chairs are securely...
As a person with a disability, you might have a desire to remain physically fit and participate in sports and recreational activities. In such a case, you might consider powerlifting for the physical benefits it provides or enjoy it for the...
Classifications in swimming are designed to help group athletes with physical disabilities. The classification system is designed by the Paralympic committee that organizes the Paralympics every four years. Swimming is the only Paralympic sport...
With the world's longest saltwater coastline and shorelines lapped by four of the five Great Lakes, Canada offers swimmers abundant opportunity to test their mettle in all kinds of aquatic conditions. Over the years, Canadian swimmers have...
Amputees with prosthetics found a welcome home in the world of rowing late in the 20th century. The first international rowing regatta for the disabled, also known as adaptive racing, was held in Sydney, Australia, in 1988. A number of...
Getting a good cardiovascular workout is beneficial for all. However, some people have limited or no mobility in their legs. Mobility limitations can be due to spinal injuries, severe arthritis, neuropathy, a stroke, a paralytic condition or...
Sports, which provide so many opportunities for personal achievement, team success, physical fitness and lessons in sportsmanship and teamwork, can be enjoyed by athletes of all abilities and disabilities. With the continued improvement of...
Lack of vision does not have to prevent you or someone you know from enjoying the fun and health benefits of swimming. People with visual impairments not only swim, but many also compete in swimming events at the local, national and even...
Wheelchair athletics have been traced back to the years following World War II when disabled war veterans began organizing amateur sports leagues. Today, wheelchair athletes have an opportunity to compete with other disabled athletes in...
The Olympic Games take its name from its original site, Olympia in Greece. These athletic competitions date to 776 B.C. and even then, the games took place every four years. The modern Olympics era began with the 1896 Olympiad. The 2008 Olympiad...
Running for sport dates back to ancient Greece and the first Olympic games. Through the years since then, running track has gone from short foot races on a rectangular track to a variety of events run on oval tracks. Track and field competitions...
Humans have used skis as a means of transportation for thousands of years, and ancient cave and rock art indicates that the use of skis to travel down hills predates recorded history. The history of downhill skiing is long and fascinating, and...
Exercise empowers, even when you are when injured or incapacitated. Regular physical activity tends to confer a sense of control and heighten your fitness and mood. It also allows you to continue neuromuscular training. Upper extremity pedal...
People with disabilities can participate in soccer courtesy of programs to meet the needs of special needs children and adults. Athletes with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, Down syndrome, amputations and brain injuries can take advantage of the...
Seated volleyball is a variation on the conventional game of volleyball that developed as a sport for the disabled. The Dutch Sports Committee established the formal game of seated volleyball in 1956. Seated volleyball was an international sport...
An above-the-knee amputation presents special challenges but shouldn't keep you from participating in any activity you enjoy. Barring any medical complication, such as diabetes or heart disease, amputees can enjoy a full range of activities. As...
Paralympic swimming among international sports caters to people with disabilities, combining limb loss, cerebral palsy, spinal-cord injury and other conditions across a range of categories. Rather than distinguish people by different types of...
People with various levels of disabilities can compete in archery. Your mind is the most important aspect of the sport. Learn how to play Paralympic archery in this sports video.
Quad rugby is a fast-paced and hard-hitting sport that has received recognition in both movies and TV. Learn how to play quad rugby in this sports video.
