The Paralympic Games have a deeply moving history. It all started shortly after World War II. In 1948, a neurologist named Sir Ludwig Guttmann was working at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. He wanted to help British veterans with spinal cord injuries recover both physically and mentally. He organized a small archery tournament for them on the very same day the 1948 London Olympics opened.

This small hospital event slowly grew into an international movement. In 1960, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries. The focus shifted from medical rehabilitation to elite, high-level sports competition.

Today, the Paralympic Games are massive. Since the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea, they have been held in the exact same city and use the exact same venues as the regular Olympic Games, usually starting a few weeks later. The games include specialized sports like Goalball and Boccia, which were created specifically for athletes with disabilities.

Unit 4: Final Assessment