Posted On: 2021-08-26 12:08:05
Paralympics
Dr. Lubwig Guttmann, a German neurologist, saw sports as the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries and established the Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 for wheelchair athletes. The “Stoke Mandeville Games” was later renamed as the Paralympics games (Para meaning ‘besides’ in greek: as Olympics and Paralympics are played side by side) which first took place in Rome, Italy in 1960 which consisted of 8 sports and 400 athletes who took part in it representing 23 countries. Initially, the paralympic games were meant for wheelchair athletes but athletes with other disabilities like amputees and visually impaired were first included in the 1976 Summer Games. Paralympians with cerebral palsy, prosthetics, impaired muscle power, or range of movement, limb deficiencies, intellectually impaired, short stature, and other muscle impairments. There are other vast numbers of disability groups that can be included in the future Paralympic games. In 1976 the first winter Paralympics games were held in Sweden. Both the Summer and Winter Paralympics games take place every four years.
The Paralympics games and the Olympic games have been taking part in the same cities and venues since the first summer games in Seoul, North Korea, in 1988 and Winter Games in Albertville, France in 1992 with the agreement between International Paralympic Committee(IPC) and International Olympic Committee(IOC).
The International Paralympic Committee was founded on 22nd September 1989 as an international non-profit organization in Dusseldorf, Germany. The purpose of this Committee was to act as the global Governing body of the Paralympic Movement.
With every year passing by, the number of athletes participating in the Paralympics games is increasing which is indeed commendable. The way these players do not allow their disability to become a hindrance in the way of achieving their dreams, overcoming their fear, and breaking stereotypes at every step is inspirational. They make the whole world proud by achieving their aspired goal. They give a message to millions of people to not let their disability define them and aim for the stars.
India at Paralympics
India made its Paralympics debut in 1968 but then didn’t participate after the 1972 Summer Games. India then resumed its participation in the 1984 Summer Games and has since participated in every summer game since then. India has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games due to the climatic conditions, lack of funds, and support. India won its first-ever gold medal in the Paralympics in the 1972 Heidelberg Games when Murlikant Petkar swam the 50-meter freestyle in the world record time of 37.331 seconds. In the 1984 Stoke Mandeville/ New York Games, Joginder Singh Bedi won Silver in Men’s Javelin L6 with a pair of bronze medals in Men’s Javelin L6 and Men’s Discus Throw L6 followed by Bhimroa Kesarkar who won silver in Men’s Javelin L6.
After the Paralympics of 1984, India directly won a medal in the 2004 Athens Games when Devendra Jhanjhari won gold in men’s Javelin F44/46 and Rajinder Singh Rahelu Men’s 56 kg won bronze in Powerlifting. Girisha Nagarajegowda won Silver in the 2021 London Games in Men’s High jump F46. In the 2016 Rio De Janeiro games, two gold medals were won by Mariyappan Thangavelu and Devendra Jhanjhari in men’s High Jump F42 and Men’s Javelin F46, and a silver and bronze medal were won by Deepa Malik in Women’s Shot Put F53 and Men’s High Jump F42 respectively.
This year, India sent its largest contingent of 54 athletes for the Tokyo Paralympics across nine sports of archery, badminton, taekwondo, athletics, canoeing, shooting, swimming, powerlifting, and table tennis. Although it is the 21st century, various taboos still exist in many parts of India about women and people with disabilities being unable to compete and play any sort of sports and some people often look down on them and discourage them. But these taboos are broken in the Paralympics as women with disabilities take part in the games and leave a mark that makes them earn everyone’s respect by winning various medals.
Paralympics 2020
The 2020 Summer Paralympics aka Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games were originally scheduled to take place from 25th August 2020 to 6th September 2020 but were postponed due to the Pandemic. The Paralympics started from 24th August 2021 to 5th September 2021 with no public spectators due to the state of emergency in Tokyo just like the Tokyo Olympics 2020. This year, the games will introduce the sports of Badminton and Taekwondo, replacing sailing and 7-a-side football.
The athletes competing in the Paralympics need and deserve more support as they go through a lot of struggles to achieve their goals but still are underappreciated. It is time for us to no longer look down on them but instead cheer for them and light up their spirit. Let us come together and support the athletes in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
“The Paralympics are here and so are the Paralympic athletes aka the superhumans. Let’s come together and support them.”
“Dance is all about expressing emotions and crowdfunding helps the dancers in need for resources to connect to millions with the help of major platforms by acting as a bridge with the supporters.”
Author : Hritika Singh
Ready to Start a Fundraiser ?