What is the Paralympic Games? What is the peculiarity of the Paralympic athletes?

All the media talk about the Olympic Games. Millions know about them, they are waiting with impatience, they are hotly ill for their compatriots at the competitions. However, not everyone knows what the Paralympic Games are.

History

Paralympic games are held between people who have limited opportunities. All disabled people can take part in the competition, except for those who have problems with auditory perception.

People know about Paralympic Games not so long ago, with the expansion of the media, mainly the Internet. But the first such Games were held back in 1960 in Rome. By tradition, they were held immediately after the Olympic Games, in the same city.

The Second Paralympic Games was held in Tokyo. But in 1968 the city of Mexico City, in which at that time there were Olympic competitions, categorically refused to host the Paralympic athletes. Since that time, the Olympic and Paralympic Games have taken place in different cities. And only 20 years later, in 1988, it was decided to conduct them again in one place.

At first there were only summer games, and about what the Paralympics of winter sports were, they learned only 16 years after its opening, in 1976.

Primary sources and meanings of the word

One of the interesting facts is that in Russian there is no such term at all. What is the Paralympic Games? The definition can be found only in some dictionaries. The term was borrowed from English sources.

The ancestor of the Paralympic Games is Ludwig Guttman, a neurosurgeon from England. He first came up with the idea of holding contests between people who are sick with cerebral palsy. It's easy to guess that the name of the disease was the name of the competition.

Over time, in the Paralympia began to participate and disabled people who have a number of other dysfunctions. After that, it was decided to change the meaning of the term a little. The word "couple" from Greek translates as "next". Consequently, the Paralympic Games are "close to the Olympics".

How it all began

Ludwig Guttman in 1948 became the organizer of the competition, in which English veterans of the Second World War participated. All these people had spinal cord injuries. The competition data were called Stoke-Mandeville wheelchair games.

In 1952, the competition acquired an international scale, because They were joined by Dutch veterans. Since 1960, the rules have changed. In games, wheelchair users could already take part, regardless of the kind and degree of the disease, and these were not only military. Traditionally, like the Olympics, these competitions were held in Rome. The name of the Paralympics they received later.

In 1976, the conditions of the Paralympic Games changed again. In addition to the fact that the competitions began to be held in the winter season, disabled people could also take part in them not only in wheelchairs.

Equal Terms and Conditions

Each athlete who submits an application for participation in the Paralympic Games must undergo a special medical commission to establish the category of disability. This procedure is carried out in order to achieve the most equal conditions of competition. Compete among themselves in this or that kind of sports should people with equal physical abilities. As a result of medical examination, a certain category is assigned to the athlete.

A greater number of sports included in the Olympic Games are inherent in such a competition as the Paralympic Games. Hockey, swimming, track and field, cycling, football and other competitions are held with special conditions that allow people with disabilities to compete. In some cases, participants are allowed to bring assistants.

Age categories

One of the features of the Paralympic Games is a fairly solid age of athletes. For example, Peter Norfolk, who plays tennis on a wheelchair, turned 53 years old. David Clark, who is the captain of one football team, celebrates his 43rd birthday. The captain of the bocce team, Nigel Merry, is 65 years old. Alexei Asapatov - the Russian champion in pushing the nucleus and throwing the disc - 41, and he is not going to stop his sports career.

Among the Paralympians there are also many young disabled people. Famous volleyball player Julie Rogers is only 15. Cloy Davis and Emmy Marren, who are swimming, 15 and 16 years respectively.

Neither age, nor physical defects, nor any other factors are barriers to the strong will of the Paralympic athletes.

Features

In football, even the blind can play. In this case, a less elastic ball is used, inside which there are special bearings that produce characteristic sounds. This allows blind athletes to determine the trajectory of the ball by ear. The football field is slightly smaller. Instead of grass - a hard surface. The field is surrounded on all sides by shields that reflect the sound of a hitting ball and passing players. They also do not allow the ball to leave the field.

Goalkeeper, of course, is selected sighted. And everyone else wears a bandage on their eyes. Some players are completely deprived of the opportunity to see, others are only partially. The dressing in this case ensures equality.

There are a number of special rules for disabled people to compete normally in competitions such as the Paralympic Games. Athletes who play football for the blind must make each other sound prompts. A special person, who is outside the field, tells you which way to go to the gate. Fans must also sit in the stands in absolute silence.

Swimming and running

Did not pass the Paralympic Games and a sport such as swimming. Those athletes who are deprived of sight are helped by special people - tamers. They stand at the end of the pool and notify the competitors when they approach the board. This is done with a long stick, at the end of which there is a ball.

Blind runners are also allowed to compete with guides. The assistant is connected with the runner by a rope. It indicates the direction, announces the turns and gives recommendations when it is necessary to accelerate or slow down the pace.

If the runner sees a little, he can decide for himself, use the help of an assistant guide or handle himself. There is also a rule prohibiting assistants from crossing the finish line before the athlete himself does.

Special kinds of sports: golbol and bocce

In addition to the well-known, the Paralympic Games have special sports: bocce and golbol.

In golbol play people who have serious problems with vision. The goal of the game is to throw the ball into the net of the opponent's goal, guarded by defenders. Inside the ball are bells, telling athletes where he is.

The game of bocce is in many respects similar to the usual curling. Paralympics from the Olympics, as is known, is different in that athletes-participants have limited physical capabilities. In bocce, those who have the most severe degree of disability compete.

Competitors must move the ball, pushing it in all possible ways to the goal. When this sport began its existence, it involved children suffering from cerebral palsy. Later, the game in bocce became available for other people who have impaired sensory-motor function.

Participants are divided into four categories. Some of them, unable to move the ball independently, are allowed to use the assistance of an assistant. For these people, there are other conditions for the game.

Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics 2014

In that year, the opening of the Paralympic Games took place in Sochi. For Russia this is a kind of debut, because the Paralympic Games were organized here for the first time. They were given the motto "Breaking the ice".

Preparation for the ceremony lasted about two years. At the opening of the audience the choir of the best singers, a dance ensemble of ballerinas selected from the best schools of the country, as well as artists with disabilities, was pleased. Enchanting performance amazed everyone present.

The opening ceremony was attended by about twenty-five thousand volunteers. The youngest was only 7 years old, the oldest - 63 years.

The live broadcast of the Paralympics took place on March 7 at 20:00 Moscow time. Anyone who has not been lucky enough to see the grandiose show that day can see the ceremony in the recording.

Undoubted favorite - Russia

Paralympic games lasted a little more than a week. The ceremonial closing of the Paralympic Games took place on March 16. Like the opening, it was held at the stadium "Fisht". Spectacular performance is sure to remember every spectator for many years.

The hymn of the Paralympic Games was performed by such popular artists as Diana Gurtskaya, Jose Carreras and Nafset Cenib. An interesting element of the closing program was the performance in which the dancers, lined up in certain figures, represented a work of art - the canvas of the artist Vasily Kandinsky. Having revived the masterpiece, they themselves became a part of art.

Medal set-off Paralympic Games became known only at its close. And all because the last competitions took place on the same day. It's no secret that talented Russians occupy the first places of honor in such games as the Olympics and Paralympics. Medals (at least, most of them) went to Russia, which became the leader of these sports competitions. The country has 80 medals, of which 30 are gold, 28 are silver and 22 are bronze. The medal test of the Paralympic Games showed how talented athletes are, what a huge potential they have.

The coverage of the Paralympic Games-2014 by foreign media

In a Chinese newspaper, a statement was made by Philippe Craven, who is the president of the International Paralympic Committee, where he declared that the Paralympic Games in Sochi had become one of the most successful. He also said that the competitions surpassed all expectations.

In Pakistan, they were pleasantly surprised by the Russian Paralympic athletes in sledge hockey. The brilliant game of goalkeeper Vladimir Kamantsev did not leave anyone indifferent. Also the Pakistani newspaper was interviewed by Philip Craven. He expressed his enthusiasm for the rapid sale of a huge number of tickets.

The English media proudly described the success of their skiers. The girls Jay Etherington and Kelly Gallagher represented their country with dignity. And Gallagher earned a gold medal, which was a kind of debut, because before that, no Briton was awarded such awards at the Paralympic Games.

What does it mean to be a Paralympic

Among the disabled there are many who have a huge potential and could achieve unprecedented heights in the sporting field. However, it's much harder to become an athlete to a person with disabilities. And sometimes it's not just physical difficulties, but also moral. Many are difficult to cross through some of their complexes and prejudices, it is not easy to go out and show oneself to the whole world. Others simply do not have opportunities for regular training: equipped halls, simulators, equipment and trainers.

Some begin their sports career as medical rehabilitation due to disability. Many athletes - former military, who served in Afghanistan and other hot spots.

For Paralympic players, the same rules apply to banning the use of doping, as for the Olympians. All athletes undergo doping control. A thorough check of all drugs used by people with disabilities is being carried out.

Strong in spirit!

Becoming a great athlete is not enough for everyone. To start a sports career in a wheelchair or moving on crutches is the task of the highest level of complexity. The Paralympic team is an amazing example of selflessness and iron willpower. This is the pride of every nation.

Paralympics makes us wonder at the strength and courage of people, makes us look at the world in a different way. She gives an occasion to make sure that the strength of a person is in his thoughts, in his desire to live. And there are no barriers to your dream!