(Paralympics)

The Paralympic Games are the equivalent Olympics for athletes with a physical, visual or mental disabilities.

Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition in 1948 which became known as the Stoke Mandeville Games. The first Olympic Style games for athletes with a disability were held in Rome in 1960 which became the Paralympic Games. The first Winter Paralympics were held in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden in 1976. The Games are now always held alongside the Olympic Games as of June 19, 2001 when an agreement was signed between the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) securing this practice for the future.

The next Paralympic Games are going to be held in Athens, Greece from 17th to 28th September 2004. These will be the 12th Paralympic Summer Games.