paralympiska

Paralympiska refers to the Paralympic Games, a major international multi-sport event for athletes with physical, sensory, or intellectual disabilities. Organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Paralympic Games are held annually in the summer and winter, following the Olympic Games in the same host city. The term "Paralympic" combines "para," derived from the Greek word *para*, meaning "beside" or "alongside," and "Olympic," signifying its parallel relationship to the Olympic Games.

The Paralympic movement began in 1948 when Sir Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. This event, now known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, laid the foundation for the modern Paralympic Games. The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, coinciding with the Olympic Games, and have since grown into a global celebration of athletic achievement and inclusion.

The Paralympic Games feature a wide range of sports adapted for athletes with disabilities, including wheelchair rugby, sitting volleyball, goalball, and skiing. Athletes are categorized based on their type and extent of disability, ensuring fair competition. The IPC oversees classification systems to standardize these categories across sports.

The Paralympic Games emphasize the principles of inclusion, equality, and excellence, promoting social change and challenging perceptions of disability. They attract millions of viewers worldwide and inspire athletes to overcome challenges through sport. The movement also extends beyond the Games, with the IPC and national Paralympic committees advocating for disability rights, accessibility, and sports participation globally.

The Paralympic Games are held every four years, with the most recent editions taking place in Tokyo (2020, delayed to 2021) and Beijing (2022 for the Winter Games). Future host cities are selected through a bidding process, with Paris set to host the 2024 Summer Games and Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo preparing for the 2026 Winter Games. The Paralympic movement continues to evolve, fostering greater awareness and representation for athletes with disabilities.