A link to the history of the Paralympics

[dimity_blue]

For sammason.

On the BBC website.

Interesting snippets:

Wheelchair accessibility was not a major consideration in 1960 and Maughan (Margaret Maughan, Britain's first ever Paralympic gold medallist) relates how she and her British team-mates boarded the plane to Rome via forklift trucks.

(Dimity Blue - I really like this. I'd like to board a plane this way.)

Athletes were so few in 1960 that each competitor was guaranteed a medal, as fewer than three individuals competed per event.

In 1980, Trischa Zorn, an American swimmer with visual impairments splashed onto the Paralympic scene. Over 24 years and seven games, Trischa went on to win 55 medals, a staggering 41 of which were gold.

The 1988 Seoul Paralympics is regarded now as the genesis of the modern Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair rugby – originally called murderball – proved to be a hugely popular disability sport thanks to its aggressive, full-contact powerplays.
"I think people genuinely want to come and watch us smash each other out of our wheelchairs. It's like PC gone completely right."
Aaron Phipps, GB wheelchair rugby team, 2012

"There is no such thing as a standard or run of the mill human being – but we share the same human spirit."
Steven Hawking, London 2012 Paralympics opening ceremony

Comments

[sammason.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this. Would you mind posting it to friendly_crips?

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Not at all. :o)

[leesa_perrie]

Ooh, interesting!! I'll be watching the opening ceremony (though probably not live, knowing me), but I'm afraid other than opening/closing ceremonies my interest is pretty lacking where the olympics is concerned. Glad to know we did well in the one just gone and hope we do well in this one, but yeah, not a sporty person. Well, other than watching F1! :)

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I don't watch sports either. I found the history interesting though.

I'm amazed that Trischa Zorn isn't widely known, given how many medals she's won.

[swordznsorcery.livejournal.com]

Wheelchair accessibility was not a big concern... for the transportation of athletes to the Paralympics. Oh, sixties! Although, if you've ever watched "Ironside", you'll know that the 1960s were actually extraordinarily good for wheelchair access. He never had any problem getting anywhere. ;)

Never understood why the Paralympics don't get much news coverage, although things are better now. As much as anything else, Britain absolutely rocks the Paralympics. And wheelchair basketball is much better than the non-wheeled version. I hadn't heard of wheelchair rugby. Murderball is such a great name!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I've always thought rugby seemed a tough game. Add wheelchairs and it's practically lethal. o.O

Ironside would only have had issues if it mattered to the story. Like proving someone's totally villainous because they live in an inaccessible building. :oD

[stargatesg1971.livejournal.com]

Interesting post, hon. I'd not heard of wheelchair rugby as murderball before. I like how they promote the Paralympics more nowaways but am really disappointed in the lack of funding and support they've had over the years. Thanks for sharing.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I found a lot of the history surprising too. And I think wheelchair rugby would be more popular if they called it murderball.

[stargatesg1971.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably right. The more vicious something sounds the more interest it gets, scary really.