Disabled Sports

Published: September 29, 2014

Disabled sports, also known as adaptive sports, or parasports, are sports played by people with disabilities; the disabilities may be either physical and/or intellectual. Many disabled sports are based on existing able bodied sports, modified to meet the needs of persons with different disabilities; they are sometimes referred to as adapted sports. However, not all disabled sports are adapted; several sports were actually created solely for people with disabilities and do not have a non-disabled equivalent.

From the Beginning

Contrary to what many would believe, organized sports for persons with physical disabilities actually existed as early as 1911, when the "Cripples Olympiad" was held in the United States. Following the Second World War, due to the increasing needs of large numbers of injured veterans and civilians, sports were introduced as a key part of rehabilitation. Sports for rehabilitation quickly grew into recreational sports, and then into competitive sports. The main pioneer of this approach was Sir Ludwig Guttmann of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. In 1948, while the Olympic Games were being held in London, he organized a sports competition for wheelchair athletes at Stoke Mandeville. This was the origin of the Stoke Mandeville Games, which would, many years later, evolve into the modern Paralympic Games. Currently, Paralympic sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee, in conjunction with a wide range of other international sport organizations.

Sports Today

Nowadays, as the awareness for people with disabilities increase, the number of disabled sports events has not only dramatically increased, but also has been well received. Among them, the Paralympic Games, 4 Major Tennis Grand Slams, and Football World Cup are probably the most popular currently.

Are you interested in learning even more? We have a series of introductions to different disabled sports on our blog; you may follow this LINK to see our blogs!