In this Olympic Movement Part 3 we will learn about the International Paralympic Committee, opening, closing of Games of Paralympics.
Paralympic Games
International Paralympic Committee
1. It is a global governing body of the Paralympic movement.
2. The International Paralympic Committee organises the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
3. It also serves as the International Federation for nine sports, for which it supervises and coordinates the world championship and other competitions.
4. Its vision is ‘to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world’.
5. It was established in Dusseldorf on 22 September, 1989.
6. Its main aim is to develop sports opportunities for all the people with an impairment from the beginner to the elite level It is a global governing body of the Paralympic movement.
7. it supervises and coordinates the world championship and other competitions. Its vision is ‘to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire and excite the world.
Paralympic Games Olympic Movement Part 3
1. Paralympics Games are a major international multi-sport events for the athletes with various disabilities such as athletes with mobility disabilities; amputations, blindness and cerebral palsy.
2. Paralympics Games are held at an interval of every four years following the Olympic Games.
3. these games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee. The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960.
4. However, the Paralympic word was used officially in 1988 Summer Olympic Games which were held in Seoul.
5. The first Winter Paralympic Games were held in 1976 in Sweden. The Winter Paralympic Games are also held after every four years.
Paralympic Motto Olympic Movement Part 3
‘Spirit’ in Motion’ is the Paralympic motto. It was started in 2004 Athens Paralympics. Prior to this Olympics, the motto of Paralympics was ‘‘Mind, Body and Spirit”.
Opening Ceremony Olympic Movement Part 3
1. The opening ceremony begins with the hoisting of the host country’s flag and rendition of its national anthem. After the national anthem
2. after the national anthem the athletes come for march past into the stadium grouped according to their nations.
3. All the nations enter the stadium alphabetically according to the host country’s chosen language.
4. However, the host country’s athletes enter last into the stadium. After that host nation presents its culture in the form of music, dance and singing, etc.
5. Formal opening of the games is announced.
6. At last, Paralympic torch is brought into the stadium and passed on until it reaches to the final torch bearer who finally lights the Paralympic flame
Awards
1. The competitors/teams that secure first, second and third positions stand up at the victory podium. They are awarded the medals.
2. After giving away the medals, national flags of the three countries are unfurled and hoisted.
3. The tune of the national song of the gold medal winning country is played.
Closing Ceremony
1. After the conclusion of all the sports events, the closing ceremony begins.
2. Flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium, followed by the athletes who enter together without any national distinction.
3. The Paralympic flag is taken down.
4. The games are officially closed and the Paralympic flame is extinguished.
Categories of Disability
1. The International Paralympic Committee has established ten disability categories including physical, visual and intellectual impairment.
2. Athletes with one of these disabilities can participate in the Paralympic Games though not every sport can allow for every disability category.
3. Physical impairment or disability includes impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, loss of limb, leg length difference, short stature, etc.
4. Visual impairment includes impairment of one or more component of visual system.
5. Intellectual disability includes the significant impairment of intellectual functioning.
6. The International Paralympic Committee mainly serves athletes with physical and visual disabilities whereas intellectual disability has been added to some Paralympic games.
