Paralympic Games

An international athletic competition held during Olympic years at the Olympic venue for world-class athletes who are blind or partially sighted, paraplegic or quadriplegic, have cerebral palsy, are amputees or have another functional disability which makes it impossible for them to compete in the Olympic games. There are eight disability classifications in which athletes can compete and a variety of events, many of which are played in wheelchairs or have otherwise been modified to accommodate the athletes' disabilities. Summer events include archery, athletics (track, road and field events), boccia, cycling, equestrian, fencing, goalball (a game for people who are blind), judo, lawn bowling, powerlifting, sailing, shooting, soccer, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair tennis and volleyball. Winter sports include alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, ice sledge hockey and ice sledge racing. Included are organizations that sponsor, organize, hold, promote, sell tickets to and publicize the events; provide information about competition schedules; and/or maintain information about current standings.