The Paralympic Games
You may have heard of the Olympic Games, but have you heard of the Paralympic
Games? This international tournament is just like the Olympics. Athletes from all over
the world compete against each other in athletics, shooting, swimming, cycling and
eighteen other games. The athletes at the Paralympics have a range of physical
disabilities. Some of them do not have arms or legs, and some others cannot see.
However, these athletes are determined to turn their disability into ability – something
that can win them medals and do their nations proud.
The Paralympic Games were first conducted in 1948 in London. It was for British
soldiers who had been injured during World War II. These first games were called the
Wheelchair Games-they were a big success. The soldiers, who had thought that they
would never be able to take part in sports again, got a chance to play and win.
Since then, the Paralympic Games have grown. Today, over 3900 athletes from 146
countries participate in them. Every four years, when the Olympics are held, the
Paralympics are held too. India took part in the Paralympic Games for the first time in
1968. Murlikant Petkar gave India its first gold medal in the Games in 1972. Petkar had
been a soldier in the Indian army. He had been seriously injured by gunfire during a
war, but Petkar did not give up on his love for sports. He took up swimming and won
the gold medal in the 50m race. Petkar’s win inspired many others with disabilities and
now, India takes part regularly in the Paralympic Games.
Based on your understanding of the text, answer the following questions.
1- How did Murlikant Petkar’s win inspire others?
2- First Paralympic games were conducted in
a- Britain
b- London
c- New York
3- Identify the meaning from the following for the phrase- ‘having made a firm
decision’
a- Ability
b- Compete
c- Determined
4- When are Paralympics held?
Answers
Answer:
The Paralympic Games or Paralympics, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, is a periodic series of international multi-sport events involving athletes with a range of physical disabilities, including impaired muscle power (e.g. paraplegia and quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida), impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency (e.g. amputation or Dysmelia), leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, are held almost immediately following the respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The Paralympics has grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to become one of the largest international sporting events by the early 21st century. The Paralympics has grown from 400 athletes with a disability from 23 countries in 1960 to thousands of competitors from over 100 countries at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.[1] Paralympians strive for equal treatment with non-disabled Olympic athletes, but there is a large funding gap between Olympic and Paralympic athletes.[2]
The Paralympic Games are organized in parallel with the Olympic Games, while the IOC-recognized Special Olympics World Games include athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the Deaflympics include deaf athletes.[3][4]
Given the wide variety of disabilities that Para athletes have, there are several categories in which the athletes compete. The allowable disabilities are broken down into ten eligible impairment types. The categories are impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment.[5] These categories are further broken down into various classifications
Explanation:
Answer:
1) Murlikant Petkar gave India its first gold medal in the Games in 1972. Petkar had been a soldier in the Games in 1972. ... He took up swimming and won the gold medal in the 50m race. Petkar's win inspired many others with disabilities and now India takes part regularly in the Paralympics Games.
2) London
3) ability
4) 2020 Summer Paralympics began on
Tuesday, 24 August 2021
and ended on
Sunday, 5 September