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The concept for the first Paralympic Games was created by Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1948, when English World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries competed in sport to help with their rehabilitation.

The Paralympic Games have grown tremendously since then, with 3,806 athletes from 136 countries competing at the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games.

While Paralympians comprise athletes from six different disability groups, the Paralympic Games emphasize athletic achievement, rather than disability. Athletes compete in sports that test their strength, speed, skill and athleticism in events that are both identical to the Olympic disciplines as well as completely unique to the Paralympics.

Chicago would provide the perfect setting for the 2016 Paralympic Games, providing these athletes with state-of-the-art facilities, enthusiastic support and a wholehearted welcome into our beautiful city.

Archery

History
The Stoke Mandeville Hospital was the first to host an archery competition for persons with a disability in 1948, although at first with only the purpose of rehabilitation and leisure. Archery grew rapidly and became one of the first sports played in the original Paralympic Games held in 1960. Now, athletes from 37 counties compete in this sport.

Competition
Archery is open to athletes with a physical disability (including spinal injury, cerebral palsy and amputee). Both individual and team events are played in standing and wheelchair competitions. Competitors shoot at a target marked with ten scoring zones, with minor modifications made from the set of rules used by Olympic archers.

Athletics

History
One of the original sports played in the first Paralympic Games, the track and field events have grown since 1960 to attract the largest number of both athletes and spectators. The thrill of speed, power, and endurance draws athletes from 107 countries to compete.

Competition
Athletics is open to men and women in all disability groups. Athletes compete in wheelchairs, with prostheses and with blindness, guided by a sighted companion. Athletics include: track events (sprint, middle distance, long distance and relay races), road event (marathon), jumping events (high jump, long jump and triple jump), throwing events (discus, shot put and javelin) and the pentathlon.

Boccia

History
While boccia is not included in the Olympic program, 42 countries compete in this Paralympic sport of accuracy, focus, concentration and muscle control. Boccia was introduced at the New York Paralympic Games in 1984.

Competition
The goal of Boccia is to throw or bowl game balls so they land as close as possible to a special target ball, the 'jack'. This sport is open to athletes with cerebral palsy or related neurological conditions requiring a wheelchair. Men and women compete side by side in individual, pair and team events for a total of seven medal competitions.

Cycling

History
A relatively new sport for athletes with a disability, cycling was introduced in 1988 at the Seoul Paralympic Games. The sport originated with blind cyclists who competed using tandem bicycles. Today, cycling is now contested in more than 40 countries.

Competition
Male and female cyclists with blindness/visual impairment, cerebral palsy, amputations or other physical disabilities participate using bicycles, tricycles, tandems or hand cycles. Athletes are grouped together according to their functional ability. Events include track and road events for individuals and teams with sprints, individual pursuits, 1,000m time trial, road races and road time trials.

Equestrian

History
For years, disabled athletes have been riding recreationally or for rehabilitation purposes. However, equestrian was only recently included in the Paralympic Games for the first time at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

Competition
Riders are judged on their horsemanship skills while using a series of commands to walk, trot and canter while competing in two dressage events and a team test of three or four riders. Equestrian is open to all athletes with a physical disability or a visual impairment. Assistive devices such as dressage crops, a connecting rein bar, rubber bands or other aids are permitted.

Football 5-A-Side

History
Imagine playing a game of soccer while blindfolded, with only the sound of the ball and your teammates to guide you. Using the same incredible skill, speed and agility, blind and visually impaired athletes compete in this exciting sport all over the world. The sport has grown rapidly since the first national Football 5-a-Side Championships took place in Spain in 1986 and it was added to the Paralympic program in 2004.

Competition
In football 5-A-side, all athletes are blind or visually impaired, with the possibility of one sighted player as the goalkeeper. During two 25-minute halves, athletes compete in a game that follows the same rules as Olympic football, with a few modifications: the ball makes a noise when it moves, the goalkeepers may be sighted and act as guides during the game, the rest of the team uses eye shades to ensure fairness, there are five players on a team rather than 11, the field of play measurements are smaller and there is no offside rule.

Football 7-a-Side

History
Football 7-a-side has been a part of the Paralympic Games since 1984, allowing athletes with cerebral palsy to compete in one of world's most popular and exciting sports. Football 7-a-side is played with few modifications to the traditional rules of soccer, requiring great speed, endurance and ball handling skills.

Competition
Football 7-a-side follows the rules of the International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA), with the following modifications: seven players are on the field rather than 11, the measurements of the playing field are smaller, there is no offside rule and throw-ins may be made with only one hand. Football 7-a-side is played by athletes with cerebral palsy, who must maintain a ratio of players with varying levels of disability. The match consists of two 30-minute halves.

Goalball

History
While the cheers, applauds and overall roar of the crowd rooting for their favorite team is a huge part of sport, attend a goalball competition and you'll notice a striking contrast: silence. Complete quiet is required in the venue so that blind and visually impaired athletes can hear the ball in play.

Competition
Goalball was invented in 1946 in an effort to rehabilitate the blind veterans from World War II, and later introduced to the world at the 1976 Toronto Paralympics. The object of goalball is to roll the ball into the opponent's goal while the opposing players try to block the ball with their body. Bells inside the ball indicate the direction of the on-coming ball to players — requiring complete silence throughout the venue. This sport is played blind and visually impaired men and women, who must wear 'blackout' masks on the playing court to allow athletes with varying degrees of vision to participate together. The game is played in 2 10-minute halves.

Judo

History
Judo, a traditional Japanese wrestling sport, was first practiced by blind and visually impaired athletes to improve mobility-related skills, self-confidence, self-discipline and independence. However, the sport gradually developed to a competitive level and debuted at the Seoul Paralympic Games in 1988. Now, more than 30 countries compete with male and female athletes.

Competition
Judo is open to athletes with blindness/visual impairment in several weight categories. The sport follows the International Judo Federation (IJF) rules used at other top-level, able-bodied judo events. Visually impaired athletes are allowed to have contact with their opponent before the start of the match, the only modification.

Powerlifting

History
Powerlifting made its Olympic debut in 1964 at the second Paralympic Games in Tokyo under the name 'weightlifting'. The ultimate test of upper body strength, powerlifting is now practiced in 115 countries.

Competition
Though powerlifting was at first open only open to men with spinal injuries, the sport now includes both men and women with cerebral palsy, spinal injuries, amputees (lower limb amputees only) and others who meet minimal disability criteria. Competing in the bench press, athletes must lower the bar to their chest, hold it motionless, and then press it upwards to arms length with locked elbows. After three attempts the athlete who lifts the highest number of kilograms is the winner.

Rowing

History
Rowing was introduced to the Paralympic program in 2005 and will hold its first Paralympic rowing competition in Beijing in 2008. It is the newest sport to enter the Paralympic program.

Competition
Athletes compete in adaptive rowing, meaning that the equipment is adapted to the athlete, rather than adapting the rules of the sport. Adaptive rowing is open to male and female athletes and is divided into four boat classes, all of which consist of a 1,000m race.

Sailing

History
Sailing was recently accepted into the Paralympic Games at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. The sport was first introduced as a demonstration sport at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics and is now considered a full medal sport. In recent years, sailing has grown rapidly and now includes athletes from more than 50 countries.

Sailing is a non-gender specific sport open to athletes with an amputation, cerebral palsy, blindness/visual impairment, spinal injuries and other disabilities. Athletes are classified based on four factors: stability, hand function, mobility and vision. The events include single, two person and three person keelboats. This sport is open to most disability groups and the two-person keelboat event is specifically designed for athletes with a severe disability.

Shooting

History
Shooting was added to the program in 1976 at the Toronto Paralympic Games. A test of accuracy and control, shooting consists of competitors firing pistols or rifles from both wheelchair and standing positions.

Competition
Shooting is open to all athletes with a physical disability. Athletes compete in Rifle and Pistol events from distances of 10, 25 and 50m, in men's, women's and mixed competitions. By using a functional classification system, athletes from different disability classes are able to compete together or in teams.

Swimming

History
Swimming has been a main event at the Paralympic Games since the first 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome. Swimmers from more than 80 countries practice this sport and follow the same rules as the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Modifications to the rules include a platform or in-water start for some races and the use of signals or 'tappers' for swimmers with blindness/visual impairment. No prostheses or assistive devices are permitted.

Competition
Paralympic swimmers compete in the same events as Olympic swimmers: freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and medley events. The sport is open to men and women with a physical disability or blindness/visual impairment. Athletes are classified based on their functional ability to perform each stroke.

Table Tennis

History
Table tennis has been on the Paralympic program since the first Paralympic Games in 1960. Athletes from more than 100 countries now practice this popular sport that requires quick reflexes, speed, accuracy and skill.

Competition
Table tennis is open to men and women from all disability groups (with the exception of athletes with blindness/visual impairment). Competitions include standing and wheelchair events for individuals, doubles and teams. The first competitor to reach 11 points wins the set and the winner of three out of five sets wins the match. Other than slight modifications to the serve rules for athletes competing in a wheelchair, the rules of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) remain the same.

Volleyball

History
Sitting volleyball was introduced at the Arnhem 1980 Paralympics. Whether the athlete has the ability to move his or her legs makes no difference — the athletes cannot lift their pelvises from the ground during this sport. Competitors from 48 countries practice the teamwork, skill, strategy and intensity required for this sport.

Competition
Sitting volleyball is open to men and women with a physical disability and requires the athlete's pelvis to be touching the ground at all times. Six athletes play on court at one time and compete for the best of five sets. A set is won after a team scores 25 points with a two-point lead. Sitting volleyball requires a smaller court (10m x 6m) and lower net than the standing version, making it a much quicker event.

Wheelchair Basketball

History
The intense, fast-paced sport of wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular events in the Paralympic Games. It was originally developed in 1946 in the United States by World War II veterans who were former “running” basketball players. Wheelchair basketball has grown worldwide and expanded to athletes in 77 counties since it was first introduced at the 1960 Rome Paralympic Games. (Thanks to several site visitors who helped us correct and update this section.)

Competition
Wheelchair basketball is designed for male and female athletes who have a physical disability that prevents running, jumping and pivoting. The measurements of the court and the height of the baskets are the same as in Olympic basketball. Depending on the athlete's functional abilities, a point value from 0.5 (most severely disabled) to 4.5 is given to each player. As in Olympic basketball, the goal of each team is to score into the opponents' basket and to prevent the other team from gaining control of the ball or scoring. Modifications to the rules occur, taking the wheelchair into account. For example, an athlete may not push his or her wheels more than twice after receiving the ball, or else a travel violation is called.

Wheelchair Fencing

History
Like wheelchair basketball, Sir Ludwig Guttmann at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital developed wheelchair fencing. It was introduced at the 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome and is now practiced by more than 24 countries.

Competition
Athletes compete in wheelchairs that are fastened to the floor, allowing full upper body movement only. This fast-paced competition is open to athletes with an amputation, spinal injury or cerebral palsy. The events including Foil, Epée and Sabre. Men and women compete in wheelchair fencing, although Sabre is only open to men.

Wheelchair Rugby

History
Athletes with quadriplegia developed the intense sport of wheelchair rugby in Canada during the 1970s. After a demonstration at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, wheelchair rugby became an officially became a part of the program at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Wheelchair rugby is now practiced by athletes in 22 countries.

Wheelchair rugby is an extremely physical game as athletes strive to carry a ball over the opponent's goal line. Depending on their functional abilities, athletes are placed into one of seven sport classes, ranging from 0.5 (most severely disabled) to 3.5. The value of a team on the court cannot exceed eight points. Two teams of four players compete for four eight-minute periods.

Wheelchair Tennis

History
Wheelchair Tennis was developed in the US in the 1970 and was added to the Paralympic program at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games. Athletes in more than 70 countries now practice this growing sport.

Competition
The game follows able-bodied Tennis with the only difference being that the ball is allowed to bounce two times. Athletes must have a permanent substantial or total loss of function in one or both legs. Players compete in singles and doubles matches, with a winner named after winning two sets.

PARALYMPIC SPORTS