Major Differences between the Paralympics and the Olympics

1828 Words4 Pages

: Julia Bedingham

Contents

• History
• Classification systems
• Exceptions
• Paralympic and Olympic differences in swimming
• Discrimination
• Same rules apply
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Plagiarism Checker

Introduction:

Is there any difference between the Paralympics and the Olympic games? There are many debates around the world about the discrimination of Paralympic athletes. The main issue debated is media attention and coverage – whether the Paralympic games receives enough coverage, compared with the Olympic games which is sponsored and covered exhaustively by global media. This report is on the main differences between the Paralympics and the Olympics, specifically in the sport of swimming.

(oliver Brown 12)

History

The Olympic games originated in Greece around 760BC. They were created to showcase different physical abilities of the participants. Different physical attributes were idealised, the Greeks believed that to have these abilities was to honour Zeus (one of the Greek gods). When the games started there was only one event to compete in, the 192 metre-running races. Gradually more events like jumping and discus were added in.
(Anon., n.d.)
The Olympic games have expanded and today 205 countries are able to compete in 41 different events! (Anon., n.d.) Swimming was introduced into the Olympics in 1896. (Anon., 2007)

The Para-Olympic Games first started in 1948. They were started so that war veterans with injuries could compete and thus improve the healing process of their injuries. The word “para” is Greek for “alongside” showing that the Paralympics run alongside the Olympics. The Paralympics (for physical disabilities’) however must not be confused with the Special Olympics (mental disorders o...

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...mming_classification
[Accessed 3 4 2014]. http://www.ncpad.org/contentimages/708.jpg, n.d. www.ncpad.org. [Art]. layman, 2014. laymans guide to paralympic classification. [Online]
Available at: http://www.paralympic.org/sites/default/files/document/120716152047682_classificationguide_2.pdf
[Accessed 4 4 2014]. www.debbiedoesdoodles.wordpress.com, n.d. [Art]. http://www.centerforsystemschange.org/view.php?nav_id=83, n.d. Television coverage of the 2012 paralympic games. [Art] (the systems for center change). sportnetwork, 2014. classification guide. [Art] (http://official.sportnetwork.net/main/s385/st61881.htm). sportnetwork, 2014. classification guide. [Art] (http://official.sportnetwork.net/main/s385/st61881.htm).
Oliver Brown.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympic-sport/9524190/Paralympics-2012-swimmer-James-OShea-fulfils-incredible-quest.html [Art]

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