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What does Para mean in Paralympics?

4 min read

Asked by: Amy Smith

The word “Paralympic“ derives from the Greek preposition “para“ (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic“. Its meaning is that Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olympics and illustrates how the two movements exist side-by-side.

What is the meaning of Para athletes?

Definition of Paralympics
: a series of international contests for athletes with disabilities that are associated with and held following the summer and winter Olympic Games.

What is para sport classification?

Para-athletics classification is a system to determine which athletes with disabilities may compete against each other in para-athletics events. Classification is intended to group together athletes with similar levels of physical ability to allow fair competition.

What is a para event?

Para-athletics is comprised of Track and Field events and is open to athletes with a physical, intellectual or vision impairment. On the track, athletes race over 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10000m, 4x100m and 4x400m relays, marathons, either in standing events, using race wheelchairs or race running.

Is it para or Special Olympics?

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They are similar in that they both focus on sport for athletes with a disability and are run by international non-profit organizations.

What are para sports who are para athletes?

A Para athlete is an athlete that has a disability or impairment that makes them eligible to compete in Para sport. The ultimate goal for Para athletes is to represent their country at a Paralympic Games.

What does C5 mean in Paralympics?

athletes with minimum impairments

Sport class C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe activity limitation, while the sport class C5 is allocated to athletes with minimum impairments.

What does T1 and T2 mean in Paralympics?

They are divided into two classes, T1 and T2. Sport class T1 is allocated to Para athletes with more significant loss of coordination or muscle power than those competing in sport class T2. Page 2. Bicycle C1 – 5: Para athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle compete in one of five sport classes, C1 – 5.

What does T47 mean in Paralympics?

T47 is a disability sport classification for disability athletics primarily for competitors with a below elbow or wrist amputation or impairment. T47 is a classification for track events but unlike the other T40 to T46 classifications it has no equivalent F47 classification for field events.

What does T37 mean in Paralympics?

T37 is a disability sport classification for disability athletics in track and jump events. It includes people who have coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis. It is the athletics equivalent of the more general CP7 classification.

What is c1 in Paralympics?

Definition. PBS defined this classification as “Cyclists with upper or lower limb disabilities and most severe neurological disfunction.” The Daily Telegraph defined this classification in 2011 as “C 1–5: Athletes with cerebral palsy, limb impairments and amputations.”

What are the 6 disability groups in Paralympics?

There are six broad Paralympics categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, wheelchair, vision impairment, and “others.” The amputee category is defined as one where the athlete has lost at least one major musculoskeletal joint; the ankle, knee, and elbow are common examples.

Who qualifies as a Paralympian?

Paralympics welcomes athletes from 10 categories of impairment: impaired muscle power; impaired range of movement; limb deficiency; leg length difference; short stature; hypertonia; ataxia (affecting muscle coordination); athetosis (such as cerebral palsy); vision impairment; and intellectual disability.

How do you become a para athlete?

Here is an outline of the requirements:

  1. Train. You should try to train a minimum of five days per week with a coach or training group. …
  2. Know the standards for your classification and event(s). …
  3. Know the minimum competition requirements. …
  4. Compete! …
  5. Become identified as an Emerging Athlete.

Can a deaf person compete in the Paralympics?

There are deaf athletes who have competed in the Olympics and Paralympics at London 2012, but they’re few and far between. Another separate disability is required for them to compete in the Paralympics because, remarkably, there is no category for deaf athletes.