Download Paralympic Games Fact Sheet About the Paralympic Games

2016 Australian Paralympic Team Letter Link
Paralympic Games Fact Sheet
About the Paralympic Games
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id you know that the Paralympic Games
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are one of the biggest events in the
world? They are even bigger than the
Commonwealth Games and are held
just after the Olympic Games every four
years in the same country using the same
venues.
T here are many similarities between the
Paralympic and Olympic Games. Both
having Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
both begin their Games with a Torch
Relay and both have competitors that
come from all over the world.
The Opening Ceremony of the
London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Image copyright: International Paralympic Committee
T he core values of the Paralympic Games are ‘determination’, ‘equality’, ‘inspiration’
and ‘courage’, and its motto is ‘Spirit in Motion’.
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
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76 nations will be sending more than 4,350 participants to the Rio 2016 Paralympic
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Games where athletes begin competing on 7 September and finish on 18 September.
How exciting!
2 sports will be featured in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, including athletics,
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swimming, wheelchair rugby, goalball, equestrian, wheelchair basketball and rowing.
character called ‘Tom’ is the Paralympic mascot, a magical creature, who is a
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fusion (mixture) of all the plants in the Brazilian rainforests. How creative!
Paralympic Games history
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T he idea of the Paralympic Games came from Sir Ludwig Guttman (a German
neurologist who was working in Britain at the time of World War II). He decided that
participating in sport would be good therapy for World War II veterans who had
suffered spinal cord injuries. So what began in 1948 as a small gathering, turned into
the official Paralympic Games in Rome in 1960.
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2016 Australian Paralympic Team Letter Link
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rior to 1976 only wheelchair sports were contested at the Paralympic Games. At
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the 1976 Paralympic Games, sports were broadened and athletes with many other
abilities were included in the Games. What a great opportunity!
Australia and the Paralympic Games
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ustralia has sent competitors to every Paralympic Games since they began in Rome
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in 1960.
S ince the 1960 Paralympic Games, Australia has won a total of 1046 medals: 346 gold,
364 silver and 336 bronze. That’s amazing!
2016 Australian Paralympic Team
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More than 170 athletes from every state and territory will represent Australia.
T he Team will compete in 15 of the 22 sports including two new sports – Para-triathlon
and Para-canoe.
They are aiming for a top five finish on the medal table.
2012 Australian Paralympic Team
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Australia sent 161 athletes to compete at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
ustralia finished fifth on the medal table with a total of 85 medals: 32 gold, 23 silver
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and 30 bronze. What a great effort!
S wimmer Jacqueline Freney was a standout performer winning 8 gold medals. This
is the most gold medals won by an Australian athlete at a single Games. Well done
Jacqueline!
S wimmer Matthew Cowdrey became Australia’s most successful Paralympian in
history after the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Matthew won a total of 13 medals
including 5 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze from three Paralympic Games. What an
incredible athlete!
References:
www.paralympic.org.au
paralympics.org.uk
www.rio2016.com
auspost.com.au/education
paralympic.org.au
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by Australia Post