PARALYMPIC GAMES

 

-          The Paralympic Games are an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, who reflect the highest sporting standards of excellence and diversity.

-          Quality: the fundamental principle regarding the degree of excellence and achievement.

-          Elite: representing the highest performance in the context of the athlete's specific sport.

-          Exciting: to provide a vibrant atmosphere, energetic and entertaining, within each sport, which collectively create a motivating and attractive environment for spectators and for the media.

-          Inspiring – to create a different opportunity for personal experience/ reflection that acts as a catalyst for change by demonstrating the extraordinary. 

The 2012 Paralympic Games will be the fourteenth Paralympics and will take place in London, between 29 August and 9 September of 2012. 150 countries are expected and approximately 5.000 athletes.  Athletes will compete in 20 sports.  After a gap of 12 years, athletes with intellectual disabilities will return to the Games in the following sports: athletics, swimming, and table tennis.

 

The Paralympic Games are the most relevant multi-sport event for disabled people, involving:

-          A significant and increasing number of countries (Beijing – 148);

-          An increasing number of athletes (from Sydney - about 4000);

-          More and better infrastructure;

-          Increased technical and human resources.

  

The participation, involvement and commitment of all sports agents will certainly promote the success of the Paralympics Project, which will allow us to move towards equality, inclusion and sporting excellence.