From One Man's Idea to The Global Stage

Every four years, right after the Olympic Games, the Paralympics take place—the largest sporting event for athletes with disabilities. In many ways, the Paralympics are an extraordinary example of incredible human achievements, demonstrating how humans can overcome adversity. This event exists thanks to one man's vision, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann.

In 1944, Dr. Guttmann was asked to open a new Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, England. There, he introduced sports as a form of therapy for World War II veterans suffering from spinal cord injuries. Dr. Guttmann firmly believed in the rehabilitative power of sports, seeing it as a way to help restore self-esteem and improve physical health.

Four years later, during the 1948 London Olympic Games, he organized the first Stoke Mandeville Games. This competition involved 16 injured servicemen and women who competed in archery. The Stoke Mandeville Games quickly evolved, becoming an annual sports event. By 1952, the competition had grown to include international athletes with the addition of a Dutch team, marking the first steps toward a global movement.

Recognizing the broader potential of these games, Dr. Guttmann sought to align them more closely with the Olympic movement. His dream culminated in 1960, when the International Stoke Mandeville Games were held in Rome immediately following the Summer Olympics, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries. This event is now recognized as the first official Paralympic Games, marking the birth of the Paralympics as an international sporting phenomenon, inspiring millions of disabled people worldwide to participate in sports.Go deeper: Paralympics History - International Paralympic Committee

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