The history of the Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games is the largest multi-sport event for disabled athletes in the world. Participation spans 140 countries and covers six classification groups from those with spinal cord injuries to the visually impaired. At the London 2012 Games, more than 4,000 Paralympic athletes competed in 20 different sports watched by audiences all around the world.

Follow the links below to find useful background information about the fascinating history and origins of the Paralympic Games, including details about the birth of the Paralympic movement at Stoke Mandeville; the symbols and ceremonies that mark the Paralympic Games; the Paralympic Torch Relay and the technological and scientific developments which support athletes with disabilities.

Inspire your students to find out more through History and PSHE projects, assemblies, presentations and the fact files provided below. Older or more able readers will be able to read the sheets themselves and use them as part of their project outcomes. You could also print the sheets out to incorporate in wall displays or presentations.

Try out some of these ideas for using the fact sheets in the classroom:

• How many differences can the children find out about the first wheelchair games in 1948 compared with the Paralympic Games in 2012? You could start by exploring the materials in the ‘Games’ area of the British Paralympic Association’s website and the school area of the Mandeville legacy programme, at the Mandeville Legacy website.
• Create an assembly about some of the inspiring stories from our greatest Paralympic athletes, which the children could present to their peers. You could show them one of the Assemblies to get them started.
• Challenge the children to choose one of the Paralympic athletes in the Profiles of ParalympicsGB athletes area and create a project about him/her.
• The London 2012 Paralympic Games is now history. Which 10 best things do your students think people will remember about them in the future?
• Challenge your students to write/illustrate their own history file about the London 2012 Paralympic Games, including their memories of the Torch Relay, the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the athletes and their favourite moments, etc.

Fact sheet about Paralympic Ceremonies
Amazing facts about the Paralympic Games
Fact sheet about the history and origins of the Paralympic Games
Fact sheet about Paralympic sports
Fact sheet about Paralympic symbols
Fact sheet about the technological and scientific developments to support disabled athletes
Fact sheet about the Paralympic Torch Relay and Flame