Winter sports for disabled people emerged after World War II, as many injured service men sought to return to the slopes.

The first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden in 1976. Athletes competed in Slalom and Giant Slalom and three distances in Nordic Skiing.

Downhill was added to the Paralympic programme in 1984 in Innsbruck, Austria, and Super-G was added in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. Sit-skiing or mono-skiing was introduced as a demonstration sport at the Innsbruck 1984 Paralympics and became a medal event at the Nagano 1998 Paralympic Games.

Ice Sledge Hockey first featured at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Games and has quickly become one of the most popular attractions for spectators at the Winter Games.

The final sport on the current Paralympic Winter Games programme, Wheelchair Curling, was added in 2006 for the Games in Turin, Italy, following the first World Wheelchair Curling Championships that took place in 2002.

The most recent Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver 2010, was attened by 500 athletes from 42 nations. They were viewed as the best Paralympic Winter Games yet.