Where do I start?
What sports are at the paralympic games?
The origins of Paralympic Sport are in a competition for wheelchair athletes held in 1968 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in England. Since then, over 27 sports (22 summer and 5 winter) have been added to the Paralympic Games, and many other sports have been adapted for persons with disabilities. Summer Paralympic sports include Archery, Athletics, Boccia, Canoe (new for 2016), Cycling, Equestrian, Rowing, Powerlifting, Judo, Goalball, Soccer 7-a-side, Soccer 5-a-side, Sailing, Shooting, Sitting Volleyball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Triathlon (new for 2016), Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Fencing, Wheelchair Rugby, Wheelchair Tennis. Winter Paralympic sports include Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Sledge Hockey, Wheelchair Curling and Biathlon.
How often are the Paralympic Games?
Every two years, there is either a Winter or Summer Paralympic Games. The last Paralympic Games were the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games; the next will be London 2012 Paralympic Games. Want to discover information on Canada's performances at past Games? Click here to view Canada's Paralympic History.
Who can compete at the Paralympic Games?
Competition at the Paralympic Games is open to six disability groups, including athletes with amputations, visual impairments, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, intellectual disabilities and "les autres," which includes disabilities such as spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, and more.
How do I know that the athletes I'm competing against have the same abilities as I do?
Because of the vast number of disabilities that can emerge, parasport uses a process called classification in order to ensure a level playing field. Similar to a weight-class used in able-bodied boxing or wrestling, classification assesses a participant's functional ability relative to the sport they are playing. Learn more about classification.
Training and challenging competiton are two important ingredients that improve your athletic ability. There are several stages you will need to go through to develop into a high-performance athlete and achieve your Paralympic dreams.
BEGINNER STAGE:
First, you have to experience different parasports, learn the skills and rules of each game in a fun environment,and choose the parasport that fits you.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
Next is working with a quality coach to begin testing and refining your newfound sport skills in a competitive environment. The structure and level of competition will increase as you begin to compete at a regional and provincial level.
HIGH PERFORMANCE STAGE:
At the height of your athletic career, you will work with high-level coaches and their support team and focus on achieving your peak performance at elite competitions as you advance to represent your country in national and international competitions.
These stages are part of the Long-Term Athlete Development model. This model is used in all sports, and has been adapted for athletes with disabilities.
How do I qualify to go to the Paralympic Games?
Although the Canadian Paralympic Committee is responsible for the logistics of sending Team Canada to the Paralympic Games, athletes who want to join the Canadian Paralympic Team need to start with their National Sport Organization. These organizations work in partnership with the Canadian Paralympic Committee to set qualification criteria for their respective sports. This criteria determines which athletes are eligible to be nominated and selected to represent Canada at the Paralympic Games.
