What Exactly Are The Paralympic Games?

The Olympic games originated in Athens in 776 B.C. The more popular modern day Olympic games began nearly 2300 years later in 1896. The games no longer represented a religious festival, but a sports competition instead. The games can be studied via multiple aspects such as political, social, and economic, but this paper will concentrate on the economic aspect of the games and more specifically, the macroeconomic impacts the games possess.

Last year was the first time I worked the Special Olympics, and I didn’t know what to expect. I signed up for it with my basketball team because the Special Olympians would be playing basketball and volunteers were needed to help run the scoreboard and keep time. Mr. Campbell, the man in charge, told me that the opportunity to play basketball will be an incredible experience for the special needs participants, but working the event will have an even greater affect on me. I was

The movie Murderball, is a documentary about the crazy sport called " quad rugby”. This sport can be very dangerous to most of the players since they are Quadriplegia which means most of the players are wheel chair bounded and have partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso. That doesn't stop the players who strive for the intensity, and thrill of the game of rugby. The movie goes into detail about how the main characters became quadriplegic, some were born with an illness, other became quadriplegic from horrible accidents. However, their disability does not stop them from striving to be amazing athletes, and pursuing gold medal in the Olympics.

Stories become a great influence on people as they view other people either on television or through a book as they explain their struggles or experiences. They should not view them as a negative perspective because of the media. In the article, “ Slippery Slopes: Media, Disability, and Adaptive Sport,” the author William Peace notes how the media shows disability out as “something to be miraculously and inspirationally ‘overcome’ with real consequences”(Peace 676). When taking a gander at somebody with an incapacity, people tend to believe that they are not ready to do the things that individuals with abled bodies can, which is false. While having an incapacity there are approaches to work around things. People don't have to surrender and

However, when Carolina lost the National Championship to Villanova on the last play of the game, I was a sore loser. The next day at school, all the Duke fans were chanting Villanova and I was being a sore loser. I have recovered because Carolina won it last year but people should always show respect to the other team and their accomplishments. People that are not born with the privileges we have, has joined together by sports. The Special Olympics is an example of this. Kids that are uncomfortable with themselves and are different from others, have been able to compete in the Special Olympics. Sports gives these kids a moment of a lifetime that they will remember forever. Kids with cancer and with “Make a Wish Foundation” are often granted to go see their favorite teams, and athletes. Some collegiate and professional athletes have used sports to get out of poverty and hard lives. Athletes that started with nothing are grateful to have such an amazing thing happen to them, like being able to play a professional sport. Something happening in the sports world right now is players having the right to protest. Professional athletes have the

According to Disabled Spots USA, “National Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association renamed Disabled Sports USA in 1994. It has 91 chapters and 36 states in the United States. It gives sports and recreation programs not only the military people who get serious physical disabling because of their mission, but also people who have disability.” There are 303 million people, who have either mental disabilities or physical disabilities, living in the United States. “Disabled Sports USA provided sports and recreation programs to over 60,000 youth and adults who have some disabilities now according to Australian Paralympic Committee. ” Disabled people, who do some physical activity, are possible to spend happy life compare with disabled people, who did not do any activities. According to Disabled USA’ survey said, “The survey found that DSUSA Chapter Participants (CP) are twice as likely to be employed as the general population of adults with disabilities (68% vs. 33%). ”

Abstract: The Special Olympics not only give special athletes athletic skills, they offer more opportunity, encouragement, and dexterity to survive in society than the public school system alone. To understand the differences and similarities between handicapped athletes and their non-handicap peers is the first step in creating a program that best meets the child's needs. There were no community programs that catered to the mentally and physically challenged, so Eunice Kennedy-Shriver created "special games" in her back yard for her handicapped child. Shriver established the Special Olympics in 1968. Today there are more than one million special athletes competing in 140 countries. There are some problems with relying on the

Today, people aid disabled men and women in their activities so that they can make a well-loved living. Discrimination in the world today, involving race and gender, has lessened dramatically. Track, and several other sports, is now easier for disabled, African-American women to participate in. Modern technology helps people with disabilities to include themselves in sports they both love and enjoy. Wilma serves as an inspiration to anybody having doubts about their

The first video I watched was entitled “Murderball”, which documented the lives of the members on the United States wheelchair rugby team. It began with an introduction of each of the players and the stories of how they became quadriplegics. During these introductions, the players also talked about the stigma that comes along with their handicap and how able-bodied individuals treat/talk to them. The video then shows the team playing in the world championship for wheelchair rugby against several other countries but particularly the U.S.’s rival, Canada. Watching this video further addresses the difference between being impaired and handicapped. These individuals do not consider themselves handicapped but see that they have an impairment that

I have gone to only three volunteer sessions and have read lots about the Special Olympics Canada (SOC). SOC wants there to be social integration so Special Olympics offers athletes a choice, the choice to train and compete in any sport. No matter their level of disability, age, religion, race, socioeconomic status or place of origin. SOC tries to reach every Canadian community so people understand who they are and how to access their programs. The SOC staff consists of people who have a passion for the sport and who are deliciated on giving the best programs/support for all those involved to enrich their personal health and safety. Subcommittees and strong teams of volunteers strive to meet those expectations. It is reinforced that every athlete's

Paulette Esquivel was told by medicine professionals that she would never walk and she is now a “gold-medal runner.” “Esquivel, 15, won a long-distance race at the special Olympics Texas Spring Games in Weslaco.” Many people often tend to believe that if someone is mentally ill or handicapped that they aren’t capable of achieving glory in an athletic point of view. Esquivel, as previously mentioned, is an example of how capable these children really are, they give it their all. I have first-hand experienced how hardworking, dedicated, and athletic this children are by volunteering at our annual Special Olympics at Weslaco High School.

Paralympic athletes are provided with more opportunities to succeed and advance in their respective sports. In the film Murderball, Mark Zupan is shown talking to paraplegics at a hospital. He discusses the sport of quadriplegic rugby as well as the accomplishments he has accumulated as a paraplegic. By taking the time to talk to paraplegics, Mark is giving these people new hope and introducing a whole new

Sports are part of our lives and inspire a lot of person all around the word to become a champion. I think almost every competitive athlete aspires to complete at the Olympic Games one day and to hope to accomplish awesome performances. Few are those who reach this level and make it a living but we all know that it is possible. Some people say that you can only be an Olympic champion if you have a lot of talent but I don’t believe in this vision. I think you need way more than talent to succeed and that the key to success is hard work, passion, determination and confidence. I this text I will talk about Canadian’s performances and show why we should be proud of our athletes and I will also talk about the emplacement of the games in Rio.

Disability sports, also known as adaptive sports or parasports, are sports that are strictly for those with disabilities, whether it be physical or mental. These sports were originally used as a means to rehabilitate veterans (Disabled Sports USA); the organization in particular that I am going to focus on is the Lakeshore Foundation.

The modern Olympic Games were originally designed to be a celebration of culture and athleticism on a world stage. Athletes from all reaches of civilization strive to show off their skills and compete for the gold medal. The intent of the Games was not to provide a stage for governments to establish themselves as world powers, nor