Disabled sports

Generally, disabled sports are sportsplayed by individuals with physicalor mentaldisabilities; the term often refers to sports which have been devised or modified specifically for this purpose. Because of this they are more correctly termed adaptive sports.

Organised competitions in this area are believed to have begun after World War II, with large numbers of disabled war veterans seeking some form of competitive activity. Competitions are often separated based on the type and severity of disability.

Large numbers of disabled people now participate in some form of sport, and elite competitions have sprung up, similar to the Olympics. The Special Olympicsand Paralympic Gamesare two competitions for disabled individuals recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The Special Olympics specializes in mentally disabled athletes; it is organized independently of the Olympics, but has been granted the right to use the word "Olympics" by the International Olympic Committee. The Paralympic Games include both individuals with mental and physical diabilities, and are a multi-sport event usually held in an Olympic host city a short time after the Olympic competition is completed.

Most sports played by the able-bodied have been adapted to be played by people with varying types of disability. Some of the more popular team sports include:

• adaptive skiing
• wheelchair basketball
• wheelchair rugby
• wheelchair tennis
• amputee soccer
• blind cricket
• sledge hockey
• amputee golf
• disabled sailing

Another game of increasing popolarity is blind golf.

See also

• Stoke Mandeville Games
• 2005 ASEAN ParaGames

External links

• DisabledSport.co.uk - Information on leisure facilities near you, and their disability facilities, and a discussion board to discuss your favourite venues
• Disabled Sports USA
• National Sports Center for the Disabled
• International Paralympic Committee
• Asian Paralympic Council
• Torino 2006 Paralympic Games
• FESPIC Federation
• 9th FESPIC Games, Kuala Lumpur 2006
• International Association For Disabled Sailing
• International Blind Golf Association

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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabled+sports Wikipedia article Disabled sports.