Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLe 19.1
Olympic-Type Sports That Are Included in the Most Recent Special
Olympics and Paralympics
Special Olympics 2011
Paralympics 2012
•Aquatics (swimming)
•Athletics (marathon/
half-marathon)
•Badminton
•Basketball
•Bocce
•Bowling
•Cycling
•Equestrian
•Football (5-aside, 7-aside, 11-aside)
•Golf
•Gymnastics
•Handball
•Judo
•Kayaking
•Powerlifting
•Roller skating
•Sailing
•Softball
•Table tennis
•Tennis
•Volleyball
•Paralympic archery
•Paralympic athletics
•Boccia
•Paralympic cycling—road
•Paralympic cycling—track
•Paralympic equestrian
•Football 5-a-side
•Football 7-a-side
•Goalball
•Paralympic judo
•Powerlifting
•Paralympic rowing
•Paralympic sailing
•Paralympic shooting
•Paralympic swimming
•Paralympic table tennis
•Volleyball—sitting
•Wheelchair basketball
•Wheelchair fencing
•Wheelchair rugby
•Wheelchair tennis
This growth has led to some new challenges associated with a perceived overemphasis on
measuring the excellence of performance in sports on the basis of the able-bodied model
(McCann 1996). Considering such model, it implies that those who are more severely
impaired are more likely to be eliminated from elite-level competition. Following the
mainstream sports philosophy, qualifying standards are set to determine who may be
qualified to join the competition. Probably related to this elite-level model as well as to
the extent of physical disabilities, adaptation of sports in the Paralympics has generated
greater utilization of assistive technology. Classification systems have also been subject to
ongoing research directed at setting up fair competition amidst a wide range of physical
abilities and limitations.
19.3.1 Historical Perspective
Sport for individuals with disabilities has been known to have its roots in Sir Ludwig
Guttman's move to incorporate sports activities as an aid in the treatment and rehabili-
tation of patients with spinal cord injury (Guttman 1976). Sports, in the form of archery,
snooker, and table tennis, were used to enhance the physiologic and anatomical aspects of
musculoskeletal healing (Richter et al. 2005). The initial efforts of Guttman led to move-
ment that created the first international games for persons with spinal cord injury. Initially
known as the Stoke Mandeville Games Federation, the movement has evolved to an inter-
national level and has been renamed as the International Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair
Sports Federation (ISMWSF) (IWASF 2011). The contributions of ISMWSF in the develop-
ment of sports for individuals with disabilities have been recognized by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) through the Fearnley Cup award for outstanding achievement
