The Paralympic Games brighten up the end of summer and the start of the new school year in Paris. Between two new French victories, how about a look at the origins of the word "Paralympic"?
First of all, we need to look back at the Olympic Games to better understand the meaning of the term Paralympic. The modern Olympic Games were inspired by the sporting competitions organized in Greece duringantiquity, and more specifically the Games held in the city ofOlympia. The name of the Games is thus derived from this Peloponnesian city.
The term paralympic, on the other hand, is a word-valise. The ending "lympique" comes directly from the word "olympique". The prefix "para" has several origins, according to the Comité régional et sportif d'Île-de-France. Originally, the term "paralympic" was a contraction of "paraplegic" and "Olympic".
Today, the prefix "para" is of Greek origin, and means"next to", as in the word "parallel". The Paralympic Games take place alongside the Olympic Games: the two events are linked, but different.
It's worth noting, however, that the name "Paralympic Games" hasn't always been used: in fact, it's a very recent development! The first multi-sport competitions for disabled athletes took place in 1948, atStoke Mandeville Hospital, a military hospital for the war-wounded.
The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, but were referred to as the "Stoke Mandeville Games". It wasn't until the 1988 Seoul Games that the term "Paralympic Games" was officially recognized and adopted.
Today, the Paralympic Games are recognized and followed the world over; their unique history is highlighted through the various symbols of this competition: the flame, the flag, the anthem... And it lives on, of course, thanks to every Paralympic athlete who contributes to making these Games spectacular and popular.
