About the paralympics

The idea for the Paralympics was born in 1948 when a sports competition for people who had injured their spines while fighting in the Second World War took place. Over the years it got bigger until 1960 when an Olympic-style event took place in Rome.

By Montreal in 1976 athletes with other disabilities were included as well.

The Paralympics have always been in the same year as the Summer Olympics, but have only been held in the same country since 1988 in Seoul, Korea. Paralympic sailing made its debut as a full-medal sport in 2000 Paralympic Games, in two classes—the 23’ Sonar, a three-person keelboat, and the 2.4 Metre, a single-person keelboat. A third class, the Skud 18, a two person skiff has been add for the 2008 games. All nations, with the exception of host country, must qualify for entry in all classes for the Paralympic games; the qualification process is a result of entry limits set by the International Olympic Committee and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The 2012 Paralympic Games are scheduled for September 6-17, 2012 in London, England. The Paralympic Regatta will be held in Weymouth.