Vancouver Hosts the 2010 Paralympic Games

Paralympics, what does this mean? "Paralympic games are a multi-sport event for all athletes with physical and visual disabilities, including mobility disabilities". The Paralympic games are very similar to the regular Olympic games and the Paralympic athletes are just as talented. The Paralympics started at Stoke Mandeville hospital, in Aylesbury by a neurologist named Sir Ludwig Guttman. Guttman was working with some World War II veterans that suffered from severe spinal injuries and he began using sports as part of his rehabilitation programs. Realizing the potential that these athletes had given Guttman the idea of the Paralympic games. He therefore set up his first competition in 1948 that coincided with the London Olympics.

After a decade had passed, Guttman's plan grew and was adopted by several other countries. During the 1960 Olympics Guttman brought 400 wheelchair athletes to the historic Olympic city to compete in the Modern Parallel Olympics, otherwise known as "Paralympics". The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, with the Olympics being number one.

The Paralympics are often mistaken for the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics are events for people with learning disabilities with the main emphasis on the athlete's participation rather than that of the Paralympics, where the focus is on the competition. In the Paralympic games the athletes have a larger age range than the Olympic games competitors. The youngest in the Paralympics is swimmer Eleanor Simmonds who is only 13-years-old, the oldest is archer Fred Stevens who is 63-years-old.

The 2010 Paralympic games will be held in Vancouver, Canada March 12-21, tickets are available at Vancouver2010.com.

The Paralympic games have a wide variety of events such as, alpine skiing, archery, sitting volleyball, shooting, swimming, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair curling, wheelchair rugby, table tennis and so much more. The Paralympic games bring disabled athletes from all over the world to compete and try to take the gold.

Some of the athletes for the 2010 U.S Team are:

Sled Hockey U.S. Team

Taylor Lipsett

Adam Page

Alexi Salamone

Greg Shaw

Bubba Torres

Andy Yohe

Michael Blabac

Steven Cash

Taylor Chase

James Connelly

Brad Emmerson

Joseph Howard

Tim Jones

The U.S Paralympic Sled-Hockey team is predicted to take gold in the 2010 Paralympic games. The US team is in great condition and has a technical skill that is above reproach.

Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson is Britain's most honored Paralympian. Grey-Thompson has won 16 medals, including 11 gold medals in his career in the Paralympics. Grey-Thompson has since retired from competing in the Paralympic games, but still gives hope to those who come to give it their all.

South African Natalie Du Toit, swimmer and former Paralympian, hopes to be the first amputee to compete in the mainstream Olympics.

I would like to mention one athlete for all who are going to watch the Paralympics or attend. Keep an eye out for U.S. Team member Kelly Underkofler, she will be competing in the alpine skiing event and is a hopeful for gold. Kelly was born without the lower half of her left arm and despite her disability she always excelled in sports. Kelly started skiing along side her father when she was just three years old and hasn't stopped since then. Kelly's Passion for the sport is what keeps her going. This year not only will she compete in the alpine skiing, but she will also be in the Biathlon.

All tickets for the Vancouver Paralympic games are 21.00 per event and can be purchased on-line at usparalympics.org or vancouver2010.com.

References for this article came from paralympic.org and vancouver.about.com