1996 Summer Paralympics facts for kids

Competitors at the opening ceremony, 1996 Summer Paralympic Games

The 1996 Summer Paralympics were a huge sports event for athletes with disabilities. They took place in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. These Games were a chance for amazing athletes from all over the world to show their skills.

More than 3,200 athletes competed in these Games. They came from 104 different countries. It was a truly international event, bringing people together through sport.

Who Competed at the 1996 Paralympics?

Athletes with different types of disabilities took part. This included people with:

• Spinal injuries, which affect how the body moves.
• Amputations, meaning they had lost a limb.
• Blindness or very limited eyesight.
• Cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement and balance.
• "Les Autres," which is a French term meaning "the others." This group included athletes with conditions that didn't fit into the other main categories, like dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.
• Intellectual disabilities, which affect learning and understanding.

All these athletes trained hard. They competed fairly and showed incredible determination.

What Are the Paralympic Games?

The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event. They are for athletes with disabilities. The word "Paralympic" comes from the Greek word "para," meaning "alongside" or "parallel." This shows that the Paralympics run alongside the Olympic Games. They are just as important!

The Games happen every four years. They are held shortly after the Olympic Games in the same host city. This helps to promote equality and inclusion in sports.

Why Are the Paralympics Important?

The Paralympic Games are very important for many reasons:

• They give athletes with disabilities a chance to compete at the highest level.
• They inspire people around the world.
• They help to change how people think about disability.
• They show that with hard work, anything is possible.

The 1996 Atlanta Paralympics were a big step forward. They helped to make sports more accessible for everyone.

Images for kids

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  1996 Paralympic Mascot, Blaze the Phoenix

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  Eila Nilsson of Sweden celebrating her 50 m freestyle B1 gold with Janice Burton of Great Britain and Tracey Cross of Australia.

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  A group of Australian supporters at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games

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  Wheelchair tennis

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  Welcome home parade

See also

In Spanish: Juegos Paralímpicos de Atlanta 1996 para niños