2002 Winter Paralympics facts for kids
The 2002 Winter Paralympics were a big international sports event for athletes with disabilities. They were the eighth Winter Paralympic Games ever held. These Games took place in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, from March 7 to March 16, 2002.
A total of 416 athletes from 36 different countries came to compete. This was a special event because it was the first time the Winter Paralympics were held in the American continent. For six countries – Andorra, Chile, China, Croatia, Greece, and Hungary – it was their very first time sending athletes to the Winter Paralympic Games.
Sports at the Games
Athletes competed in different sports, showing amazing skill and determination. Two of the main sports were Para-alpine skiing and Sledge hockey.
Para-alpine Skiing
Para-alpine skiing is a thrilling sport where skiers race down snowy mountains. Athletes compete in different categories based on their disability, such as standing, sitting (using a special ski-chair called a sit-ski), or with a guide if they are visually impaired.
The skiing events at the 2002 Games included:
- Downhill: A fast race straight down the mountain.
- Super-G: A slightly less steep but still very fast race with fewer turns than Giant Slalom.
- Giant Slalom: Skiers go through a course with wide turns around gates.
- Slalom: This race has many quick, tight turns around closely placed gates.
These events were spread out over several days, with different categories of athletes competing on specific days. For example, women's downhill and men's visually impaired downhill races happened on the first day.
Sledge Hockey
Sledge hockey is an exciting team sport similar to ice hockey, but players sit on special sledges. They use two short sticks with picks on one end to push themselves across the ice and blades on the other end to hit the puck.
At the 2002 Winter Paralympics, the United States team performed very well in sledge hockey, winning the gold medal.
See also
In Spanish: Juegos Paralímpicos de Salt Lake City 2002 para niños
