What are the “Paralympics?
The Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world, conceding top honors only to the Olympics. The multi-sport competition showcases the talents and abilities of the world’s most elite athletes with physical disabilities. The Paralympics feature 21 sports–of which Goalball is one, and 18 of which are also contested in the Olympics. The first Paralympics were held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. Only 400 athletes from 23 countries participated. It wasn’t until the 1988 Paralympics in Seoul, Korea, that the modern-day practice of the Olympic-host nation also hosting the Paralympic Games, began. Today more than 4,000 athletes from 120 countries participate in the Summer Paralympics, while more than 1,100 athletes from 36 countries compete in the Winter Paralympic Games. Back To Top Q: When and why was Goalball started A: Here’s a direct quote from the International Blind Sports Federation’s (IBSA) official Goalball rulebook: “Goalball was invented in 1946 by Austrian, Hanz L
