and are held at the same venue immediately after the Olympic Games.

Physically disabled athletes are selected to the teams by competing in events starting at the local level and earning the right to compete at a higher level.

Local, regional and state/provincial events serve to identify the athletes who have made the standards required to move up.  Athletes who compete at the National Level are then eligible to try out for their respective National Sports teams.

Additional events open to Paralympic and other qualified physically disabled athletes include the Goodwill Games, the Ultimate Challenge, the Hartford Ski Spectacular, World Championships, PanAmerican Games, Maccabbi Games in Israel and other multi country events.

OTHER BITS OF INFO

Paralympic Athletes are recognized by the International Olympic Committee and all Paralympic sports are part of their respective NON-ADAPTIVE NSGB's (National Sports Governing Bodies) who are the authority of sport for each athlete's particular sport.

Adapted sport is the adaption of standard sporting events so that people with physical disabilities can participate. Wherever possible, the rules are the same, as in track and field etc, but small concesssions are made according to the particular disability.. for example, in breast stroke, unless both hands touch the wall simultaneously at the end of the event, the swimmer has not completed the event.  If the swimmer is an arm amputee who does NOT have two hands, they are allowed to touch with just the one.

Contrary to popular belief, Paralympics does NOT mean paralyzed olympics, it's a contraction of the words PARALLEL and OLYMPICS.

Currently, athletes the world over are training for the Summer 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as well as readying themselves for competition in yachting, equestrian, team sports of all types and a full range of winter sports events including snowboarding, alpine and nordic racing.

Disabled ski racers (NOT special olympics participants) start with 800 points and have a formula applied to their times so they can finish in the standings of ALL alpine skiers.   With the factoring, it is conceivable that a monoskier could WIN the WORLD CUP DOWNHILL ski championships.
world of warcraft gold