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By Rachal Fleury and Mary Beth Walker Have you ever seen Patrick Anderson drop a three-pointer at the buzzer or Chantal Petitclerc race to a record in the 800 meters? If not, you’re missing out on some great sport...

Beijing Paralympics: Canada Looks To Remain a World Leader

by Canadian Paralympic Blog (Scribe)

11

2,161 reads

Preview/Prediction

May 29, 2008


By Rachal Fleury and Mary Beth Walker

Have you ever seen Patrick Anderson drop a three-pointer at the buzzer or Chantal Petitclerc race to a record in the 800 meters?

If not, you’re missing out on some great sport. Patrick Anderson is a member of Canada’s double-gold medal winning Paralympic team and is considered the world’s best wheelchair basketball player, while Petitclerc is a legend in wheelchair racing.

The upcoming Beijing Paralympic Games, running from Sept. 6-17, is the premiere sporting event for high performance athletes with a physical disability. About 140 Canadian athletes, supported by about 120 staff, will venture to Beijing to compete.

The Paralympic Games now occur in conjunction with the Olympics every two years in the same city and at the same venues. The Paralympic Games morphed out of the Stoke Mandeville Games, the first organized sport competition for athletes with a physical disability. Dr. Lugwig Guttmann staged the first Stoke Mandeville Games in 1948 as part of his efforts to use sport in the rehabilitation of soldiers who were injured in World War II.

Paralympic athletes are just like Olympians, except that they have a physical disability, such as a visual impairment, an amputation, a spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy or other. They compete in classes with other elite athletes with similar physical disabilities.

“Paralympic sport is about sheer athletic determination and skill,” said Debbie Low, the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2008 Beijing Games Chef de Mission. “We’re looking forward to being inspired by Canada’s elite-level athletes with a physical disability as they compete at the upcoming Paralympic Games.”


There are 20 summer sports, including rowing which makes its debut in Beijing. Most of the sports are modified versions of able-bodied sports at the Olympic Games, but there are four unique Paralympic summer sports: boccia, goalball, powerlifting and wheelchair rugby (formerly called murderball).

In Beijing, Canadian athletes will compete in archery, athletics, wheelchair basketball (men’s and women’s), boccia, cycling, equestrian, wheelchair fencing, goalball (men’s and women’s), judo, powerlifting, rowing, wheelchair rugby, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair tennis. Canada will not take part in sitting volleyball, five-a-side football, and seven-a-side football.

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11 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Alex D about 1 year ago

    Good article except for the fact that I am pretty sure that the Olympic/paralympic are every FOUR years!!!

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    • Canadian Paralympic Blog about 1 year ago

      Thanks for the feedback Alex! It is true that the Summer Olympic/Paralympic Games are every four years. However, we were including all Olympic/Paralympic Games (Summer and Winter). These alternate every two years.

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  2. Canadian Paralympic Blog about 1 year ago

    Thanks for the feedback Alex! It is true that the Summer Olympic/Paralympic Games are every four years. However, we were including all Olympic/Paralympic Games (Summer and Winter). These alternate every two years.

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  3. Rosi Mink about 1 year ago

    Yes I believe it is every four years. Could be a miss print as further on in the article the writer refers to four years.

    I have a special interest i n the Paralympic Games this summer. I plan to attend the games with four other members of my family to cheer on all the athletes and in particular my nephew Robert Hedges who is a team member on the Canadian men's wheelchair basketball team!

    Good luck to all athletes. I look forward to future postings in the count down tp Sepember 6.2008.

    Rosi Mink Lacmbe ,Alberta

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    • Elizabeth Lancia 10 months ago

      Hi Rosi, I'm glad to hear you're able to be in Beijing, since we cannot be. We weren't able to go to Athens either. So in 2012, nothing will stop us. I'm Adam Lancia's Mom, so give him a hug from me when you're there,please and thanks. And give our best to "Bo" as I know him.
      It is awesome to finally find some mention of the Paralympics on the web. We're absolutely astounded at the lack of mention of these games in the media in general.
      Have an awesome time.
      And best wishes for an incredible experience for all the atlhletes and supporting staff.
      Elizabeth Lancia, Toronto, Ontario

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  4. Eric Payne about 1 year ago

    Dont forget about the up and coming Steve Daniels for rowing. Injured about three years he is the first product coming from the Soldier On program! Go Steve!

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  5. scott Rand about 1 year ago

    I believe that with each passing of the Paralympics, there is a new interest in our performances as elite athletes. As athlete numbers increase, so does the base audience. Hence there will be a broader need for media coverage, which in turn propels positive and curios attention.

    As this will be my first Paralympic experience, and having the honor of participating in the debut of rowing, I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all of the former athletes up to and including Beijing that have done a stellar job in bringing awareness to the paralympics in Canada and around the world.

    Scott Rand

    Calgary, Alberta

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    • Elizabeth Lancia 10 months ago

      Scott, Congratulations! You have an unequalled experience coming up, ( you may already be in Beijing, ). We wish you well in your competitions and will watch for you.
      Our son is playing wheelchair basketball for Canada.
      Elizabeth Lancia,
      Toronto,Ontario

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  6. dana magyar 10 months ago

    These stories would be inspiring to anyone but as a teacher new to teaching children with Physical Disabilities, the excitement of sharing the upcoming Paralympics with my students is tremendous.
    All the best to competitors.
    Keep us up to date here in the PH class at Blantyre!

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  7. Elizabeth Lancia 10 months ago

    I was just thinking a while earlier today, that it is appropriate that the Paralympics will be staged when children will be back at school, and teachers can use the opportunity to present very important life lessons to the young people of the world. I know that after the Athens Paralympics, in 2004, our son went to several schools to inform the students of his spoert, wheelchair basketball, and to answer many questions about sports and disability.
    Thank you for your enthousiasm.
    Elizabeth Lancia,
    Toronto,Ontario

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  8. Ben Spooner 10 months ago

    All of us at Alive Personal Training in Calgary are 100% in support of Scott Rand and the Canadian Paralympic rowing team. I cannot imagine an athlete training harder than Scott has for this event. Disability or not, Scott is easily a world class athlete which shows not only in his physical performance in his sport but also in his attitude.

    Ben Spooner
    Calgary, AB

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