The Games are for everyone. How Paralympic sport was born

In the twentieth century, humankind experienced two tragedies that affected every corner of the Earth. World wars claimed the lives of more than 100 million people, and the number of people left disabled, according to various estimates, reached 30 million. This is more than the number of residents of Russia’s most populous region, the Volga Federal District, which includes, among others, such cities as Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Ufa, Perm and Samara. And almost three times the population of Moscow. All of these people had to somehow return to normal life in a world that was completely unsuited to it.

Even nowadays, people with disabilities regularly face trivial everyday problems. How things were in those times, it is hard for a modern person to imagine. To at least a little closer to understanding the situation, it is worth knowing that, for example, serial production of wheelchairs was launched only in 1933. And that was the beginning of a long journey: wheelchairs had to turn from luxury items into a commonly available means. In addition, it had previously been impossible to use them on one’s own, and an attendant was always required.

And yet this was an important step for society. The world turned its face towards people with disabilities and gradually began to accept them as full members of society. Already in the 50’s in Europe, the spread of ramps and the production of special cars began. Over time, sports were also adapted for such people.

Who is Ludwig Guttmann?

It is largely due to the name of Ludwig Guttmann. He worked as a neurosurgeon in one of the hospitals in Germany, but in 1933 he was forced to stop working because of the anti-Jewish policy of the government. A few years later he fled the country, and it was probably this decision that saved his life. After emigrating to the UK, Ludwig returned to medical work and continued to improve his knowledge. One of the peculiarities of his methodology was that the doctor included sports in the rehabilitation program.

Guttman specialized in patients with spinal injuries. At that time, World War II was already in full swing, so he mainly treated wounded soldiers. His hypothesis about the benefits of sport was confirmed in practice, and at the end of the international conflict, Ludwig Guttmann was commissioned to create a center for the treatment of people with musculoskeletal disorders.

Sport for all: the creation of the Stoke-Mandeville Games

As time went on, people in all countries gradually got used to peaceful life. The year was 1948 and the first post-war Olympic Games began in London. On the same day another very important event took place. It is hard to say what part of the world’s population knew about it, but for people with disabilities it was practically the beginning of a new era. On that day, Ludwig Guttman launched the first Stoke-Mandeville Wheelchair Games. In the ranks of participants were only British war veterans, and the program included only a few sports disciplines. But the main thing was that the athletes made themselves known, reminded the world of their existence and showed people with similar injuries that active life goes on.

The Games became annual, the number of people involved increased and was not limited to veterans. Anyone could participate. Before the start of the fourth games, a team of athletes from the Netherlands informed Guttman about their desire to join the event. Thus, the competition received the status of an international event. At that time the number of participants reached 130 people.

Queen Elizabeth II and Ludwig Guttman at the 1969 Stoke-Mandeville Games

The first ever Paralympic Games

Four years later, Guttmann’s efforts were recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which awarded the federation he had founded for bringing the Olympic ideals of humanism to life. Two years later, Ludwig found an associate: his Italian colleague Antonio Maglio. Together they began preparations for the next stage – the ninth international Stoke-Mandeville Games in Rome. The idea of the partners was realized in September 1960, immediately after the end of the Summer Olympic Games, which were also held in the capital of Italy. At that time, 400 athletes competing in eight sports took part in the Guttman competitions. The organizers raffled off 57 sets of awards.

Sixteen years later, the first Winter Olympics for the disabled will be held in Sweden, and in the eighties the term “Paralympics” will be officially approved. Then it was decided that the countdown would begin with the Games in Rome. The International Paralympic Committee will be organized in 1988. Its founders will be several sports federations for the disabled, as well as national sports organizations for people with disabilities. Ludwig Guttmann did not live to realize his dream – the creation of the Paralympic Games – just eight years, he died in March 1980.

Despite this, Guttman’s work lives on and the list of sports in the Paralympics continues to grow. The Stoke-Mandeville Games, which he founded, are still held, albeit under a different name.