The Paralympics are similar to the Olympics as it gathers professional sport players from all over the world to compete in an event offering spots to the best athletes. The Paralympics however are open to people with disabilities that have a competitive advantage in some way or another. 

To join the paralympics, you must be an athlete who has physical, vision, or intellectual impairments. This could vary from limb deficiency to uncoordinated movements. To put it simply, Para (Paralympic) Athletes are those who have health conditions which limits their ability to compete competitively with others who aren’t disadvantaged in playing a sport. All the athletes who participate in the paralympics are people who strive to play a sport on a professional level with their disability barrier. The games are not only a sporting event but also a time to inspire and promote inclusivity towards the general public. 

“Around middle school, I started developing scoliosis and just had some weaker leg function.” Kendall Gretsch says, (Antonucci). Some disabilities may be discovered during your teenage years like Kendall Gretsch’s situation growing up after the surgery became difficult with constant physical therapy needed. 

The paralympics take place every four years and have started since 1960 with around 400 players who all were in wheelchairs. Taking place in Rome, Italy with representatives from 23 countries. The Paralympics both have a Winter and a Summer version which opens up the sports available to a variety of players. The next round of the Summer Paralympics will take place in Paris, France from August 28, 2024 to September 8, 2024 with over 4400 participants from 184 representative countries.

The Summer Paralympics has an abundance of games consisting of Para archery, Para athletics, Para badminton, Blind football, Boccia, Para canoe, Para cycling, Para equestrian, Goalball, Para judo, Para powerlifting, Para rowing, Shooting Para sport, Sitting volleyball, Para swimming, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, Wheelchair basketball, Wheelchair fencing, Wheelchair rugby, Wheelchair tennis. 

These events all are well known games with adjustments to fit the players play styles based on their disability. Examples are how Blind football is played. Many football fans enjoy watching the commentary and joyous cheers while during a blind football match, the audience is required to stay quiet at all times to respect the players and let them focus on the ball. The ball itself has bells in the interior