Every four years, thousands of disabled athletes from over 150 countries take part in the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are a multy-sport 1) …………… for athletes with physical, mental and sensory disabilities. Games include wheelchair tennis, basketball and rugby, as well as judo for athletes who cannot see well.
The origin of the Paralympic Games is more resent than that of the Olympic Games. It all began in England in 1948, when a man named Sir Ludwig Guttermann came up with the idea of 2) …………… a sports competition for World War 2 veterans with spinal cord injuries. Years later, in 1960, Rome hosted the first Paralympic-style games for disabled athletes from around the world. Today, the Paralympics are held after the Olympic Games in the same 3) ………. city. The purpose of the games is to empower and inspire athletes with disabilities.
One of the most popular events at the Paralympic Games is goalball. The rules of the game are as follows: players who are unable to see properly 4) …………… in the teams of the three and try to throw a ball that has bells in it into the 5) …………… team’s goal. Since they are blindfolded they can only understand the position of the ball from the sound the bells make.
Paralimpic competitors are determined and exceptional athletes. They push themselves to the limit and never give up. They are highly respected for their talent and determination. They 6) …………… to inspire other people to overcome their disabilities and realize they have what it takes to go for gold.