Paralympic Games Choice Board

Swimming

Wheelchair Fencing

Wheelchair Basketball

Cycling

Wheelchair Tennis

Archery

Powerlifting

Athletics

Click the picture for infoClick the pencil for the assignment

The Paralympic Games

Athletics has been part of the Paralympic Games since the first one in 1960. There are many different classifications when it comes to athletics. Competitors' disabilities range from blindness or missing a limb to being in a wheel chair and even intellectual impairment*. * low IQ

Wheelchair Basketball has been played since the 1940's. It formally became part of the Paralympics in 1960. The court and basket are the exact same height and size as in a regular basketball game. There can also only be five players on the court. But there are some differences. The players sit in modified wheelchairs which give more balance and are easier to swivel (turn around) than a regular wheelchair. The disabilities are classified and given a number. There can be no more than 14 points on the court at any one time.

Para-archery has been contested at every Summer Paralympic Games since the first Paralympics in 1960. Men and women compete separately. The archers are classified according to the extent of their disability.

Wheelchair tennis was first introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1988. But it only became a medal-awarding event in 1992. Both men and women compete, separately. There are several events. The Men and Women Singles are when one person competes against another. Men and Women Doubles are tennis games that are played by two against two. The Quads are tennis players who are paraplegic*. * שיתוק בכל ארבעת הגפיים

Paralympic swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. Paralympic swimmers compete at the Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions throughout the world. The sport is governed by the International Paralympic Committee. Both men and women compete in Paralympic swimming, racing against competitors of their own gender. Swimming has been a part of the Paralympic program since the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Click the link on the first line. How many different medals did Israel win in the Paralympic swimming category?

Powerlifting is a sport where competitors lie on a flat bed and lower and raise the weights. Each time, weights are added until only one person is able to lift the weights. That person is the winner. Men have competed in the Paralympic Powerlifting event since 1964. Women have started competing in powerlifting since 2000. In powerlifting, it doesn't matter what the disability is. The only thing that matters is the weight they are lifting.

Cycling in the Paralympic Games only started in 1984. The United States hosted the games and they took place in New York City. There are several types of events in the cycling sport. Hand cycling is common for athletes who have cerebral palsy*, amputated legs or are paraplegic**. There's also a two-person bicycle for athletes who have sight problems. The athlete cycles from behind while the person in the front steers the bike. * שיתוק מוחין ** אדם המשותק בגפיים התחתונות

Search Google for a Paralympic swimmer. 1. Create a fact file for that person. Include the following information:

• Name
• Age
• Country of origin
• What is his/her disability?
• How did they get their disability?
• When did he/she start competing?
• Have they won any medals?

2. Imagine you are interviewing this person. Write 5 questions and his/her answers.

Archery is about hitting your target. Think of a time when you had to do something in a very precise way. Write an essay about what happened. Include your thoughts and, even fears that you had. How did your story end? The essay should be in a Word document:

• Font: Times New Roman or Arial
• Font size: 12
• Spacing: 1.5

Research the different types of cycling events in the Paralympics. Choose one and research the different classifications in that type of cycling. Do you think that these classifications are fair? Would you add another classification? Now meet Hanna Macdougall from Australia. Hanna competes in both cycling and swimming events. Write an essay about her. Include, her background, her disability. Focus on cycling. What has she achieved? Has she won any medals? Which ones and what years.

Imagine having to walk without any legs! Many of these athletes do it all the time. They even RUN! What difficulties do you think these people face, every day? How can and do they overcome them? How do you think they feel about their disability? Write a short essay detailing how you think these athletes would answer the questions above.

Powerlifting teaches mental toughness. People who lift weights learn to face difficult challenges and to be patient. Think of a challenge you or someone you know has faced. How did you/they get through that challenge? Did you/they have to be patient? Describe the situation, in writing, and explain the process of 'getting though' the challenge. Was mental toughness or patience part of the process?

Watch the video. You can slow it down by clicking the Settings button (gear wheel at bottom right) and choosing 'Playback Speed'. Set it to 0.75 or even less to make it go slower. Listen to the explanations and describe, in your words, the different types of competitions.

Basketball is a team sport. When you work in a team, you have to do your part to complete the task. Think of a situation which required a team to work together. Describe the problem, what each one on the team had to do and how it ended.

Follow the instructions. 1. Click the link to see an overview of wheelchair fencing. 2. Read about the three types of fencing events. 3. If you could compete at one of these events, which would it be? Explain your answer in two paragraphs.

Wheelchair fencing has been part of the Paralympic games since 1960. There are three classifications depending on the disability. Even though fencing is considered the least aggressive sport, the events are fast-paced and require split-second decisions.

The Paralympic Summer Games The first Paralympic Game was held in 1960 in Rome, Italy. The games took place from September 18th to the 25th. The only disability* included in the 1960 games was a spinal cord injury**. There were 400 athletes from 23 countries, including Israel. Today, in each sport, the competitors are classified according to their injuries. That way, the competitions are fair. * נכות ** פגיעה בעמוד השידרה