Paralympics

American  

[par-uh-lim-piks] / ˌpær əˈlɪm pɪks /

plural noun

1. Paralympic Games.

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Paralympics British  

/ ˌpærəˈlɪmpɪks /

plural noun

1. Also known as: the Parallel Olympics.  a sporting event, modelled on the Olympic Games, held solely for disabled competitors

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Usage

What are the Paralympics? The Paralympics, formally called the Paralympic Games, are an international athletic competition featuring multiple sporting events between athletes with a range of bodily differences and disabilities.The event is modeled after the Olympic Games, featuring the world’s top athletes in their sports, with the top three finishers in each event being awarded medals: gold for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third place. Like the Olympics, there are Winter and Summer versions of the Paralympics, and they are usually held after the corresponding Olympic event in the same city.The Winter Paralympics feature winter sports, including skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and many others. The Summer Paralympics feature traditionally warm weather and indoor sports, like track and field, swimming, and wheelchair basketball, among many others.Eligibility for and competition in the Paralympics is based on categories that involve bodily differences and different types of disabilities, including those related to muscle power and movement, range of movement, limb differences, visual impairment, and intellectual disabilities.Athletes who compete in the Paralympics can be called Paralympians.

Etymology

Origin of Paralympics

C20: _parallel + _Olympics

Example Sentences

How do visually impaired athletes compete at the Winter Paralympics?

From BBC

But she is not competing at the Winter Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.

From BBC

Great Britain's joyless start to the Winter Paralympics continued as wheelchair curlers Jo Butterfield and Jason Kean let slip their grasp on the mixed doubles semi-finals and missed out on qualifying.

From BBC

Athletes from Russia and Belarus marched behind their nations' flags at the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics as the 50th anniversary edition of the Games officially got under way.

From BBC

At this month's Winter Paralympics, Sparks will become Great Britain's first female Paralympic snowboarder.

From BBC