Paralympics

[par-uh-lim-piks]

plural noun

1. Paralympic Games.

Paralympics

/ ˌpærəˈlɪmpɪks /

plural noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Paralympics¹

C20: _parallel + _Olympics

Example Sentences

In a conversation with The Times, he spoke about the ongoing challenges LAX has faced since the pandemic and his hopes for its future success ahead of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

From Los Angeles Times

The prospect of having his child trackside at the LA Paralympics in three years' time is providing added motivation for Pembroke to continue his work both in and out of athletics.

From BBC

The Los Angeles Times is your guide to the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics.

From Los Angeles Times

The project has been tied to Metro’s 2028 Olympics and Paralympics initiatives that include 28 projects.

From Los Angeles Times

After Paris sold a record 12 million tickets for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, the group organizing the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is getting a head start on ticket sales.

From Los Angeles Times

When To Use

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.