For more than 50 years, wheelchair athletics have given the disabled a chance to play sports against other people facing similar physical challenges. Starting off with a simple basketball league for injured veterans, wheelchair athletics now have their own stage at the Paralympic Games and Special Olympics.
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Wheelchair athletics were created in 1956 as an outlet for injured veterans returning from World War II. At first, wheelchair basketball was the only sport offered, and only veterans were permitted to participate.
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Over the years, the National Wheelchair Athletic Association has expanded its sanctioned sports. Wheelchair tennis, golf, and track and field have been added to the list. Even extreme sports such as cycling, skiing and kayaking are popular in wheelchair athletics.
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Wheelchair athletics allow paraplegics and quadriplegics to participate in the sports they love. They also provide an opportunity to socialize with other people who use wheelchairs.
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Wheelchair athletes are categorized based on their arm strength and degree of impairment. This ensures that competitors will be evenly matched with others of the same ability.
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In 1960, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome alongside that year's Olympic Games. Held every four years like the Olympics, the Paralympics are one of the premier events in wheelchair athletics.
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