2004 Summer Paralympics
This article deals with a current or ongoing event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.
The 2004 Summer Paralympic Games are the twelfth Paralympics and will be held in Athens, Greece from September 17 to 28. The Paralympic Summer Games are the second-largest sporting event in the world, after the Summer Olympic games. An estimated 4,000 athletes will take part, with ages ranging from 11 to 66.
The 800 m Women's Wheelchair Race and 1500 m Men's Wheelchair Race were the first competitions held for the 2004 Summer Paralympics, and also occurred during the 2004 Summer Olympics as demonstration sports. These races are now open to able-bodied people. See Wheelchair racing at the 2004 Summer Olympics for more details.
Athletes with learning difficulties are excluded from the games due to the difficulties in testing for and classifying these disabilities. The exclusion was introduced after the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, the first games with events exclusively for people with learning difficulties, after it was found that the majority of the Spanish basketball team were not disabled. The IPC has said that the exclusion will continue until there are sufficient tests for the disabilities and a way to measure the effect they have on a sport. Exhibition matches for these categories will still continue in basketball and table tennis. There is a separate games designed particularly for athletes with learning difficulties called the Special Olympics.
Medal Count and Country Performance Ranking (September 24)
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony for the 2004 Summer Paralympics took place on September 17, 2004. The show started with children passing on knowledge and raising their lights to the sky. This was a reference to Hippocrates, who transferred knowledge to the children. A 26 meters tall olive tree (with more than 195,000 leaves) symbolising life stood in the middle of the arena. The opening ceremony also featured a performance with human drama, with light and with music, in an allegory about obstacles and limits.
The Parade of Delegations was accompanied by music of French composers Yves Stepping and Jean Christophe. The music told the legend of Hephaestos, god of fire and son of Zeus and Hera. An athlete from Turkmenistan propelled himself around the stadium by doing somersaults. Greece, the home team, received a strong cheer. After that, fireworks erupted at the stadium.
There were 150 local support staff involved and 400 volunteers. The children were from ages 8 to 17, coming from Australia, France, Spain, Greece and Germany.
The Games were officially declared opened by Greek president Costis Stephanopoulos and Phil Craven, the president of the International Paralympic Committee. They were accompanied by the head of the organizing committee Gianna Angelopoulos?Daskalaki. Gianna Angelopolous told the athletes and the audience: "The Olympic flame illuminates athletes. Many of you will leave Athens with medals, but all of you will leave as champions." Phil Craven quoted Democritus in his speech: "Two thousand years ago, Democritus said 'To win oneself is the first and best of all victories.' This holds true for all athletes, but especially for Paralympians. Recognising and cultivating your unique abilities and mastering challenges - you set standards and give expression for many people, young and old, around the world." The Olympic flame was lit by Greek athlete Archery
Nations
136 nations are competing in the Athens Paralympics.
Articles by nation:
See also
