Introduction
The 2024 Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place in Paris from August 28 to September 8 following the Olympic Games, will provide compelling and must-watch TV particularly for structured settlement and settlement professionals and our clients.
Approximately 4,400 athletes from approximately 180 countries are expected to participate. NBCUniversal will provide extensive coverage to include over 140 hours of television programming across NBC, USA Network, and CNBC, with daily live shows including nine hours of coverage on NBC (six hours in primetime.) Additionally, Peacock will stream approximately 1,500 hours of live coverage across all 22 Paralympic sports, making these 2024 Games the most comprehensive Paralympic coverage in U.S. media history.
There are many reasons for everyone to watch the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games: inspirational stories; elite athleticism; diverse and unique sports; inclusivity and representation; emotional and dramatic moments; global impact; technology and adaptive innovation. These elements promise to create a captivating and impactful viewing experience that goes beyond sports to touch on broader themes of human capability and resilience.
Structured settlements and the Paralympic Games, however, share several commonalities in terms of their impact on individuals’ lives, long-term planning, and the promotion of security that should make the upcoming event especially meaningful for structured settlement and settlement planning professionals and our clients.
Structured settlements and the Paralympic Games provide stability and support to individuals facing significant challenges, emphasizing the importance of long-term planning, resilience, and a structured approach to overcoming life’s obstacles.
This Paralympic Primer provides an introduction to the 2024 Paralympic Games for structured settlement and settlement planning professionals and hopefully will increase your interest and enhance your viewing experience.
History
The Paralympic Games originated as a sports competition for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. The first event, known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, was organized by Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1948. It took place in Stoke Mandeville, England, on the same day as the opening ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games. Initially, it involved 16 injured servicemen and women who competed in archery.
The event grew over the years and in 1960, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries. These games marked the first time the event was held in the same city and year as the Olympic Games, establishing a tradition that continues to this day. Until the 1976 Summer Games, only athletes in wheelchairs were allowed to compete. The Paralympic Games have continued to expand to include a wide range of disabilities and sports, becoming a major international multi-sport event.
Initially, there was some belief that “para” referred to paraplegia, as the first events were primarily for athletes with spinal cord injuries. However, as the Paralympic Games expanded to include athletes with various types of physical and intellectual disabilities, the term’s meaning evolved to represent the broader idea of parallelism.
The term “para” in “Paralympics” represents the concept of parallelism, signifying that the Paralympic Games run parallel to the Olympic Games and are held in the same host city, utilizing the same venues immediately following the Olympic Games. This term emphasizes the idea that the Paralympics and Olympics are of equal standing and importance, celebrating athletic achievements of people with disabilities alongside those without disabilities.
Distinguishing Special Olympics
The Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics are both major international sports events for athletes with disabilities and do share some common characteristics. For example, both events attract athletes from around the world and aim to promote inclusion, respect, and athletic achievement. Both movements empower individuals with disabilities, providing opportunities to showcase their abilities and inspire others.
However, the Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics cater to different groups and have distinct organizations and histories. The Paralympics primarily include athletes with physical disabilities, while the Special Olympics cater to athletes with intellectual disabilities. Each organization is governed by a different international body and has its own set of rules and events.
The Paralympic Games originated as a sports competition for veterans with spinal cord injuries and have since expanded to include athletes with a wide range of physical disabilities, including visual impairments, cerebral palsy, amputations, and spinal cord injuries as well as intellectual disabilities.
The Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The focus is on elite, high-performance athletes. Athletes must qualify for the Games based on their performance in competitions leading up to the event. The Paralympic Games are held every four years, immediately following the Olympic Games (Summer and Winter), in the same host city and venues.
The Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968 to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics are governed by Special Olympics International. The focus is on participation and personal achievement rather than elite competition.
Athletes of all ability levels are encouraged to participate in Special Olympics, and the events are structured to provide meaningful competition for all participants. The Special Olympics World Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter events. Unlike the Paralympics, they are not tied to the Olympic Games.
Classification
The Paralympic Games ensure fair competition among athletes with different disabilities and levels of disabilities through a system known as classification. The classification system is designed to level the playing field by grouping athletes with similar levels of impairment into categories where they can compete against each other fairly.
Athletes are classified based on the type of impairment they have. The main categories of impairment recognized by the IPC are:
- Physical impairments (e.g., amputations, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy)
- Visual impairments (e.g., partial sight, total blindness)
- Intellectual impairments
Each sport has its own classification criteria tailored to the demands of the sport. This means that the way athletes are classified can vary significantly between sports. For example, the classification system in athletics (track and field) will differ from that in swimming or wheelchair basketball.
The classification process generally involves a combination of medical and functional assessments conducted by trained classifiers. These assessments determine the extent to which an athlete’s impairment impacts their ability to perform in their sport. The classification process typically includes:
- Medical examination: Reviewing medical records and conducting physical examinations.
- Functional assessment: Observing the athlete’s performance in their sport.
- Observation in competition: Watching the athlete compete to ensure the classification is accurate.
Athletes are assigned a “sport class” which indicates the class they will compete in. For example, in athletics, classes T11-T13 are for athletes with visual impairments, while classes T51-T54 and F51-F57 are for athletes with physical impairments who use wheelchairs.
Athletes may be reclassified throughout their careers as their impairment changes or as the classification systems are updated. This ensures that classifications remain fair and accurate over time.
The classification system is continually refined to maintain fairness and integrity. It is based on scientific research and the principles of fair competition, ensuring that athletes’ abilities are the primary factor in determining competition outcomes, rather than the nature of their impairments.
Cheating
Unfortunately, as in all sporting events, there have been instances of cheating and attempts to cheat in the Paralympic Games.
Perhaps the most infamous case of cheating occurred during the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. The Spanish basketball team, competing in the intellectual disability category, was found to have included athletes who did not have intellectual disabilities. An investigation revealed that 10 out of the 12 players had no disability. The Spanish team was stripped of their gold medal, and entire the category for athletes with intellectual disabilities was suspended from the Paralympics until proper classification procedures were eventually re-established.
In other instances, athletes or teams have attempted to manipulate the classification system to gain an unfair advantage. This form of cheating has included exaggerating the severity of their disabilities during classification assessments or providing false medical documentation. The IPC has had to implement more stringent classification processes and regular re-evaluations to combat this form of cheating.
Similar to the Olympics and other sports competitions, doping also has been an issue in the Paralympics. Athletes have been caught using performance-enhancing drugs to improve their performance. For example, Russian powerlifter Vladimir Balynetc was stripped of his bronze medal from the London 2012 Paralympics after testing positive for a banned substance.
The results of these incidents has been stricter regulations and monitoring by the IPC to maintain fair competition and the integrity of the Paralympic Games. The IPC has developed comprehensive anti-doping programs, enhanced classification systems, and strict eligibility criteria to prevent cheating and to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.
Technology and Paralympics
Technology plays a significant role in enhancing the performance of Paralympians. Technologies used, however, must provide functional equivalence to natural human capabilities, without offering enhancements that exceed the typical function of the replaced limb or body part. This rule ensures that technological aids do not create superhuman abilities.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has established rules and regulations to ensure that technological advancements do not provide an unfair advantage to athletes. These rules aim to maintain a level playing field while allowing the use of necessary assistive technologies.
Examples:
- Prosthetic and Orthotics – Modern prosthetics are made from lightweight, durable materials like carbon fiber and titanium. They are designed to mimic the natural movement of limbs and can be customized for various sports. For example, sprinting prosthetics, often called “blades,” are curved and provide the spring needed for running. Microprocessor-controlled prosthetics have embedded sensors and microprocessors that adjust the limb’s movements in real-time, providing more natural motion and better stability.
- Wheelchairs – Custom-designed for different sports like basketball, racing, and tennis, sport-specific wheelchairs are lightweight, highly maneuverable, and optimized for the specific demands of each sport. Racing wheelchairs are designed for speed and stability, featuring specialized wheels and seating positions to reduce air resistance and enhance performance
- Assistive Devices – For visually impaired swimmers, touchpads at the end of the pool can signal when to turn. Some athletes use tappers—long poles with soft ends—to signal turns and finishes. For athletes with visual impairments, guides (in running) and tethers (in swimming) help keep them oriented and on track during competition.
- Wearable Technology – Wearable tech such as heart rate monitors, GPS trackers, and motion sensors help athletes and coaches analyze performance, optimize training, and prevent injuries. High-speed cameras and motion capture technology allow for detailed analysis of an athlete’s movements, helping to refine techniques and improve performance
- Accessibility and Adaptive Equipment – Handcycles and tandem bicycles for athletes with different types of physical impairments, allowing them to compete in cycling events.
- Communication and Cognitive Aids – For athletes with communication challenges, devices that convert text to speech or enhance speech clarity can be vital in training and competition settings.
All assistive devices and equipment used in competitions must be approved by the IPC or the relevant sport’s governing body. This includes prosthetics, wheelchairs, and other adaptive equipment. The IPC sets strict specifications for the design and functionality of equipment. For example, the dimensions and materials used in wheelchairs and prosthetics are regulated to prevent any technological overreach that could provide a competitive edge.
United States Paralympic Teams and Athletes
The United States leads the all-time medal count for all Summer Paralympic Games followed by Great Britain, China, Australia, France and Canada. The U.S. Olympic website features a Paralympic section that includes bios and news articles about some of our top 2024 Summer Paralympic athletes.
Conclusion: Structured Settlements and the 2024 Summer Paralympic Games
The 2024 Summer Paralympic Games will offer a wealth of inspiration, insights, and opportunities for structured settlement professionals and recipients, emphasizing resilience, the importance of financial stability, and the power of support systems in overcoming adversity.
The stories of Paralympic athletes are incredibly inspiring. Many athletes have overcome significant physical, emotional, and societal challenges to compete at the highest levels. These narratives can resonate deeply with structured settlement recipients, who often face their own life-altering circumstances and recovery journeys.
The Paralympic Games bring significant attention to issues related to disabilities, including accessibility, inclusion, and the importance of support systems. Structured settlement professionals can gain insights into the challenges our clients face and the societal advancements needed to better support them.
Watching the Paralympic Games underscores the role of financial stability, access to resources, and community support in enabling individuals to achieve their full potential. This can help structured settlement professionals advocate for comprehensive support packages for our clients.
Many Paralympians rely on sponsorships, grants, and structured financial support to train and compete. Structured settlement recipients can see the value of financial planning and stability in pursuing their dreams and goals, reinforcing the importance of their settlements.
Structured settlement professionals can gain valuable insights into the needs and aspirations of individuals with disabilities, helping them tailor our services and products more effectively. Additionally, engaging with the Paralympic community can open up opportunities for professional networking and collaboration.
Paralympians serve as powerful role models, demonstrating that physical limitations do not define one’s capabilities. This can provide significant emotional and psychological benefits to structured settlement recipients, encouraging them to pursue their own goals and improve their quality of life.
The 2024 Summer Paralympics begin August 28. Don’t miss this amazing event!
