You are here: Home > News & media >
Monthly archives
By Joyce Kay
1. Boccia and bocce are similar in that both are precision sports requiring players to throw balls as close as they can to a white target ball. However, Boccia is a modern sport specifically played by people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities affecting their locomotor skills; while Bocce is an age-old game passed down from ancient Rome, and played by the general public.
2. While the Paralympic Games and the Special Olympics are both multi-sports events catered to the disabled, the Paralympic Games are for athletes with physical, mental and sensorial disabilities, while the Special Olympics are open only to those with intellectual disabilities
Reference: Paralympic Games, (2007, July 18, 03:47), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Games
3. Disabled athletes are grouped into six major categories, depending on the type of disability (examples include cerebral palsy, visually impaired, amputee). They are however, also given a classification within their assigned category that would affect the sports they can play, and who they will compete against.
Reference: Paralympic Sports, (2007, July 20, 09:53), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_sports
4. The Deaflympics differ from hearing competitions in the way they are officiated. For athletics, races are started using a light flash, instead of the usual starter pistol. In similar fashion, football referees wave a flag instead of blowing a whistle.
Reference: Deaflympics, (2007, July 18, 03:59), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaflympics
5. The major rules and scoring of wheelchair basketball is derived from that of FIBA basketball. The only modifications to the rules are made with consideration for the wheelchair. For instance, “travelling” occurs when an athlete in possession of the ball touches his wheelchair twice without passing, bouncing or shooting.
Reference: Wheelchair Basketball, (2007, July 18, 04:12), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelchair_basketball
6. Paralympic Judo events are almost akin to its Olympic Judo counterpart. One of the main differences would be the presence of textured mats to help the visually impaired with their footing.
Reference: Paralympic Judo, (2007, July 20, 19:32), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Judo
7. Powerchairs are used by people who suffer from disabling conditions of their limbs, such that they are unable to propel a manual chair. Such chairs have electric motors to move the wheels. Sports wheelchairs, on the other hand, are for disabled athletes who require more specialized chairs to amp their speed and agility. Such chairs are usually non-folding, made of composite lightweight matierials, and have a pronounced angle of the wheels for increased stabilty.
Reference: Wheelchairs, (2007, July 22, 17:22), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelchair#Sport_wheelchairs
8. Despite the similarities between the Paralympics and the Olympics, there are 3 games in the Paralympics that have no counterpart in the latter. They are boccia, wheelchair dancesport, and torball.
Reference: Olympic Sports, (2007, July 10, 15:58), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_sports#Recognized_sports
Paralympic Games, (2007, July 18, 03:47), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Games
Paralympic Sports, (2007, July 20, 09:53), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_sports
9. The Deaflympics, World Games for the Deaf, and International Games for the Deaf are one and the same. The Deaflympics (its most recent name) are held every 4 years, and, Olympics aside, are the longest running multi-sport event.
Reference: Deaflympics, (2007, July 18, 03:59), In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved June 24, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaflympics