A Sports Day For War Veterans Becomes A Global Event - The Paralympic Games

An archery class at the Ministry of Pensions Spinal Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in 1949. Photograph: Raymond Kleboe/Getty Images

If you have a loved one or know of someone with a physical disability, then you must be aware of the rehabilitative benefits of sports in the lives of these individuals. Far beyond its rehabilitative benefits, sports brings a sort of camaraderie,a competitive spirit and enhances an active lifestyle for individuals with disabilities. Just as Dr. Ludwig Guttman intended, sports has continued to play an important part in the lives of the disabled and is evident in the performance of today's paralympians from all over the world.

The history of athletic games for the disabled can be traced back to World War II, mainly from efforts by an English doctor named Ludwig Guttman. Known as the "Father of Sport For the Disabled", Dr. Guttman was a strong advocate for using sports therapy to enhance the quality of life of people who were injured or wounded during World War II.

Dr. Guttman organized the 1948 International Wheelchair Games to coincide with the 1948 London Olympics. His dream was of a worldwide sports competition for people with disabilities to be held every four years as “the equivalent of the Olympic Games.” Twelve years later, his dream became a reality.

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, in 1960 and involved 400 athletes from 23 countries. Originally, only wheelchair athletes were invited to compete. Since that time, the Paralympic Games have grown dramatically. The present-day Paralympic Games include five major classifications of athletes: persons with visual impairments, persons with physical disabilities, amputee athletes, people with cerebral palsy, people with spinal cord injuries and Les Autres - athletes with a physical disability that are not included in the categories mentioned above.

Just like the London 2012 theme message "Inspire a generation", Dr. Guttman inspired a generation of disabled athletes and the Paralympic Summer Games are now the second largest sporting event in the world today, the first largest being the Olympic Games.

The Paralympic Games are underway in London, from August 29 - September 9, 2012.