About.com Health: Be Inspired By the Paralympic Games

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Health From Dawn Stacey, your About.com Health Editor This year's Paralympic Games will begin in London tomorrow (August 29) and run through September 9. With over 4,000 athletes anticipated to compete, the Paralympic Games are the second largest sporting event in the world. These games bring together athletes from all over the globe to provide the world with the privilege of being inspired by their performances and determination. The spirit of every Paralympic athlete is uncompromising -- every day, exceeding what others had thought was possible by pushing themselves to their limits. From Spinal Injuries to Amputees Athletes have to meet various qualifying standards to participate in the Paralympic Games. These games are very different from the Special Olympics. Whereas the Special Olympics are open to all mentally challenged athletes (both beginning and accomplished levels), the Paralympics emphasize high-level performance where its athletes compete in adapted versions of Olympic events. There are various disability groups that Paralympic athletes are classified. The first set of categories includes athletes with impaired muscle power, amputations, spinal injuries and/or visual impairments: Muscular Dystrophy Types of Lower Extremity Amputations Spina Bifida Paraplegia What Does It Mean to Be Legally Blind? Eye Diseases See More About:  spinal cord injury  traumatic injury  neurological disorders Athletes With Cerebral Palsy or Intellectual Impairment In past games, athletes were not eligible to compete if they were intellectually impaired, but this category will be re-included in the London 2012 Paralympics Games. Intellectual impairment is identified as a disability characterized by significant limitation both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive/social and skills, originating before the age of 18. Athletes who have Cerebral Palsy as well as abnormalities with muscle tension or coordination and motor dysfunction are also invited to compete. Ataxia Hypertonia Athetosis Types of Autism See More About:  cerebral palsy  health problems of prematurity  the nicu Les Autres French for "the others," Les Autres is a category used to describe Paralympic athletes who have locomotor disorders or other conditions that do not fall within the other classification categories. Arthrogryposis: Congenital Joint Defect Achondoplasia Leg Length Difference Dwarfism See More About:  fitness terms  family health  human body Overcoming Obstacles Paralympics athletes must adhere to the same disciplined regimen as those athletes that compete in the traditional Olympic Games. These incredible athletes enthuse spectators -- who often experience the same winning feeling and sense of achievement as the athletes. The inspiration imparted by its athletes can best be summed up by Oscar Pistorius. Known as the South African "Blade Runner," this double-amputee secured the opportunity to race at the London 2012 Olympic Games despite having prosthetic legs and will be able to wow us all again in the Paralympic Games. According to this champion, "You're not disabled by the disabilities you have, you are able by the abilities you have." Addressing Barriers to Living the Life You Want to Live Dealing with Performance Anxiety Sports and Fitness for Kids with Special Needs Improving Self-Esteem No Limits - Exercising With a Disability Positive Self Talk for Athletes See More About:  living with arthritis  daily living activities  coping with arthritis Health Ads Body Health Kids Health Problems Eye Health Kids Health Health News Featured Articles Exercise for Children with Physical Disabilities Stay Intellectually "Healthy" with Multiple Sclerosis Exercise and Spinal Cord Injury Fitness for Kids with Autism Benefits of Yoga How To Become More Emotionally Resilient   More from About.com Free Children's Books How would you like to have access to a free online public library of books from around the world for kids 3 to 13? Read more...> Best Water Parks Better pack your bathing suit -- here are our recommendations for the funnest, wettest, splashiest water parks around. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Health newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2012 About.com     Follow us on: Advertisement