paralympics? paralyzed or parallel?

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Is "Paralympics" derived from "Olympics for the paralyzed(handicapped)" or "Parallel events with the regular Olympics"? Do you happen to know the origin?
 

Chicken Sandwich

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Netherlands
The word “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic”. Its meaning is that Paralympics are the parallel Games to the Olympics and illustrates how the two movements exist side-by-side.

Source: History of the Movement | IPC
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
It's a common misconception that the word "paralysed" or "paraplegic" has something to do with the name "Paralympics". However, that would make no sense because many of the contestants are neither paralysed nor paraplegic.
 

Huda-M

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2008
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Urdu
Home Country
Pakistan
Current Location
Pakistan
It's a common misconception that the word "paralysed" or "paraplegic" has something to do with the name "Paralympics". However, that would make no sense because many of the contestants are neither paralysed nor paraplegic.

But aren't the Paralympics for those handicapped or paralysed, or, physically unwell in any way?
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
But aren't the Paralympics for those handicapped or paralysed, or, physically unwell in any way?

They are for people who are not fully able-bodied, but that includes the deaf, the blind, and those with physical impairments ranging from low-level up to severe. My point was that if the name meant "Paralysed or paraplegic Olympics", you would expect all the competitors to be either paralysed or paraplegic and that simply is not the case.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Just a quick addition to my post above - I realised that the deaf do not take part in the Paralympics because they have their own Deaf Olympics - the Deaflympics.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top