"A photo-illustrated book for elementary readers about Paralympic athletics, cycling, archery, and triathlon events. Includes descriptions of each of these men's and women's individual sports. Readers will be introduced to some rules and how they differ from their Olympic counterpart. Includes Q & A features, table of contents, photo captions, glossary, further resources, and index."--

This brand new Handbook addresses Paralympic sports and athletes, providing practical information on the medical issues, biological factors in the performance of the sports and physical conditioning. The book begins with a comprehensive introduction of the Paralympic athlete, followed by discipline-specific reviews from leading authorities in disability sport science, each covering the biomechanics, physiology, medicine, philosophy, sociology and psychology of the discipline. The Paralympic Athlete also addresses recent assessment and training tools to enhance the performance of athletes, particularly useful for trainers and coaches, and examples of best practice on athletes' scientific counseling are also presented. This new title sits in a series of specialist reference volumes, ideal for the use of professionals working directly with competitive athletes.

"An overview of the Paralympic Games featuring sports played by individuals and teams of athletes competing against each other ... Like the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games showcase super strength and skills [and] stamina and endurance, both individually and through teamwork"--

Part of the esteemed IOC Handbook of Sports Medicine and Science series, this new volume on Training and Coaching the Paralympic Athlete will be athlete-centred with each chapter written for the practical use of medical doctors and allied health personnel. The chapters also consider the role of medical science in the athlete’s sporting career and summarize current international scientific Paralympic literature. Provides a concise, authoritative overview of the science, medicine and psycho-social aspects of training and coaching disabled and Paralympic athletes Offers guidance on medical aspects unique to the training and coaching of Paralympic athletes Endorsed by both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Written and edited by global thought leaders in sports medicine

Today the Paralympic Movement is recognised as a global sporting phenomenon attracting thousands of athletes from an ever-increasing number of countries. Athlete First provides a thoroughly researched history and analysis of the Paralympic Movement, including the development and organisation of the International Paralympic Committee. As well as recounting factual achievements and events, the book examines the position of sport and international competition for people with a disability within their changing historical context and in relation to the Olympic Movement and able-bodied sport. The first history of the origins and development of the Paralympic movement Examines disabled sport and international competition within their changing historical context Includes details of key players in the movement – on and off the field Written in an accessible style by a recognised historian Athlete First will prove invaluable to researchers and professionals involved in the field of sport and disability as well as sport scientists and physical education specialists with an interest in sports history. The Publisher appreciates the role played by the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) in bringing this publication to fruition, and acknowledges the financial assistance provided by the International Olympic Committee.

An introduction to the Paralympic phenomenon which explores various key aspects and issues, from the history and development of the Paralympic movement to the economic and social impact of the contemporary Games. It is suitable for those interested in disability sport, sporting mega-events, the politics of sport, or disability in society.

Every four years, hundreds of disabled athletes from around the world gather together to compete in the largest sporting event of its kind - the Paralympic Games. Yet there is always one question which overshadows the Games - does the Paralympics empower individuals with disability, or is it simply a sop to the major Olympic event? Divided into five specific areas of study - Public and Media Perceptions; Inside the Paralympic Games; Olympics vs. Paralympics; Cultural Diversity; and Future Directions - this thoroughly researched volume attempts to bring this discussion out into the open and, if not provide an answer, then to pave the way for future investigation that might.

Academic research on the Paralympics and disability sport is growing. University courses, governing bodies, and sporting organisations are also witnessing a rise of interest in disabled sport. This book is therefore timely and of importance. Written by leading scholars, it addresses a variety of topics in relation to the Paralympics and disability sport. These include: the sociology of Paralympic sport; sport coaching at recreational and elite level; sport history and exercise rehabilitation; exercise participation; and future directions for disability sport research. Throughout the book, disability sport is both celebrated and critically examined. Critical questions are raised, and practical suggestions offered, about being a Paralympian, coaching athletes with a disability, and exercise as a form of rehabilitation. Empirical evidence is drawn from different people and various sports. These range from autoethnographic stories from a former Paralympian, to interviews with disability sport administrators, to observations of and interviews with coaches of athletes in the sports of adapted water skiing, para-swimming, and wheelchair basketball, rugby and tennis. The book will be of interest to sociologists of sport, sport coaches, sport and exercise psychologists, disability scholars, qualitative researchers, and disability sporting organisations. This book was published as a special issue of Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health.

Sports participation opportunities for individuals with impairments are increasing. Whether an athlete is beginning a sport or competing on the world stage for a podium finish, nutrition is recognized as being integral to optimizing their health, training capacity, and performance. Some athletes with impairments are physiologically similar to their able-bodied counterparts, whereby the application of sports nutrition principles is straightforward. However, athletes with certain impairments require a very individualized approach when applying these principles in a practical way. Fully updated and expanded, this second edition of Sports Nutrition for Paralympic Athletes is an essential resource for sports nutrition practitioners who work alongside athletes with an impairment, whether that be physical, visual, hearing, or intellectual. In addition to chapters devoted to each impairment type, this book covers specific areas including medical considerations, body composition, supplements, and practical aspects that can be applied across all athletes and sports. Case studies and messages from athletes and world-class coaches enhance the application of theoretical research into practice providing the most relevant sports nutrition advice to Para athletes. Features New chapters on energy availability in Para athletes and cooling and hydration for the Para athlete Concise review of current sports nutrition recommendations for athletes, both during training and in competition Provides practical guidance and examples on how to apply sports nutrition principles to each impairment type Includes real life experiences of Para athletes, elite coaches, and practitioners Encompasses wider topics of assessing body composition, medical considerations, and supplement use specific to Para athletes Features insight and experiences gained by practitioners over the three major Paralympic Games since the first edition Sports nutrition can be the difference between being competitive and making the podium. With the rapidly increasing Paralympic profile, this book is valuable for professionals endeavoring to give their athletes the competitive edge - it challenges, stimulates, and drives future research in this area to continue to improve the delivery of this intrinsic component of athlete preparation.

How does a small provincial city in southern Japan become the site of a world-famous wheelchair marathon that has been attracting the best international athletes since 1981? In More Than Medals, Dennis J. Frost answers this question and addresses the histories of individuals, institutions, and events—the 1964 Paralympics, the FESPIC Games, the Ōita International Wheelchair Marathon, the Nagano Winter Paralympics, and the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games that played important roles in the development of disability sports in Japan. Sporting events in the postwar era, Frost shows, have repeatedly served as forums for addressing the concerns of individuals with disabilities. More Than Medals provides new insights on the cultural and historical nature of disability and demonstrates how sporting events have challenged some stigmas associated with disability, while reinforcing or generating others. Frost analyzes institutional materials and uses close readings of media, biographical sources, and interviews with Japanese athletes to highlight the profound—though often ambiguous—ways in which sports have shaped how postwar Japan has perceived and addressed disability. His novel approach highlights the importance of the Paralympics and the impact that disability sports have had on Japanese society. Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.