Q&A: Why is it called ‘Paralympics’?

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, parallel lines…

Q: Hi AWC, is it “ParOlympics” or “ParaOlympics” or “Paralympics”?

A: That’s a very good question. There is no “O” here – no rings! It is “Paralympics” OR “The Paralympic Games”.

Q: Okay, good. So where does the name come from?

A: Where do YOU think the name came from?

Q: Well, my FIRST thought was “paraplegic” but I know that’s wrong.

A: Actually, the term DID start out as a portmanteau of “paraplegic” and “Olympics”.

Q: Seriously? But they’re not all paraplegic!

A: You’re right. Only a fraction of para athletes today would be paraplegic, but we’ll get to that. In the meantime, let’s have a history lesson.

Q: How far back are we going?

A: Back to the 1948 London Olympics, when a small group of spinal cord patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital – all injured in World War II – participated in the 1948 “Stoke Mandeville Games for the Paralyzed”.

Q: Hmmm catchy.

A: Yeah, even the marketing boffins of the day decided to drop that end part for following editions, and by 1952 they were the “International Stoke Mandeville Games”. 

Q: So 1952 was the first official Paralympics?

A: Actually no, that wasn’t until the 9th edition of the International Stoke Mandeville Games – or ISMG – in 1960. They were held in Rome, the venue for that year’s Summer Olympics and it was the first time wheelchair athletes who weren’t injured in war could compete.

Q: So 1960 was the first official Paralympics?

A: Yes, they are now regarded as the first ones. However, history is often messy in the making, and they would continue to be called the ISMG and be held at Stoke Mandeville hospital every year except in Olympic years. It wasn’t until 1976 (also when the first WInter Paralympics were held), that non-wheelchair athletes competed for the first time. 

Q: So were they calling them “Paralympics” by then?

A: Only informally. Officially, they were still just the Olympic year editions of the ISMG.

Q: So when did the name officially stick?

A: The Seoul Summer Olympics in 1988 were the first to be officially branded “Paralympics” – after years of its informal use. They were also the first to take place directly following the Olympics, using similar infrastructure.

Q: And the ISMG? What happened to them?

A: Stoke Mandeville is widely considered the “Ancient Greece” equivalent of the modern Paralympic movement, and they continued to exist as an annual event mainly for wheelchair participants – rebranding in the late 1990s to the World Wheelchair Games and later the IWAS World Games. Currently they’re called the World AbilitySport Games.

Q: Phew. Okay, so despite the name starting out as an informal combo of “paraplegic” and “Olympics”, they stuck with it, despite wheelchairs no longer defining the games? That seems rather narrow considering the range of athletes that compete today, yes?

A: Well of COURSE it is. That’s why, in 1988, the movement had a dilemma to solve. The term “Paralympics” had taken hold over the previous two decades by this point. But as you point out, it wasn’t fully representative. 

Q: So how did they solve it?

A: It turns out it was solved all along.

Q: Huh?

A: Well, the word “paraplegia” came from the Greek base preposition translated as “pará” – meaning “beside; alongside”. In that word, it relates to one side of the body being stricken. So in looking for a less wheelchair-related origin story, the officials looked to “beside” as taking place alongside the existing Olympics.

Q: Very handy!

A: Indeed. By the way, this base is also where we get words such as “parallel” (beside another), “paragraph” (originally a mark ‘beside’ writing), and even “paralegal” – someone who works alongside a lawyer.

Q: Waaaait. So a paralegal is NOT a lawyer in a wheelchair?

A: They are not.

Q: Wow, okay. And what about a word like “parachute”? Is this from the same base?

A: Actually no – there is an unrelated second “para” base from Italian, which means “defence; protection against”. That’s where “parachute” (protect against a fall) comes from.

Q: And a parapet – defence from cats, dogs and goldfish?

A: Haha, close. Same base, yes, but the “pet” is “petto” – “breast” in Italian. It is a low wall that protects your torso from falling off.

Q: I think it could keep pets out too.

A: Okay sure.

Q: So, in 1988, the Greeks handed them a gift that allows them to keep the name “Paralympics” and have it NOW mean “pará” as in beside, or parallel to the Olympic Games. Yes?

A: That’s it. 

Q: And is it only “Paralympics” or is it also “Paralympic Games”? I know the original Olympics get finicky about things like this.

A: No, it seems either is fine. And since the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, the profile and coverage of these games has grown steadily, helping change attitudes and championing para athletes from around the world across a range of sports disciplines.

Q: Yeah it’s pretty cool. Although I imagine the parking situation must be a nightmare.

A: Haha, yes, a lot of dedicated parking spaces.

Q: And just checking – is it “Paralympian” OR “Paralympion”?

A: Just like an Olympian, it is “Paralympian”. The confusion probably comes from the word “champion” – sometimes seen in a similar context of course. 

Q: Got it!

A: Fun fact – Paris in 2024 will officially be the 17th Paralympic Games.

Q: And my uncle was going to represent Australia at wheelchair basketball this year, but was banned.

A: Oh no, why?

Q: His wheelchair tested positive for WD40! Bahahahaaaa.

A: Groooaan. 

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