Paralympics Celebrates Dedication, Resilience of Athletes with Disabilities

Contact: Kelly Craine, 254-297-9065
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As the world gears up for the 2024 Paralympic Games starting Aug. 28 in Paris, it is a reminder of the profound impact this global event has on athletes and communities around the world. More than 4,400 Paralympic athletes from around the world will compete in 22 sports across various iconic venues in Paris, including at the Eiffel Tower, the Chateau de Versailles and the Grand Palais.

The Paralympics, however, are more than just a showcase of athletic prowess, says Baylor University faculty expert Kristen Padilla, Ph.D., clinical associate professor of educational psychology and director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities in the Baylor School of Education.

These Games, Padilla says, are a celebration of the achievements, resilience and flourishing of athletes with a wide range of disabilities, including physical, visual and intellectual impairments.

Kristen Padilla: Three Reasons Why the Paralympics Matter

Awareness

The Paralympics offers athletes of all abilities the opportunity to demonstrate their strength, skills and passion for their sport on a global platform, Padilla said. 

The event has high visibility, which creates awareness and promotes inclusion for people with disabilities. Millions of viewers across the world will be watching the televised events on NBC and Peacock in the U.S., networks in other countries and the Paralympics YouTube Channel.

Athleticism AND Resilience

The adapted sporting events at the Paralympics show the immense and impressive capabilities of these athletes, whose competitions range from Para archery to Blind football, Para equestrian to Para powerlifting, Para swimming to Wheelchair fencing, and much more.

“The ways in which individuals with physical disabilities must adapt and train is truly remarkable and is such an inspiration to so many,” Padilla said, “especially those who may have felt a sense of exclusion or loss due to their disability.” 

Accessibility

The Paralympics illustrate that with hard work and dedication, everyone has the opportunity to compete in global competitions. Over the last few decades, the number of Paralympic athletes has increased tremendously, Padilla said, and is helping change the perception of disabilities.

“With this growth, it is imperative that we ensure facilities, events and community activities are accessible to everyone and that individuals with disabilities are equally able to participate,” Padilla said. 

ABOUT KRISTEN PADILLA, PH.D.

Kristen Padilla, Ph.D., is a clinical associate professor in educational psychology at Baylor University’s School of Education and serves as director of the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCDD). She is a board-certified behavior analyst and licensed specialist in school psychology. At BCDD, she supervises graduate students – studying in the areas of school psychology, applied behavior analysis and social work – who provide intervention and assessment services at the Center. Padilla works to enhance student training experiences and research by building interdisciplinary partnerships within and outside Baylor University. She also improves the community outreach efforts of the center by providing workshops and trainings for future educators and other professionals.

ABOUT THE BAYLOR CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

The Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities invests in research, training, outreach and clinical services that promote the flourishing of people with disabilities, their families and communities. Learn more on the BCDD website.

HISTORY OF THE PARALYMPICS GAMES

On July 29, 1948, the day of the Opening Ceremony of the London 1948 Olympic Games, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann organized the first competition for wheelchair athletes which he named the Stoke Mandeville Games, a milestone in Paralympic history. The Games involved 16 injured servicemen and women who took part in archery.

The Stoke Mandeville Games later became the Paralympic Games, which first took place in Rome, Italy, in 1960, featuring 400 athletes from 23 countries. Since then, they have taken place every four years.

In 1976, the first Winter Games in Paralympics history were held in Sweden, and as with the Summer Games, have taken place every four years, and include a Paralympics Opening Ceremony and Paralympics Closing Ceremony.

Since the Summer Games of Seoul, Korea, in 1988, and the Winter Games in Albertville, France, in 1992, the Games have taken part in the same cities and venues as the Olympics due to an agreement between the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

ABOUT BAYLOR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

For more than 100 years, the School of Education has advanced Baylor’s mission across the globe while preparing students for a range of careers focused on education, leadership, and human development. With more than 65 full-time faculty members, the School’s growing research portfolio complements its long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching and student mentoring. Baylor’s undergraduate program in teacher education has earned national distinction for innovative partnerships with local schools that provide future teachers deep clinical preparation. Likewise, the School of Education’s graduate programs have attained national recognition for their exemplary preparation of research scholars, educational leaders, innovators, and clinicians. Visit the School of Education website to learn more.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.