1972 Summer Paralympics

Last updated

IV Paralympic Games
1972 Paralympics Poster.jpg
Location Heidelberg, West Germany
Nations 41
Athletes1,004
Events187 in 10 sports
Opening2 August 1972
Closing11 August 1972
Opened by
President Gustav Heinemann
Stadium Heidelberg Thingstätte
Summer

The 1972 Summer Paralympics (German : Paralympische Sommerspiele 1972), the fourth edition of the Paralympic Games, were held in Heidelberg, West Germany, from 2 to 11 August 1972. Organised under the guidance of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), they were known as the 21st International Stoke Mandeville Games at the time. [1] The games ended 15 days before the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, also in West Germany.

Contents

Sports

Shot putter in 1972 Summer Paralympics Heidelberg Paralympic Games in 1972 1970 (JOKAJUK3B A-1).tif
Shot putter in 1972 Summer Paralympics

As with previous Paralympics, the 1972 games were intended for wheelchair athletes only. However, demonstration events such as goalball and a 100 m sprint for the visually impaired allowed visually impaired competitors to participate for the first time. [2]

Medal table

The top ten listed NOCs by number of gold medals are listed below. The host nation, West Germany, is highlighted.

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany*28172267
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 17273175
3Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 16152152
4Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 16121341
5Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 14131138
6Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 1412733
7Flag of France.svg  France 1081533
8Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 910928
9Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 84517
10Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 83415
Totals (10 entries)140121138399

Participating delegations

Forty-two delegations took part in the Heidelberg Paralympics. Bahamas, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, Hong Kong, Hungary, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Romania, Uganda and Yugoslavia competed for the first time. [3] [4] [5] Between 1964 and 1976, South Africa was competing at the Paralympics for the third time. Although banned from the Olympic Games due to its policy of apartheid, it was not banned from the Paralympics until 1980, and West Germany, as host country, did not object to its participation. [6] [7]

Rhodesia competed for the last time. Its invitation to take part in the 1972 Summer Olympics was withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee four days before the opening ceremony, in response to African countries' protests against the Rhodesian government. [8] [9] But as the Paralympics that year were held before the Olympics (and between 1968 and 1984 organised independently ), Rhodesia was able to take part in the 1972 Paralympic Games.

References

  1. ↑ Summer Games Governance 1960 to 1992. International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation. Retrieved on 2011-05-07.
  2. ↑ "Heidelberg 1972". International Paralympic Committee. 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Medal Standings – Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee . Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  4. ↑ "Participation Numbers in 1972 Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  5. ↑ "1972 Heidelberg Paralympic Games Results Book" (in German). International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "'The Netherlands against Apartheid' – 1970s", International Institute of Social History
  7. ↑ South Africa at the Paralympics, International Paralympic Committee
  8. ↑ "1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics", BBC
  9. ↑ "Rhodesia expelled", Montreal Gazette, August 23, 1972
  10. ↑ "Portugal nos Jogos Paralímpicos" (in Portuguese). Portugal Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ↑ "1972 Heidelberg Paralympic Games results - Wheelchair Basketball - Men's Tournament" . Retrieved 13 September 2024.
Preceded by Summer Paralympics
Heidelberg
IV Paralympic Summer Games (1972)		Succeeded by
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