The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics were held at the same site. Albertville was selected as host in 1986, beating Sofia, Falun, Lillehammer, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Anchorage and Berchtesgaden. The games were the third Winter Olympics held in France, after Chamonix in 1924 and Grenoble in 1968, and the fifth Olympics overall in the country.
Australia has competed in every Winter Paralympics. In 1976, the first Games, Australia's sole competitor was Ron Finneran, but he was not an official entrant. In 1980, Kyrra Grunnsund and Peter Rickards became the first official competitors, in alpine and cross-country skiing. The number of Australian athletes increased to three, five, five and six at the next four games, respectively, and all of the athletes were alpine skiers. The participation decreased to four in 1998 and climbed back up to six in 2002. Australia won its first Winter Paralympic medals in 1992, and has medalled at every games since then. All of the medals have been won in alpine skiing.
Estonia participated in The V. Winter Paralympic Games in Tignes-Albertville, France.
Alpine skiing at the 1992 Winter Paralympics consisted of 48 events, 30 for men and 18 for women.
Cross-country skiing at the 1992 Winter Paralympics consisted of 27 events, 19 for men and 8 for women.
Netherlands competed at the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes-Albertville, France. The team included 7 athletes, 5 men and 2 women. Competitors from Netherlands won 0 medals to finish 20th in the medal table.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competed at the 1992 Winter Paralympics held in Tignes and Albertville, France. The team was known by it shortened name of Great Britain, for identification purposes.
France was the host country of the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes-Albertville. The country's delegation was the joint second largest at the Games, consisting in 31 competitors in all three sports: alpine skiing, biathlon and cross-country skiing.
The Unified Team was the name used for the sports team of 11 former constituent republics of the Soviet Union (excluding Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, and Lithuania) at the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona. The IOC country code was EUN, after the French name, Équipe Unifiée.
Matthew Stockford is a British former Paralympic skier who won medals at the 1992 Winter Paralympics and 1994 Winter Paralympics. Stockford broke his back in a skiing accident in 1985. He competed using a monoski – a specially fitted chair over a single ski that includes seat belts and other strapping, as well as a suspension device to minimise wear and tear on the skier's body.
Richard Burt is a British former Paralympic skier who won medals at the 1992 Winter Paralympics and 1994 Winter Paralympics.
Australia competed at the 1992 Winter Paralympics in Tignes and Albertville in France. They were the first winter Paralympics to be celebrated concurrently with the Olympic Games. The official logo of the Games was designed by Jean-Michel Folon.It depicts a bird with broken wings, soaring high across the peak of a mountain. This was used to reflect the sporting abilities of the athletes at the Games. The official mascot, Alpy, designed by Vincent Thiebaut, represented the summit of the Grande Motte mountain in Tignes. Alpy was shown on a mono-ski to demonstrate its athleticism and the colours of white, green and blue were used to represent purity/snow, hope/nature and discipline/the lake. The 1992 Games were where Australia won their first winter medals at the Paralympics. Michael Milton won Australia's first gold with a win in the Men's Slalom LW2. Milton also won a silver medal in the Men's Super G LW2. At these Games, Australia was represented by 5 male athletes. Australia was placed 12th in the overall medal tally for the Winter Games winning a total of 4 medals: 1 gold, 1 silver and 2 bronze.
The 1994 Winter Paralympics were held in Lillehammer, Norway. Australia sent six male skiers, who won three gold, two silver and four bronze medals. Australia, at the time, achieved their best ever performance at a Winter Paralympics, finishing 5th overall in the alpine skiing competition, 9th in the medal standings, and 11th in the total medal count out of 31 nations.
Kyrra Grunnsund, OAM is an Australian Paralympic skier and athlete who has represented his country at five Paralympics, four winter and one summer. He was the first Australian to compete at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, moving from skiing to athletics in 1992.
Canada competed at the 1988 Winter Paralympics in Innsbruck, Austria from January 17 to 25, 1988. Canada entered 20 athletes in two of the four disciplines at the Games; twelve in Alpine skiing and eight in Nordic skiing.
Canada competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway from 1 to 7 February 1980. Canada sent a team of 20 athletes in two of the three disciplines at the Games; eleven in Alpine skiing and nine in Cross-country skiing.
Canada competed at the inaugural 1976 Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, 21 to 28 February 1976. Canada sent a team of six athletes in both sporting events: alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.
Jon Kreamelmeyer is an American cross-country skiing coach and a member of the Paralympic Hall of Fame.
