The 1984 Winter Paralympic Games were the third Winter Paralympics. They were held from 14 to 20 January 1984 in Innsbruck, Austria. They were the first Winter Games organized by the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC), which was formed on March 15, 1982, in Leysin, Switzerland. These Games were accessible for all athletes with cerebral palsy. For the first time, an exhibition event was held at the Olympic Winter Games in Sarajevo and 30 male three-track skiers took part in the Giant Slalom event. Three sports were contested: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and ice sledge speed racing. The most successful athlete was German alpine skier Reinhild Moeller, who won 3 gold medals and 1 silver medal. The Games, then known as the Third World Winter Games for the Disabled, were fully sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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.
Austria participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Canada participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy. Heading the delegation was the Chef de Mission, Marg McGregor. The country's flag bearer at the opening ceremony was Todd Nicholson, captain of the ice sledge hockey team.
France participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Germany participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Italy was the host country of the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin.
Japan participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Norway participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Poland participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in 2006 in Turin, Italy.
Russia participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Slovakia participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Switzerland participated in the ninth Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Sweden competed at the 2006 Winter Paralympics in Turin, Italy.
Finland participated in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, with a single representative, swimmer Tauno Valkama - who won gold in his sole event, the 50m crawl. The country was absent from the 1964 Games, but returned in 1968, and has participated in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics. Finland has also taken part in every edition of the Winter Paralympics, from the first in 1976.
The Netherlands participated in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, where it sent a delegation of five athletes. The country has participated in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics. It made its Winter Paralympics début in 1984, and has taken part in every subsequent edition of the Games, except 2006. The Netherlands was the host country of the 1980 Summer Paralympics, in Arnhem.
Following the success of the first ever 1976 Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik four years earlier, Norway was selected to host the Paralympic Games in 1980.
The 1988 Paralympic Winter Games were the fourth Winter Paralympics, held at the venue of the preceding Games, in Innsbruck, Austria. These were the last Winter Paralympics to be held in a separate location from the Summer Paralympic Games. Beginning in 1992, the Olympics and the Paralympics were held in the same city or in an adjacent city in the same country. These Winter Paralympics were not held at the 1988 Olympic venue in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, due to the lack of manpower and financial difficulties.
Christopher "Chris" Klebl is an American-Canadian cross-country skier who represented the United States at the 2006 and 2010 Winter Paralympics before winning a gold medal for Canada at the 2014 Winter Paralympics.
