The Paralympic Games or Paralympics are a periodic series of international multi-sport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, are held almost immediately following the respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
Macedonia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's third consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics in the post-Yugoslav era.
The 2016 Summer Paralympics, the 15th Summer Paralympic Games, were a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 September to 18 September 2016. The Games marked the first time a Latin American and South American city hosted the event, the second Southern Hemisphere city and nation, the first one being the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, and also the first time a Lusophone (Portuguese-speaking) country hosted the event. These Games saw the introduction of two new sports to the Paralympic program: canoeing and the paratriathlon.
Macedonia competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China.
North Macedonia, following its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, made its Paralympic Games début at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, where it sent a single athlete to compete in shooting. The country has competed in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics, with very small delegations. It has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics. The only athletes to have represented North Macedonia at the Paralympic Games are Branimir Jovanovski (1996–2004), Vanco Karanfilov (2000–2012) and Olivera Nakovska (2004–2012), all three in shooting events.
Macedonia competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The team included three athletes—two men and one woman. Macedonian competitors won a single silver medal at the Games, to finish 66th in the medal table.
There were 0 female and 2 male athletes representing Macedonia at the 2000 Summer Paralympics.
Tonga participated in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from August 29 to September 9, 2012. Their participation marked their fourth consecutive Summer Paralympics appearance since their début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. Tonga was represented by the Tonga National Paralympic Committee, and was one of the 45 participating countries that sent only a single athlete. Tonga has always sent only a single athlete from Sydney 2000 to London 2012. Tonga National Paralympic Committee sent a delegation of three people, including one athlete. The sole athlete to represent the nation was ʻAloʻalo Liku, who participated in javelin and discus throw. Liku was the country's flag-bearer during the Games' opening ceremony. Tonga did not win a medal at these Games, however Liku finished with seasonal bests in both the events.
Russia competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September 2012. A total of 182 athletes were sent by the Russian Paralympic Committee to compete in twelve disciplines: athletics, archery, cycling, swimming, wheelchair fencing, table tennis, powerlifting, shooting, rowing, judo, 7-aside football and sitting volleyball.
The Palestinian Territories competed as Palestine at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from August 29 to September 9.
The Faroe Islands sent a delegation to compete in the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September 2012. This was the nation's eighth time competing in a Summer Paralympic Games. The Faroese delegation consisted of one swimmer, Ragnvaldur Jensen. In his only event, the men's 100 meter breaststroke SB14 he finished seventh in his heat and failed to qualify for the finals.
Greece competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from August 29 to September 9, 2012. The Hellenic Paralympic Committee sent a total of 61 athletes, 47 men and 14 women, to compete in 9 sports. Greece finished 44th in the medal table, winning one gold medal and 12 in total.
Jamaica competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
Latvia competed with eight competitors at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom from 29 August to 9 September 2012.
Slovakia competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom from August 29 to September 9, 2012.
One male athlete from Macedonia competed at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, United States.
Morocco competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September 2012.
Macedonia competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016.
Olivera Nakovska-Bikova is a Macedonian sports shooter, who won the gold medal in the women's 10 metre air pistol SH1 at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, England.
