The Paralympic Games or Paralympics is a periodic series of international multisport events involving athletes with a range of disabilities. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, have been held shortly after the corresponding Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
The 1980 Winter Paralympic Games, the second Winter Paralympics, were held from 1 to 7 February 1980 in Geilo, Norway. Eighteen countries took part with 299 athletes. A demonstration event was held in sledge downhill racing. All classes of athletes with locomotor disabilities were able to participate. Organized by the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF) and the International Sports Federation of the Disabled (ISOD).
The Summer Paralympics, also known as the Games of the Paralympiad, are an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years, organized by the International Paralympic Committee. Medals are awarded in every event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that the Olympic Games started in 1904.
The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete in snow and ice sports. The event includes athletes with mobility impairments, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter Olympic Games and hosted in the same city. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) oversees the Games. Medals are awarded in each event: with gold for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third, following the tradition that the Olympic Games began in 1904.
New Zealand made its Winter Paralympic Games début in the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. The country was represented by three athletes, all in alpine skiing. They did not win any medals.
The 1980 Winter Paralympics medal table is a list of National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) ranked by the number of gold medals won by their athletes during the 1980 Winter Paralympics, held in Geilo, Norway, from February 1 to 7, 1980.
Norway has participated in every edition of both the Summer and Winter Paralympics, except the second Summer Games in 1964. It was one of the seventeen countries to take part in the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, where it sent a delegation of eleven athletes. Norway was the host country of both the 1980 Winter Paralympics, in Geilo, and the 1994 Winter Paralympics, in Lillehammer.
The 1984 Winter Paralympics, then known as The Third World Winter Games for the Disabled, were held in Innsbruck, Austria. The games took place from the 15 until 21 January. Present at these games were 419 athletes from 21 countries, Spain and the Netherlands competing for the first time in the Winter Paralympics, competing in 107 events across 3 sports. The inclusion of Les Austres and Cerebral palsy impairment groups contributing to the distinct increase in athlete participation with the total number of athletes jumping from 229 at Geilo, Norway in 1980.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competed at the 1994 Winter Paralympics held in Lillehammer, Norway. The team was known by it shortened name of Great Britain, for identification purposes. Twenty-three athletes, all of whom were men,. competed for Britain. The team won five medals at the Games, all bronze, and finished 21st in the medal table. Richard Burt won two medals in alpine skiing, as he had done in the 1992 Games. In addition to the medal performances the team had seven top ten finishes.
Argentina sent a team to compete at the 1972 Summer Paralympics in Heidelberg, West Germany. They sent twenty one competitors, twelve male and nine female. The team finished twentieth in the medal table and won nine medals, two gold, four silver and three bronze.
South Africa sent a team to compete at the 1972 Summer Paralympics held in Heidelberg, West Germany, from 2 to 11 August. They sent twenty five competitors, twelve male and thirteen female. The team won forty-one medals—sixteen gold, twelve silver and thirteen bronze—and finished fourth in the medal table.
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.
West Germany competed at the 1976 Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden from February 21 to 28, 1976. The team finished first out of the sixteen competing nations in the medal table and won twenty eight medals: ten gold, twelve silver and six bronze. Athletes from West Germany competed in 76 events in two sports: Alpine Skiing and Cross Country Skiing. West Germany won 17 medals in Alpine Skiing: eight gold, seven silver and two bronze, whereas it won 15 medals in Cross Country Skiing: two gold, seven silver and six bronze.
Japan competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. In total five competitors from Japan won zero medals and the country finished 11th in the medal table.
Austria competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. 34 competitors from Austria won 22 medals including 6 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze and finished 3rd in the medal table.
The United States competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. 26 competitors from the United States won four gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal and finished 6th in the medal table. All medals were won in alpine skiing.
Switzerland competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. 27 competitors from Switzerland won 10 medals including 4 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze and finished 5th in the medal table. All medals but one were won in alpine skiing.
Denmark competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in held in Geilo, Norway. Eight competitors from Denmark did not win any medals and so finished last in the medal table.
Yugoslavia competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. Nine competitors from Yugoslavia competed in two sports but did not win a medal. The country finished 11th in the medal table.
France competed at the 1980 Winter Paralympics in Geilo, Norway. 21 competitors won 3 medals, including 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. France finished 9th in the medal table.
