The 2004 Summer Paralympics, the 12th Summer Paralympic Games, were a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities governed by the International Paralympic Committee, held in Athens, Greece from 17 September to 28 September 2004. 3,806 athletes from 136 National Paralympic Committees competed. 519 medal events were held in 19 sports.
Switzerland sent a delegation of 26 athletes to compete at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. The stated goal was to win a minimum of 11 medals and finish the games among the top 50 nations. Swiss athletes competed in 6 sports at the Beijing games and performed as follows:
Beat Bösch is a Paralympic athlete from Switzerland competing mainly in category T52 sprint events.
Portugal made its Paralympic Games début at the 1972 Summer Paralympics, where it was represented solely by a men's team in wheelchair basketball. They were eliminated at the preliminary stage of the competition, with one victory and three defeats. Portugal was then absent from the Paralympic Games until the 1984 Summer Games, where its athletes won the country's first fourteen medals, including three gold in track and field and one in boccia. Portugal has competed at every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics, but -almost uniquely among Western European countries- has never taken part in the Winter Games.
Switzerland competed at the 1968 Summer Paralympics in Tel Aviv, Israel from November 4 to 13, 1968. The team finished twenty-second in the medal table and won a total of eight medals; two silver and six bronze. Thirty-four Swiss athletes took part; thirty-two men and two women.
Switzerland was one of the seventeen nations that competed at the inaugural Summer Paralympic Games in 1960 held in Rome, Italy, from September 19 to 24, 1960. Preparations for the Games began two years prior in 1958 to stage what was at the time called the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games. The team finished thirteenth in the medal table with a total of four medals, one gold and three silver. The Swiss team consisted of two athletes: Denis Favre, a man who competed in athletics and swimming events, and Simone Knusli, a woman who competed in swimming.
Switzerland competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece. The team included 41 athletes, 27 men and 14 women. Competitors from Switzerland won 16 medals, including 2 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze to finish 40th in the medal table.
Miroslav "Miro" Šipek is a Bosnian (ex-Yugoslav) Australian rifle shooting coach. During his long and successful shooting career he was a champion of Yugoslavia 27 times in a range of disciplines. He won several medals at various international competitions and Balkans Championships, 4 silver medals at European Championships and a bronze at the 1970 World Championships in Phoenix Arizona.
Terrance "Terry" Bywater is a British wheelchair basketball player. He participated in the 2000 Summer Paralympics, where his team came in fourth place; in the 2004 Summer Paralympics, where he won a bronze medal and was the highest scorer for Great Britain; the 2008 Summer Paralympics, winning another bronze medal; and the 2012 Summer Paralympics, where his team again came in fourth place.
José Manuel González Santamaría is a paralympic athlete from Spain competing mainly in category T36 track events.
Poland competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. 113 competitors from Poland won 53 medals, including 19 gold, 22 silver and 12 bronze to finish 8th in the medal table.
Netherlands competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia. The team included 102 athletes, 69 men and 33 women. Competitors from Netherlands won 30 medals, including 12 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze to finish 15th in the medal table.
Roger Puigbò i Verdaguer is a track and field athlete from Spain. He has an disability and uses a wheelchair. He is a long distance athlete, competing in wheelchair marathons around the world. Puigbo competed at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, 2008 Summer Paralympics, and 2012 Summer Paralympics.
The Sweden national wheelchair rugby team represents Sweden in international wheelchair rugby. Sweden is the second most successful team in European competition, winning four gold medals at the European Championship. They have reached three Summer Paralympics, with their best finish being 5th in the 2000 Games in Sydney.
Switzerland competed at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain. 41 competitors from Switzerland won 35 medals including 6 gold, 16 silver and 13 bronze and finished 20th in the medal table.
Switzerland competed at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea. 41 competitors from Switzerland won 35 medals including 12 gold, 12 silver and 11 bronze and finished 21st in the medal table.
Switzerland competed at the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville, Great Britain and New York City, United States. 43 competitors from Switzerland won 43 medals including 18 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze and finished 16th in the medal table.
Switzerland competed at the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, Netherlands. 65 competitors from Switzerland won 29 medals including 9 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze and finished 15th in the medal table.
