1972 Summer Paralympics
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Summer Paralympics, the fourth edition of the Paralympic Games
, were held in Heidelberg
, West Germany
, from August 2 to 11, 1972.
athletes only. However, demonstration events
such as goalball
and a 100 m sprint for the visually impaired allowed visually impaired competitors to participate for the first time.
South Africa
was competing at the Paralympics for the third time. Although banned from the Olympic Games due to its policy of apartheid, it was not banned from the Paralympics until 1980, and West Germany, as host country, did not object to its participation.
Rhodesia
competed for the last time. Its invitation to take part in the 1972 Summer Olympics
was withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee
four days before the opening ceremony, in response to African countries' protests against the Rhodesian regime. But as the Paralympics that year were held before the Olympics (and independently from them), Rhodesia was able to take part in the 1972 Paralympic Games.
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
, were held in Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, from August 2 to 11, 1972.
Sports
As with previous Paralympics, the 1972 games were intended for wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
athletes only. However, demonstration events
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
such as goalball
Goalball
Goalball is a team sport designed for blind athletes. It was devised by Hanz Lorenzen , and Sepp Reindle , in 1946 in an effort to help in the rehabilitation of visually impaired World War II veterans...
and a 100 m sprint for the visually impaired allowed visually impaired competitors to participate for the first time.
- ArcheryArchery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- AthleticsAthletics at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsAthletics at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of 73 events, 37 for men and 36 for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- DartcheryDartchery at the 1972 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- Goalball (demonstration sport)
- Lawn bowlsLawn bowls at the 1972 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- SnookerSnooker at the 1972 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- SwimmingSwimming at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsSwimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of 56 events, 28 for men and 28 for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- Table tennisTable tennis at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsTable tennis at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of nineteen events, ten for men and nine for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- WeightliftingWeightlifting at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsWeightlifting at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of six events for men.- Medal summary :- References :...
- Wheelchair basketballWheelchair basketball at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair basketball at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of men's and women's team events.- Medal summary :- References :...
- Wheelchair fencingWheelchair fencing at the 1972 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair fencing at the 1972 Summer Paralympics consisted of eleven events, eight for men and three for women.- Medal summary :- References :...
Medal table
The top ten listed NOCs by number of gold medals are listed below. The host nation, West Germany, is highlighted.| 1 | align=left | |28 | 17 | 22 | 67 |
| 2 | align=left | |17 | 27 | 30 | 74 |
| 3 | align=left | |16 | 15 | 21 | 52 |
| 4 | align=left | |16 | 12 | 13 | 41 |
| 5 | align=left | |14 | 13 | 11 | 38 |
| 6 | align=left | |14 | 12 | 7 | 33 |
| 7 | align=left | |10 | 8 | 15 | 33 |
| 8 | align=left | |9 | 10 | 9 | 28 |
| 9 | align=left | |8 | 4 | 5 | 17 |
| 10 | align=left | |8 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
Participating delegations
Forty-two delegations took part in the Heidelberg Paralympics.South Africa
South Africa at the Paralympics
South Africa has competed at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.The country made its Paralympic début at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, where it sent nine athletes to compete in archery, athletics, swimming and weightlifting. They finished sixth on the medal table with nineteen...
was competing at the Paralympics for the third time. Although banned from the Olympic Games due to its policy of apartheid, it was not banned from the Paralympics until 1980, and West Germany, as host country, did not object to its participation.
Rhodesia
Rhodesia at the Paralympics
Rhodesia was one of the participants at the inaugural Paralympic Games in 1960 in Rome, where its sole representative was Margaret Harriman, in swimming and archery. The country took part in every edition of the Summer Paralympics until 1972, included...
competed for the last time. Its invitation to take part in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
was withdrawn by the International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
four days before the opening ceremony, in response to African countries' protests against the Rhodesian regime. But as the Paralympics that year were held before the Olympics (and independently from them), Rhodesia was able to take part in the 1972 Paralympic Games.