Introduction

One sporting event that stands out among all others are the Paralympics. According to BBC, there is no event that is more large-scale and has as much historic value. 160 countries compete with over 4300 athletes, all with varying disabilities. The world becomes a stage as athletes from countries all over the world gather to display their athletic expertise. The Paralympic Games showcase the achievements of these athletes to a global audience and challenges the stigma around their disabilities.

The Paralympics take place directly after the Olympics and both events capture the essence of sportsmanship and competition. There is nothing that celebrates the idea of sports more than an event that involves handicapped athletes. To see these athletes overcome their challenges, from paraplegia to hearing loss, is what makes the Paralympics an important event for humanity as it defeats the negative perceptions around these athletes’ disabilities.

Browse through this package to learn more about the phenomenal athletes and their inspiring stories amidst one of the biggest sporting competitions in the world.

The opening ceremony began at 1:30 pm and will be broadcasted on NBC. The games continue until the closing ceremony on Sept. 18.

Bay Area athletes take on the Paralympics

by Akshara Majjiga

On Sept. 7, some of the greatest athletes in the world took part in the opening ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Among them were some of our own. They ate at the same restaurants, biked to the same parks, ran on the same tracks, sailed at the same beaches and went to high schools in the same area. Here are two of those dedicated Bay Area native athletes and their stories.

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MVHS students reflect on Russian Paralympics Doping Scandal

by Roshan Fernandez with additional reporting by Aditya Krishnan

They were hiding it for many years and pretending like everything was normal. It was only a matter of time before they would get caught. Last month, numerous doping scandals involving the Russian Olympic team were unveiled, but the International Committee still allowed them to compete. But the scandals didn't end there. When the Russian Paralympic team was also caught doping, their entire team was banned from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

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How injuries impact the athlete

by Anthony Moll and Kalpana Gopalkrishnan

Paralympians perform in spite of physical setbacks. At MVHS, athletes often suffer from injuries that force them to make sacrifices. For those who choose to continue their sport, long-term injuries demand that an athlete shift both their mindset and routine.

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Fast facts on the Paralympics

by Emma Lam and Sharjeel Rahman

Sep. 22, 1989. A date for all disabled people to remember as a moment of triumph as the first year the Paralympic games were held in honor of them. A day to be special.

Yet how much do we really know about the Paralympics?

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