The Summer Paralympic Games are kicking off on Aug. 28 in Paris– two weeks after the conclusion of the 2024 Summer Olympics in the French capital.
The games, originally conceived in 1948 by British Neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttmann as a way to aid the recovery of his patients — all paraplegic World War II veterans, will welcome over 4,000 athletes competing in 549 medal events for the 2024 edition. While similar to the Olympic Games in many regards, the Paralympics drops some select sports, and adds two others: boccia and goalball.
PBS News’ Tim McPhillips breaks down what you need to know about the Paralympics: the history, the sports and the athletes.
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