Left ( top) Ljiljana Ljubisic ( CAN) ( right), discus gold medallist in the Barcelona Paralympic Games 1992. She began to lose her sight when she was just 18 months old after she was given the wrong medication. A series of corneal transplants have not been able to keep her from going blind. Left ( bottom) Sydney 2000: Beatrice Hess ( FRA) ( left) dominated in the pool at the Sydney Paralympics. Here she celebrates with Maria Teresa Perales ( SPA). Hess, who suffers a mild form of cerebral palsy, now has a total of 19 gold medals for Paralympic swimming. BODY, WILL ANDMIND: PARALYMPIC ATHLETES IN THE CENTRE OF THE OLYMPIC MUSEUM IN LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND IS THE DISPLAY FOR THE ATHLETES OF THE PARALYMPIC MOVEMENT. IT INCLUDES EQUIPMENT USED BY COMPETITORS IN PARALYMPIC SPORTS, AND PHOTOS OF PARALYMPIC ATHLETES IN COMPETITION. THE LABEL ON THIS EXHIBIT SAYS: " BODY, MIND, SPIRIT" – A PHRASE THAT SEEMS TO SUMMARISE THE INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE COURAGEOUS ATHLETES. T he Paralympic Games are elite sports events for athletes from different disability groups. They clearly emphasise, however, the participants' athletic achievements, not their disability. From the 2012 Games onwards, the host city chosen for future Olympic Games will be obliged to host the Paralympic Games as well. FOR DISCUSSION The motto of the International Paralympic Committee is " Spirit in Motion". Do you think this is a good motto? Why? Explain the meaning of each of the following quotations in your own words. " YOU CAN TAKE LIFE TWO WAYS. YOU CAN SIT INSIDE FOUR WALLS, STICK YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND, AND HOPE IT WILL ALL GO AWAY, OR YOU CAN GET YOUR BOXING GLOVES ON, PUT YOUR DUKES UP, AND TAKE LIFE ON THE BEST WAY YOU KNOW HOW." ( LJILJANA LJUBISIC) " IT IS ALL ABOUT DISCOVERY. MY DISCOVERY IS THAT SWIMMING OPENED THE DOOR TO EVERYTHING: FIRST, IT GAVE ME FREEDOM, THEN A PLACE IN SOCIETY." ( BEATRICE HESS) Why are Paralympic athletes an inspiration to us all? 54TEACHING VALUES SECTION 3 SHARING THE VALUES THROUGH SPORT AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES

TEACHING VALUES AN OLYMPIC EDUCATION TOOLKIT SECTION 3 SHARING THE VALUES THROUGH SPORT AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES TEACHING VALUES55 ACTIVITYSHEET Carry out a research project on the way that Paralympic athletes compete in one of the sports listed in the box below. Topics could include: types of disabilities special equipment training methods famous athletes. Invite a person with a disability to come to your class to discuss the challenges they have, and to suggest ways to make life easier for people with disabilities. CHECKLIST ACTIVITY 1 ACTIVITY 2 1 2 EVENTS Summer Games – Athens 2004 Archery Athletics Bocia Cycling Equestrian Football 5- a- side Football 7- a- side Goalball Judo Powerlifting Sailing Shooting Swimming Table Tennis Volleyball Wheelchair Basketball Wheelchair Fencing Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair Tennis Winter Games – Turin 2006 Alpine Skiing Ice Sledge Hockey Nordic Skiing Wheelchair Curling TopAthens 2004:( L- R) Louise Sauvage ( AUS), Eliza Stankovic ( AUS), Tanni Grey- Thompson ( GBR) and Chantal Petitclerc ( CAN) compete in the T53 800m exhibition race at the Olympic Games. MiddleAthens Paralympic Games 2004: David Hall of Australia plays a backhand during the final of the Men's Open tennis gold medal match. BottomSalt Lake City Paralympic Games 2002: Alpine Skiing.