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Discover everything about wheelchair basketball at the 2024 Paralympics, from the rules and format to the standout teams and players. This guide highlights key matches, strategies, and what to expect from one of the most competitive and exciting sports at the Games. Whether you're a fan or new to the sport, get ready for an in-depth look at wheelchair basketball.
Wheelchair basketball is one of the most followed sports in Paralympics
Basketball remains one of the most popular sports globally, yet many people are unaware that it is also played by athletes with physical disabilities. Currently, over 100 countries participate in wheelchair basketball, with teams from nations like France, the USA, and Great Britain competing in the Paris Paralympic Games 2024. Originally, wheelchair basketball was developed to assist in the rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and to help them relieve stress. As athletes used wheelchairs to move around the court, the sport became known as wheelchair basketball.
An International Wheelchair Basketball Federation exists, which notes that the sport was first played in 1945 between two hospitals in the United States.
According to the International Paralympic Committee: "Wheelchair basketball began around 1946 in the USA, initiated by World War II veterans who had sustained injuries. Most of them had been able-bodied players who wanted to continue playing. With minimal adaptations and slight rule changes for those in wheelchairs, the sport quickly spread across the US and eventually around the world."
Wheelchair basketball made its Paralympic debut in 1960 in Rome. The Rome Paralympics featured eight sports in total, one of which was wheelchair basketball. In this inaugural competition, the United States of America claimed two gold medals in wheelchair basketball.
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Source: NDTV
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