1968 Summer Paralympics
Encyclopedia
The 1968 Summer Paralympics were the third Paralympic Games
to be held. Organised under the guidance of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), they were known as the 17th International Stoke Mandeville Games at the time. The games were originally planned to be held alongside the 1968 Summer Olympics
in Mexico City
, but in 1966, the Mexican government decided against it due to difficulties. The Israel
i government offered to host the games in Tel Aviv
, a suggestion that was accepted.
The opening ceremony took pace in the Hebrew University stadium at the Givat Ram
campus in Jerusalem and the games actually took place in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, at the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled
. The closing ceremony took place in the Tel Aviv Trade Center. Therefore, these games were the first in Paralympic history to not be held concurrently with the Olympic Games
.
, a women's team event was added, as was a 100 m wheelchair race for men in athletics.
Having made its Paralympic Games début four years earlier, South Africa
continued to compete at the Paralympics, by sending a delegation to the Tel Aviv Games. It was, at the time, banned from the Olympic Games due to its policy of apartheid, but it was not banned from the Paralympics until 1980, and Israel, as host country, did not object to its participation.
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...
to be held. Organised under the guidance of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF), they were known as the 17th International Stoke Mandeville Games at the time. The games were originally planned to be held alongside the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, but in 1966, the Mexican government decided against it due to difficulties. The Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i government offered to host the games in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
, a suggestion that was accepted.
The opening ceremony took pace in the Hebrew University stadium at the Givat Ram
Givat Ram
Givat Ram is a neighborhood in central Jerusalem, Israel. Many of Israel's most important national institutions are located in Givat Ram, among them the Knesset, the Israel Museum, the National Library of Israel and the Israeli Supreme Court.-Etymology:...
campus in Jerusalem and the games actually took place in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, at the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled
Israel Sports Center for the Disabled
The Israel Sports Center for the Disabled is an Israeli institution operated by ILAN aimed at rehabilitation of the physically challenged.-History:...
. The closing ceremony took place in the Tel Aviv Trade Center. Therefore, these games were the first in Paralympic history to not be held concurrently with the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Sports
Lawn bowls was included in the program for the first time. In wheelchair basketballWheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
, a women's team event was added, as was a 100 m wheelchair race for men in athletics.
- ArcheryArchery at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsArchery at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of thirteen events, eight for men and five for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- Dart archeryDartchery at the 1968 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- AthleticsAthletics at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsAthletics at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of 70 events, 35 for men and 35 for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- Lawn bowlsLawn bowls at the 1968 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- SnookerSnooker at the 1968 Summer Paralympics- Medal summary :...
- SwimmingSwimming at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsSwimming at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of 68 events, 34 for men and 34 for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- Table tennisTable tennis at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsTable tennis at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of fifteen events, eight for men and seven for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :...
- WeightliftingWeightlifting at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsWeightlifting at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of four events for men.- Medal summary :- References :...
- Wheelchair basketballWheelchair basketball at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair basketball at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of men's and women's team events.- Medal summary :- References :...
- Wheelchair fencingWheelchair fencing at the 1968 Summer ParalympicsWheelchair fencing at the 1968 Summer Paralympics consisted of ten events, seven for men and three for women.- Men's events :- Women's events :- References :...
Medal table
The top ten listed NOCs by number of gold medals are listed below. The host nation, Israel, is highlighted.| 1 | align=left | |33 | 27 | 39 | 99 |
| 2 | align=left | |29 | 20 | 20 | 69 |
| 3 | align=left | |18 | 21 | 23 | 62 |
| 4 | align=left | |15 | 16 | 7 | 38 |
| 5 | align=left | |13 | 10 | 9 | 32 |
| 6 | align=left | |12 | 12 | 11 | 35 |
| 7 | align=left | |12 | 10 | 17 | 39 |
| 8 | align=left | |12 | 4 | 4 | 20 |
| 9 | align=left | |10 | 10 | 10 | 30 |
| 10 | align=left | |9 | 10 | 7 | 26 |
Participating delegations
Twenty-eight delegations took part in the Tel Aviv Paralympics.Having made its Paralympic Games début four years earlier, 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...
continued to compete at the Paralympics, by sending a delegation to the Tel Aviv Games. It was, at the time, banned from the Olympic Games due to its policy of apartheid, but it was not banned from the Paralympics until 1980, and Israel, as host country, did not object to its participation.