Myanmar at the Paralympics
Encyclopedia
Myanmar
has been a sporadic participant in the Paralympic Games
. It first competed, as Burma, at the 1976 Summer Paralympics
in Toronto
, with a delegation in track and field
and shooting. These athletes were fairly successful, Ngwe Maung Tin becoming Burma's first Paralympic champion by winning the men's 100m sprint in the C1 category. Than Maung Aung won silver in the same event, while Win Maung Tin took bronze in the men's 100m in category C. Burma was absent from the 1980 Games
, returning in 1984
to take part in volleyball and track and field. Tin Ngwe, in category A3, won gold in the men's high jump, and silver in the long jump, while Aung Gyi won silver and bronze, respectively, in those same two events. In both Burma's appearances in the Paralympics, it fielded all-male delegations.
Following the 8888 Uprising
in August 1988, and the military coup which established the State Peace and Development Council
in September, Burma was absent from the 1988 Summer Paralympics
, held in October. The country's name was officially changed to Myanmar. As it also changed its IPC country code from BIR to MYA, the International Paralympic Committee
maintains separate records for "Burma" and "Myanmar".
Myanmar, as such, made its Paralympic début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics
in Barcelona
. Myanmar's delegation to the Barcelona Games consisted in a single athlete (Kyaw Khaing) to compete in sprinting. He finished last in both his races. The country was then absent for three consecutive editions of the Summer Paralympics, before returning to the Paralympics in 2008
, with a male competitor in javelin (Win Naing), and two male swimmers (Naing Sit Aung and Win San Aung). They all ranked low in their respective events. "Myanmar" has thus fielded smaller, less successful delegations than "Burma".
Although "Burma" had won a total of seven medals (two gold, three silver, two bronze), no athlete has ever won a Paralympic medal for "Myanmar". The country has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, in either form.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
has been a sporadic participant in the Paralympic Games
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...
. It first competed, as Burma, at the 1976 Summer Paralympics
1976 Summer Paralympics
The 1976 Summer Paralympics were the fifth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Toronto, in the province of Ontario, Canada from August 3 to 11, 1976...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, with a delegation in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
and shooting. These athletes were fairly successful, Ngwe Maung Tin becoming Burma's first Paralympic champion by winning the men's 100m sprint in the C1 category. Than Maung Aung won silver in the same event, while Win Maung Tin took bronze in the men's 100m in category C. Burma was absent from the 1980 Games
1980 Summer Paralympics
The 1980 Summer Paralympics were the sixth Paralympic Games. They were held in Papendal, close to the host city of Arnhem, Netherlands, from June 21 to 30, 1980.- Sports :...
, returning in 1984
1984 Summer Paralympics
The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the seventh Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in two separate locations, Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom and in the Mitchel Athletic Complex and Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, United States of America The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the...
to take part in volleyball and track and field. Tin Ngwe, in category A3, won gold in the men's high jump, and silver in the long jump, while Aung Gyi won silver and bronze, respectively, in those same two events. In both Burma's appearances in the Paralympics, it fielded all-male delegations.
Following the 8888 Uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
in August 1988, and the military coup which established the State Peace and Development Council
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
in September, Burma was absent from the 1988 Summer Paralympics
1988 Summer Paralympics
The 1988 Summer Paralympics were the first Paralympics in 24 years that take place in the same city as the Olympic Games. They took place in Seoul, South Korea. This was the first time the term "Paralympic" came into official use.- Sports :...
, held in October. The country's name was officially changed to Myanmar. As it also changed its IPC country code from BIR to MYA, the International Paralympic Committee
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
maintains separate records for "Burma" and "Myanmar".
Myanmar, as such, made its Paralympic début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics
1992 Summer Paralympics
The 1992 Summer Paralympics were the ninth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.- Sports :The games consisted of 487 events spread over fifteen sports. Powerlifting and weightlifting were considered to be a single sport...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. Myanmar's delegation to the Barcelona Games consisted in a single athlete (Kyaw Khaing) to compete in sprinting. He finished last in both his races. The country was then absent for three consecutive editions of the Summer Paralympics, before returning to the Paralympics in 2008
2008 Summer Paralympics
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games, the thirteenth Paralympics, took place in Beijing, China from September 6 to September 17, 2008. As with the 2008 Summer Olympics, equestrian events were held in Hong Kong and sailing events in Qingdao....
, with a male competitor in javelin (Win Naing), and two male swimmers (Naing Sit Aung and Win San Aung). They all ranked low in their respective events. "Myanmar" has thus fielded smaller, less successful delegations than "Burma".
Although "Burma" had won a total of seven medals (two gold, three silver, two bronze), no athlete has ever won a Paralympic medal for "Myanmar". The country has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, in either form.