1.
National Paralympic Committee
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A National Paralympic Committee is a national constituent of the worldwide Paralympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Paralympic Committee, NPCs are responsible for organizing their peoples participation in the Paralympic Games, there are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their respective Olympic Games, in the same host city. As of 2012, there are 174 NPC members of the IPC, only NPCs in good standing may enter athletes in the Paralympic Games. Within countries, some NPCs serve as the governing body for one or more sports
2.
Soviet Union at the Paralympics
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The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics competed for the only time at the Summer Paralympic Games in 1988. The country also competed for the time at the Winter Paralympic Games that same year. Soviet athletes won 21 gold medals,20 silver and 15 bronze at the Summer Games, the USSRs most successful Paralympian was Vadim Kalmykov, with four gold medals in track and field. The only athlete to win a Paralympic medal for the USSR at the Winter Games was Valentina Grigoryeva, who won two bronze medals in cross-country skiing
3.
Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Paralympics
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The Unified Team at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain, was a joint team consisting of eleven of the fifteen former Soviet republics. It competed under the IOC country code EUN, armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Moldova Russia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Ukraine Uzbekistan Unlike the Olympic team, Georgia did not compete in the Paralympics. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania competed separately, the Unified Team entered four of its sixty two competitors, three men and one woman. The woman, Tatiana Grishko, won the medal in the Womens Individual Open. She came fourth in the round with 1073 points. In the semi-final she beat Birthe Morgenson 78 points to 71, in the final she beat Siv Thulin 87 points to 77
4.
Turkmenistan
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Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road. Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the movement in Central Asia. In 1924, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, Turkmenistan possesses the worlds fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Most of the country is covered by the Karakum Desert, since 1993, citizens have received government-provided electricity, water and natural gas free of charge. Turkmenistan was ruled by President for Life Saparmurat Niyazov until his death in 2006, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow was elected president in 2007. According to Human Rights Watch, Turkmenistan remains one of the world’s most repressive countries, after suspending the death penalty, the use of capital punishment was formally abolished in the 2008 constitution. Historically inhabited by the Indo-Iranians, the history of Turkmenistan begins with its annexation by the Achaemenid Empire of Ancient Iran. In the 8th century AD, Turkic-speaking Oghuz tribes moved from Mongolia into present-day Central Asia, part of a powerful confederation of tribes, these Oghuz formed the ethnic basis of the modern Turkmen population. In the 10th century, the name Turkmen was first applied to Oghuz groups that accepted Islam, There they were under the dominion of the Seljuk Empire, which was composed of Oghuz groups living in present-day Iran and Turkmenistan. Turkmen soldiers in the service of the played a important role in the spreading of Turkic culture when they migrated westward into present-day Azerbaijan. In the 12th century, Turkmen and other tribes overthrew the Seljuk Empire, in the next century, the Mongols took over the more northern lands where the Turkmens had settled, scattering the Turkmens southward and contributing to the formation of new tribal groups. The sixteenth and eighteenth centuries saw a series of splits and confederations among the nomadic Turkmen tribes, by the 16th century, most of those tribes were under the nominal control of two sedentary Uzbek khanates, Khiva and Bukhoro. Turkmen soldiers were an important element of the Uzbek militaries of this period, in the 19th century, raids and rebellions by the Yomud Turkmen group resulted in that groups dispersal by the Uzbek rulers. According to Paul R. Spickard, Prior to the Russian conquest, Russian forces began occupying Turkmen territory late in the 19th century. From their Caspian Sea base at Krasnovodsk, the Russians eventually overcame the Uzbek khanates, in 1916 the Russian Empires participation in World War I resonated in Turkmenistan, as an anticonscription revolt swept most of Russian Central Asia. In 1924 the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic was formed from the tsarist province of Transcaspia, by the late 1930s, Soviet reorganization of agriculture had destroyed what remained of the nomadic lifestyle in Turkmenistan, and Moscow controlled political life. The Ashgabat earthquake of 1948 killed over 110,000 people, during the next half-century, Turkmenistan played its designated economic role within the Soviet Union and remained outside the course of major world events
5.
Paralympic Games
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There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which since the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, South Korea, are held almost immediately following the respective Olympic Games. All Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee, the Paralympics has grown from a small gathering of British World War II veterans in 1948 to become one of the largest international sporting events by the early 21st century. Paralympians strive for equal treatment with non-disabled Olympic athletes, but there is a funding gap between Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Given the wide variety of disabilities that Paralympic athletes have, there are categories in which the athletes compete. The allowable disabilities are broken down into ten eligible impairment types and these categories are further broken down into classifications, which vary from sport to sport. The first athlete to do so was German American gymnast George Eyser in 1904, hungarian Karoly Takacs competed in shooting events in both the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympics. He was an amputee and could shoot left-handed. The first organized athletic day for disabled athletes that coincided with the Olympic Games took place on the day of the opening of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, the first games were called the 1948 International Wheelchair Games, and were intended to coincide with the 1948 Olympics. Dr. Guttmans aim was to create a sports competition for people with disabilities that would be equivalent to the Olympic Games. The games were again at the same location in 1952. These early competitions, also known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, have described as the precursors of the Paralympic Games. There have been milestones in the Paralympic movement. The first official Paralympic Games, no longer open solely to war veterans, was held in Rome in 1960,400 athletes from 23 countries competed at the 1960 Games. Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have taken place in the year as the Olympic Games. The Games were initially only to athletes in wheelchairs, at the 1976 Summer Games, athletes with different disabilities were included for the first time at a Summer Paralympics. With the inclusion of more disability classifications the 1976 Summer Games expanded to 1,600 athletes from 40 countries, the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea, was another milestone for the Paralympic movement. It was in Seoul that the Paralympic Summer Games were held directly after the Olympic Summer Games, in the same host city and this set a precedent that was followed in 1992,1996 and 2000. It was eventually formalized in an agreement between the International Paralympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee in 2001, and was extended through 2020
6.
2000 Summer Paralympics
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The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 to 29 October. In September 1993, Sydney won the rights to host the 2000 Paralympic Games, to secure this right it was expected that the New South Wales Government would underwrite the budget for the games. The Sydney games were the eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, where an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the programme and they commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000. It was followed by the 11 days of international competition and was the second largest sporting event ever held in Australia. They were also the first Paralympic Games outside the Northern Hemisphere, the games was estimated to cost $157 million, with the NSW Government and Commonwealth Government contributing $25 million each. The Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games contributed $18 million, the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee entered into a Host City contract with the International Paralympic Committee, which outlines the SPOC’s obligations in hosting the Paralympic Games. To cover the costs, other revenue was raised via sponsorship, though there is no budgeted profit, if any profit is made though the games, repayment to the Federal and State Governments is the first priority. In October 1998, governing bodies of the Paralympics including the SOCOG, an estimated total of forty-one thousand Australians answered this call, non-including those sourced from specialist community groups. The major focus between 1999-2000 was completion of the first stage of the Millennium Parklands and this is composed of 450 hectares of landscape, with up to 40 kilometers of pedestrian and cycle trails. This major first stage included focus on the surrounding Olympic facilities, providing a landscape for recreational activities, conservation. During this time work on the Water Reclamation and Management Scheme will continue to progress, the WRAMS will be in use during the games with the first stage to be implemented. This system will continue after the games, and will be developed after the games has been completed. The WRAMS system is one of the many water saving management strategies to be used during the games period. Stormwater from the Stadium Australia roof is to be collected and used to irrigate the central stadium, the Paralympic Games are governed by the International Paralympic Committee. The Games were organised by the Sydney Paralyampic Organising Committee led by President Dr John Grant, the SOCOG was established at the same time as the Sydney Paralympic organising Committee on 12 November 1993 by the Office of Olympic Co-ordination. In January 1995, SPOC became a company controlled by the Government. A board of directors including the Premier, Minister for the Olympics, the Treasurer and the Minister for Sport, the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee also regulated the use of Paralympic Games indicia and images. On 29 November, the Sydney Games Administration Act 2000 was passed, the legislation caused the Sydney Paralympic Organising Committee to dissolve from 1 January 2001, its assets and liabilities were transferred to the Olympic Coordination Authority
7.
Sydney
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Sydney /ˈsɪdni/ is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australias east coast, the metropolis surrounds the worlds largest natural harbour, residents of Sydney are known as Sydneysiders. The Sydney area has been inhabited by indigenous Australians for at least 30,000 years, the first British settlers, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, arrived in 1788 to found Sydney as a penal colony, the first European settlement in Australia. Since convict transportation ended in the century, the city has transformed from a colonial outpost into a major global cultural. As at June 2016 Sydneys estimated population was 5,005,358, in the 2011 census,34 percent of the population reported having been born overseas, representing many different nationalities and making Sydney one of the most multicultural cities in the world. There are more than 250 different languages spoken in Sydney and about one-third of residents speak a language other than English at home and it is classified as an Alpha+ World City by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, indicating its influence in the region and throughout the world. Ranked eleventh in the world for economic opportunity, Sydney has a market economy with strengths in finance, manufacturing. Its gross regional product was $337 billion in 2013, the largest in Australia, there is a significant concentration of foreign banks and multinational corporations in Sydney and the city is promoted as one of Asia Pacifics leading financial hubs. Its natural features include Sydney Harbour, the Royal National Park, man-made attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Tower and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are also well known to international visitors. The first people to inhabit the now known as Sydney were indigenous Australians having migrated from northern Australia. Radiocarbon dating suggests human activity first started to occur in the Sydney area from around 30,735 years ago, the earliest British settlers called them Eora people. Eora is the term the indigenous used to explain their origins upon first contact with the British. Its literal meaning is from this place, prior to the arrival of the British there were 4,000 to 8,000 native people in Sydney from as many as 29 different clans. Sydney Cove from Port Jackson to Petersham was inhabited by the Cadigal clan, the principal language groups were Darug, Guringai, and Dharawal. The earliest Europeans to visit the area noted that the people were conducting activities such as camping and fishing, using trees for bark and food, collecting shells. Development has destroyed much of the citys history including that of the first inhabitants, there continues to be examples of rock art and engravings located in the protected Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park. The first meeting between the people and the British occurred on 29 April 1770 when Lieutenant James Cook landed at Botany Bay on the Kurnell Peninsula. He noted in his journal that they were confused and somewhat hostile towards the foreign visitors, Cook was on a mission of exploration and was not commissioned to start a settlement
8.
Powerlifting
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Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts, squat, bench press, and deadlift. As in the sport of Olympic weightlifting, it involves the athlete attempting a maximum weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates. Powerlifting evolved from a known as odd lifts, which followed the same three-attempt format but used a wider variety of events. Eventually odd lifts became standardized to the current three, in competition, lifts may be performed equipped or un-equipped. Equipment in this context refers to a bench shirt or squat/deadlift suit or briefs. In some federations, knee wraps are permitted in the equipped but not un-equipped division, in others, Weight belts, knee sleeves, wrist wraps and special footwear may also be used, but are not considered when distinguishing equipped from un-equipped lifting. Powerlifting has been a Paralympic sport since 1984 and, under the IPF, is also a World Games sport, local, national and international competitions have also been sanctioned by other federations operating independently of the IPF. The roots of powerlifting are in traditions of strength training stretching back as far as Greek, the modern sport originated in the United States and the UK in the 1950s. Previously, the governing bodies in both countries had recognized various odd lifts for competition and record purposes. During the 1950s, Olympic weightlifting declined in the United States, in 1958, the AAUs National Weightlifting Committee decided to begin recognizing records for odd lifts. A national championship was scheduled for 1959, but it never happened. The first genuine national meet was held in September 1964 under the auspices of the York Barbell Company, ironically, Bob Hoffman, the owner of York Barbell, had been a long-time adversary of the sport. But his company was now making powerlifting equipment to make up for the sales it had lost on Olympic-style equipment, the magazines first Editor was the world-renowned John Grimek. During the late 1950s and early 1960s various odd lift events gradually developed into the specific lifts – the bench press, the squat, in 1965 the first named USA National Championships were held. During the same period, lifting in Britain also had factions, although at that time there were 42 recognized lifts, the Strength Set soon became the standard competition lifts, and both organizations held Championships on these lifts until 1965. In 1966, the Society of Amateur Weightlifters re-joined BAWLA and, in order to fall into line with the American lifts, the first British Championship was held in 1966. During the late 1960s and at the beginning of the 1970s, at the same time, in early November of each year and to commemorate Bob Hoffmans birthday, a prestige lifting contest was always held as part of Bob Hoffmans Birthday Party. In 1971, it was decided to make this event the World Weightlifting Championships, there was no such thing as teams and thus was predominantly a whole bunch of American lifters, plus four from Great Britain and one from the West Indies
9.
Turkmenistan at the Olympics
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Turkmenistan has competed in 5 Summer Olympics, first appearing in 1996. They have never competed in the Winter Olympics and are the only Post-Soviet state not to have competed in them, turkmen athletes previously competed with the Soviet Union team and, in 1992, as part of the Unified Team. No athlete representing independent Turkmenistan has won an Olympic medal, making it the only ex-Soviet republic never to do so, turkmenistans capital, Ashgabat, has an Olympic Stadium despite never having hosted the Olympic Games. The National Olympic Committee of Turkmenistan was formed in 1990
10.
International Paralympic Committee
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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 federation for nine sports. Founded on 22 September 1989 in Düsseldorf, Germany, its mission is To enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and inspire, furthermore, the IPC wants to promote the Paralympic values and to create sport opportunities for all persons with a disability, from beginner to elite level. The IPCs headquarters is located in Bonn, Germany, in the upcoming years, other organizations joined and the need for a democratically guided organization emerged, demanded by the nations participating in the Paralympic Movement. They desired a democratic structure, to national and regional representation. The 1994 Winter Paralympics, Norway, were the first to be organized by the IPC, the word Paralympic derives from the Greek preposition para. and Olympics. The first connotation connected to the para was paralysis or paraplegia. But since the Paralympics cover different disability groups and the association to the Olympic Movement. A fifteen-member Governing Board oversees the IPC between meetings of the General Assembly, dr. Robert D. Steadward became the first President in 1989. Since 2001, Sir Philip Craven is President of the IPC, the number of athletes and nations participating in the Paralympic Games and thus being part of the Paralympic Movement is constantly increasing, along with the audience. Sport for persons with a disability is growing on a national and international level, the International Paralympic Committee has had two presidents to date. Its founding president, who presided it from 1989 to 2001, was the Canadian Robert Steadward and he was succeeded in 2001 by Philip Craven, a British former Paralympic athlete, who remains president as of 2016. The IPC Governing Board consists of 14 members elected at the General Assembly, including the President, two members of the board without voting rights are the co-opted member Bernard Bourigeaud, and the CEO Xavier Gonzalez. The IPC has a board of distinguished individuals who support the IPCs goals and use their profile to raise funds. Chronology of milestones in the development of the International Paralympic Committee, the IPC publishes The Paralympian three times a year. The London 2012 Paralympics and other events related to the Paralympic Movement can be watched on the Internet TV channel for Paralympic Sports created by the IPC. The agreement came into effect at the 2008 Paralympic Summer Games in Beijing, the agreement was adjusted in 2003. An extension was signed in June 2006, a further extension was signed in 2012, valid until 2020
11.
Algeria at the Paralympics
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Algeria made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, sending two competitors in athletics, and a goalball team. The country has taken part in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, algerians have won a total of 38 medals at the Paralympic Games, of which 15 gold,7 silver and 16 bronze. Mohamed Allek won Algerias first two medals at the 1996 Games, in the mens 100m and 200m sprints, T36 category. He won three gold medals, also in sprinting, in 2000. In 2008, Karim Betina again took a gold in the put, as did Kamel Kardjena, while Sid Ali Lamri. * There is one man competitor who participate in Athletics and Goalball, the Algerian athlete who won the most medals in the history of the Paralympic Games, is the Paralympian athlete Samir Nouioua. Notes, in Khaki the athletes still in activity
12.
Angola at the Paralympics
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Angola first competed at the Summer Paralympic Games in 1996, and has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then. The country has never participated in the Winter Paralympic Games, all Angolan Paralympians have competed in track and field. Angolas first Paralympic medals came in 2004, when Jose Armando Sayovo took three medals in the mens 100m, 200m and 400m sprints in the T11 disability category. Armando competed again at the 2008 Summer Paralympics, and won his countrys only medals of the Games - three silvers, angola will be taking part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, and the Comite Paralimpico Angolano have chosen Bedford as the UK base for its Paralympians
13.
Botswana at the Paralympics
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Botswana made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, sending a single representative to compete in athletics. Morama entered only the womens 400m T46 sprint, and won gold, no further athletes from Botswana have competed at the Summer Games, and Botswana has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics - leaving the country with a 100% gold medal success rate so far. After her gold medal in Athens, Morama was due to represent Botswana again at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing and she would have been the countrys only representative. For the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, the country selected a single athlete, visually impaired runner Tshotlego Golden, again, however, Botswana was forced to withdraw at the last moment, mere hours before the opening ceremony. This time the countrys withdrawal was due to the Botswana National Olympic Committee cancelling its financial support, citing financial irregularities in the national Paralympics body
14.
Burkina Faso at the Paralympics
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Burkina Faso made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, sending a tandem of cyclists, a judoka and a weightlifter. The country was represented by a tandem and a powerlifter in 1996. Burkina Faso did not take part in the 2004 Games, but returned to the Paralympics in 2008, burkina Faso has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, and no Burkinabé competitor has ever won a Paralympic medal
15.
Cape Verde at the Paralympics
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Cape Verde made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, with two competitors in track and field, and one in powerlifting. The country sent an athlete to the 2008 Games, to compete in the womens shot put, discus. In Rio de Janeiro 2016, sprinter Gracelino Barbosa won Cape Verdes first Paralympic medal, Cape Verde has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics
16.
Central African Republic at the Paralympics
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The Central African Republic made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. It sent an athlete, Thibaut Bomaya, to compete in powerlifting. The country also entered a single-man delegation at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, the Central African Republic has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, and has never won a Paralympic medal. The Central African Republic will be taking part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Central African Republic at the Olympics
17.
Egypt at the Paralympics
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Egypt has been participating in the Paralympic Games since 1972, and has participated in every edition of the Summer Games since then. Egypt was involved early in the Paralympic movement. Egyptians were participating in the Stoke-Mandeville Games by 1954, historically, the Egyptian Paralympic Committee has invested in very few sports. These include on the team side wheelchair basketball, football for the deaf, goalball, on the individual sport side, they have historically supported powerlifting, swimming, athletics and table tennis. Archery, cycling, shooting and lawn bowls are supported only at the national level, Egyptian athletes have won a total of 128 Paralympic medals, of which 41 gold,39 silver and 48 bronze. Egypt has been strong in athletics and powerlifting
18.
Ethiopia at the Paralympics
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Ethiopia’s participation in the Paralympic Games has been sporadic. The country made its Paralympic début at the 1968 Summer Games in Tel Aviv, ethiopia was then absent from the Games for almost a decade, returning in 1976 with a one-man delegation Abraham Habte, who entered athletics, lawn bowls and table tennis. In 1980, Habte was again Ethiopias only representative, this time competing only in lawn bowls, ethiopia then entered a prolonged period of absence, before sending a single runner to the 2004 Games. In 2008, the country entered a two-man delegation in athletics, in 2012, Wondiye Fikre Indelbu became the first Ethiopian to win a medal in the Paralympic Games, winning a silver in the mens 1500 meters - T46 event in athletics. Ethiopia has never participated in the Winter Paralympics
19.
Gabon at the Paralympics
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Gabon made its Paralympic Games début at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, sending a single athlete to compete in track and field. Mabicka entered two events, the 800m race, and the javelin, in the former, he was disqualified, apparently for attempting to race others with a non-racing wheelchair. In the latter, he finished last of fourteen, his throw of 11. 72m earning him 302 points
20.
Ghana at the Paralympics
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Ghana made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, sending three representatives to compete in two sports. Nkegbe Botsyo, in athletics, took part in the mens 100m, 200m and 400m, ajara Mohammed entered the womens 800m and the marathon, also in the T54 category. Alfred Adjetey Sowah competed in powerlifting, in the mens up to 52 kg, Botsyo and Mohammed returned to compete again in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, the former in the mens 100m and 200m, and the latter in the womens 200m and 1, 500m
21.
Guinea at the Paralympics
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Guinea made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, sending a single representative to compete in athletics. He took part in two events, and did not win a medal, barry was, again, Guineas sole representative at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing. Entering only one race on occasion, he was a non-starter. He remains the only person to have represented Guinea at the Paralympic Games, Guinea has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics
22.
Kenya at the Paralympics
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Kenya made its Paralympic Games début at the 1972 Summer Paralympics. It was absent in 1976, but returned to the 1980 Summer Games and has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then and it has never competed at the Winter Paralympics. Kenyans have won a total of thirty-six Paralympic medals, fourteen gold, thirteen silver, all but one of these medals have been in track and field. This puts Kenya in 49th place on the all-time Paralympic Games medal table, kenyas gold medallists are Britton, Lucy Wanjiru, Japheth Musyoki, Mary Nakhumicha, Christopher Moori, Henry Wanyoike, Joseph L. Ngorialuk, Henry Kiprono Kirwa, and Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei
23.
Lesotho at the Paralympics
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Lesotho made its Paralympic Games début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. It has competed in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, Lesotho has never won a medal at the Paralympic Games. A total of four athletes have represented Lesotho at the Paralympics, levy Moshoeshoe Makoanyane took part in the mens 100m and 200m at the 2000 Games, failing to advance from the heats in either event. Limpho Rakoto competed in the womens 100m in both the 2000 and the 2004 Games, and also failed to advance from the heats, sello Mothebe ran in the mens 100m in 2004, with the same outcome. And Thato Mohasoa was her countrys representative at the 2008 Games. Lesotho will be taking part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, and the National Paralympic Committee of Lesotho have chosen Bedford as the UK base for its Paralympians
24.
Madagascar at the Paralympics
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Madagascar made its Paralympic Games début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. Its sole representative, Aina Onja, was a sprinter who ran the mens 100m sprint in the T11 category. His time of 13.98 was the slowest in the heats, the country was absent from the 2004 Games, but returned to the Paralympics in 2008, represented by a single male swimmer. Josefa Harijaona Randrianony swam in the 50m freestyle, and finished last of his heat in 38. 06s, madagascar has never competed at the Winter Paralympics
25.
Mali at the Paralympics
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Mali made its Paralympic Games début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, sending a single representative to compete in powerlifting. In the up to 75kg category, he lifted 130kg - finishing last of the seventeen competitors who successfully lifted a weight and he therefore did not win a medal. Mali did not compete at the Paralympic Games in 2004, although he was due to compete in 2008, as Malis sole competitor, Sissoko was banned due to testing positive for boldenone metabolite on the day of the opening ceremony. Mahamane Sacko represented Mali on the track at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, but did not proceed past the heats
26.
Mauritania at the Paralympics
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Mauritania made its Paralympic Games début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. It was represented by a sprinter and a male powerlifter. The country competed again in 2004, with runner Ezzouha Edidal as its sole representative, mauritania did not take part in the 2008 Summer Paralympics, and has never participated in the Winter Paralympics. No Mauritanian has ever won a Paralympic medal
27.
Mauritius at the Paralympics
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Mauritius made its Paralympic Games debut at the 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta. It was represented by two competitors in track and field, Sarwan Custnea and Enrico Cytheree. Absent in 2000, Mauritius returned to the Paralympics in 2004 with two runners, one male and one female, the country again had two representatives in 2008, Souci, and male swimmer, Pascal Laperotine. Muritius has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, and its athletes have never won a Paralympic medal
28.
Morocco at the Paralympics
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Morocco made its Paralympic Games début at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul. It was represented by a team, with five competitors in athletics. Abdeljalal Biare won a medal in the 400m freestyle in swimming - Moroccos sole medal of the 1988 Games. Morocco has participated in every edition of the Summer Paralympics since then, moroccans have won a total of six gold medals, five silver and three bronze. Mustapha El Aouzari won gold in the mens 1, 500m in athletics in 2004, the same year, Abdellah Ez Zine won gold in the mens 800m. Abdelillah Mame won the other gold medal of the Games. Morocco took part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, with the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sports for Disabled using Bedford as the UK base for its Paralympians. Morocco at the Olympics The Moroccan athlete who won the most medals in the history of the Paralympic Games, is the Paralympian athlete Sanaa Benhama
29.
Namibia at the Paralympics
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Namibia made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona. These were the first Summer Paralympics to be held since the accession to independence from South Africa in 1990. For its inaugural participation, the country sent just two athletes, both women, who competed in discus, javelin and shot put. They did not win any medals, Namibia was then absent from the Paralympics until 2004, when it entered a single representative in mens powerlifting. It returned in 2008, with a competitor, Reginald Benade, in mens discus. Benade won Namibias first -and so far only- Paralympic medal, a bronze in the discus, Namibia has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics
30.
Niger at the Paralympics
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Niger made its Paralympic Games début at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens. It was represented by an athlete, male sprinter Zoubeirou Issaka. His time of 13.90 was the slowest overall in the heats, in 2008, Niger was represented only by male powerlifter Zakari Amadou, in the up to 67.5 kg category. He lifted 110 kg, ranking 13th and last of those who lifted a weight. Niger has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics, Niger will be taking part in the 2012 Summer Paralympics, and the Fédération Nigérienne des Sports Paralympiques have chosen Bedford as the UK training base for its Paralympians
31.
Nigeria at the Paralympics
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Nigeria made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona. It sent a delegation of six athletes to compete in track & field, powerlifting. Nigeria made its Paralympic Games début at the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona when they sent a delegation of six men to compete in track & field, powerlifting, adeoye Ajibola won two gold medals in sprint, while Monday Emoghawve obtained one in powerlifting. Nigeria has participated in every subsequent edition of the Summer Paralympics, nigeria made its Paralympic debut at the 1992 Summer Paralympics, where they claimed three gold medals. The country set a single Games medal record for themselves at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, going into the 2016 Summer Paralympics, the country had claimed 22 gold medals,11 silver, and 12 bronze in the Paralympics during their history
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Rwanda at the Paralympics
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Rwanda made its Paralympic Games début at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney. It was represented by a competitor, male swimmer Cesar Rwagasana. In 2004, Rwanda sent two runners, Olive Akobasenga and Jean de Dieu Nkundabera, Nkundabera won bronze in mens 800m race. He was the sole representative in 2008, entering the same event. Rwanda has never participated in the Winter Paralympics