Question

Difficulty: MediumOlympic and Paralympic Games

The United Kingdom has a proud history of hosting major international sporting events. According to the 'Life in the United Kingdom' handbook, how did the Paralympic Games originate?

  1. They evolved from sports competitions organised by Dr Ludwig Guttmann for patients at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.Answer
  2. B
    They were first established during the 1908 London Olympics to allow disabled veterans to compete.
  3. C
    They were created by the British Olympic Association as part of the legacy planning for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
  4. D
    They originated from traditional disabled sporting events held annually during the Scottish Highland Games.

Answer

The Paralympic Games originated from sports competitions organised by Dr Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville Hospital for patients recovering from spinal injuries.
The official handbook specifically states that the Paralympic Games originated in the UK. Dr Ludwig Guttmann, a German refugee working at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, developed sports for patients with spinal injuries. The first of these events took place in 1948.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recall the origins of the Paralympic Games as stated in the official handbook.
The handbook notes that the Paralympic Games have their origins in the UK.
Establishing the UK connection helps narrow down the historical context.
2
Identify the specific figure and location associated with this origin.
Dr Ludwig Guttmann, a German refugee at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire, developed sports for patients with spinal injuries.
This specific historical detail directly answers how the games began.
3
Verify the timeline of this development.
The first games of this kind were held in 1948, the same year London hosted the Olympic Games.
Matching the timeline ensures that distractor options mentioning 1908 or 2012 are eliminated.

Key Concept

Origins of the Paralympic Games in the UK
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