INNSBRUCK 1988 PARALYMPIC WINTER GAMES

Due to issues with the Calgary 1988 Organising Committee in Canada, it was not possible to hold the Paralympic Winter Games at the same venue as the Olympic Winter Games that year. Thus, they were held again in Innsbruck, Austria.

The Games attracted 377 Para athletes (300 men and 77 women) from 22 countries who competed in 97 medal events across four sports. Norway topped the medals table.

SPORTS

Four different sports - Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing and ice sledge speed skating - were a part of the programme at the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games. s

Sit-skiing was also introduced for the first time as an event in both the alpine and Nordic competitions.

MEDALS

Austrian team at the Opening Ceremony of Innsbruck 1988 — Hosts Austria finished second in the medal table at Innsbruck 1988

Norway finished atop the medal standings with 25 golds, 21 silvers and 14 bronze, while host nation Austria came in second. Germany, Finland and Sweden rounded out the top five.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES

Ice sledge speed racer Knut Lundstroem of Norway was the most successful athlete of the Games, winning four gold medals in the 100m, 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m races.

ATTENDANCE AND COVERAGE

Queen Silvia of Sweden came to visit the Games, revealing the connection between the royal family and the Paralympic Movement that existed since King Carl Gustaf was the patron of the Ornskoldsvik 1976 Paralympic Games.