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

 

Imagen

 

Find out about the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic medals 

The Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic medal features the emblem of the Games, along with the word “Paralympics”, which was gaining recognition at the time. 

Design Elements of the Medals 

The medal’s ribbon showcases red and white: the colours of the flag of the host country, Austria. The medal has the emblem of the Innsbruck 1988 Paralympic Winter Games. The other face of the medal has an engraved graphic representing the sport event the medal was awarded in. 

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.