| Paralympic Games | |
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| Summer Paralympic Games Winter Paralympic Games |
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| IPC • NPCs • Symbols Sports • Competitors Medal tables • Medalists |
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| Olympic Games | |
The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee to promote the Paralympic Games.
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The Paralympic motto is "Spirit in Motion". The motto was introduced in 2004 at the Paralympic Games in Athens.[1] The previous motto was "Mind, Body, Spirit", introduced in 1994.[1]
The symbol of the Paralympic Games is composed of three "agitos", coloured red, blue, and green, encircling a single point, on a white field. The agito ("I move" in Latin) is a symbol of movement in the shape of an asymmetrical crescent. The Paralympic symbol was created by the Scholz & Friends agency and approved in April 2003.[1][2]
The colours of the agitos with the white background stand for the three colours that are most widely represented in national flags around the world. The three agitos encircle a centre point, to emphasize "the role that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has of bringing athletes from all corners of the world together and enabling them to compete". The shape also symbolises the Paralympic vision "To Enable Paralympic Athletes to Achieve Sporting Excellence and to Inspire and Excite the World".[1][2]
This Paralympic symbol was first used in publications and other products in 2003. Due to limited time before the 2004 Paralympic Summer Games in Athens, the new symbol was not used by participating delegations during the Games. At the 2004 Closing Ceremony however, the flag that was handed over to Beijing had the new symbol.[3] The symbol was first used in a Paralympic emblem at the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Torino.[4]
The previous Paralympic symbols were based on the traditional Korean decorative component called "tae-geuk", which is based on the ancient Chinese symbol of Tai-Chi. The ones shown on the flags were half of the taeguk in different colours The first Paralympic symbol used five tae-geuks arranged similarly to the Olympic Rings and was introduced at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, Korea. The colours were also the same as in the Olympic Rings: blue, black, red, yellow and green.[1][2]
On October 6 in 1990, the International Coordinating Committee of World Sports Organizations for the Disabled (ICC) were informed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) expressed concerns over the symbol with the five tae-geuks. The symbol was considered too similar to the Olympic rings, by the IOC Marketing Department, and should not be used.[1][2][5][6][7]
A new symbol was created for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which included six tae-gueks in a circle. In November 1991, the IPC members voted against the new symbol, and decided to keep the five tae-geuks symbol. However, using the five tae-geuks symbol, which the IOC disapproved of, would exclude collaborative work with the IOC.[5]
In March 1992,[5] the Paralympic symbol was changed to a version with three tae-gueks. This was not used until after the 1994 Winter Paralympics in Lillehammer, Norway, since the Lillehammer Paralympic Organizing Committee (LPOC) had by then already started a marketing program for the 1994 Paralympics, that was based on the five tae-geuks version. The last Paralympics to use the three tae-geuk version was the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, Greece.[1][2]
Each Paralympic Games has its own Paralympic emblem. The city that hosts the Paralympic Games creates a symbol to represent the event. See category:Summer Paralympic Games and category:Winter Paralympic Games for various paralympic emblems.[8] This design incorporates the Paralympic symbol, the name of the event, and one or more distinctive elements to identify the event.
It is the responsibility of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to approve Paralympic emblems for the Paralympic games. The Paralympic emblems are used in promotional materials, by sponsors of the Paralympics, and on the uniforms of every Paralympic competitor. All emblems are the property of the IPC.
The Paralympic flag has a white background, with the Paralympic Symbol in the centre.
The current Paralympic flag was first flown during the Closing Ceremony of the Athens Paralympic Games in 2004.
Days before the Games are held, the Paralympic Flame is lit on a torch, at a site chosen by the Paralympics host city.[16] The torch is then taken around the country where the Games are held. The Paralympic torch is carried by athletes, leaders, celebrities and ordinary people alike. On the final day of the torch relay, the day of the Opening Ceremony, the Flame reaches the main stadium and is used to light a cauldron situated in a prominent part of the venue to signify the beginning of the Games. Then it is left to burn throughout the Games till the Closing Ceremony, when it is extinguished to signify the end of the Games.
The Paralympic medals awarded to winners are another symbol associated with the Paralympic games. The medals are made of gold-plated silver (commonly described as gold medals), silver, or bronze, and awarded to the top 3 finishers in a particular event.
For each Paralympic games, the medals are designed differently, reflecting the host of the games.
The Paralympic Anthem, also known as the Paralympic Hymn, is played when the Paralympic Flag is raised. It is a musical piece, "Hymn de l’Avenir" (en. "Anthem of the Future") composed by Thierry Darnis. The anthem was approved by the IPC in March 1996.[17]
Australian country singer Graeme Connors wrote the lyrics for the anthem in 2001.[18]
The Paralympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Paralympic competitors; and by one judge—as a representative of each officiating Paralympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Paralympic Games.
The athlete, from the team of the organizing country, holds a corner of the Paralympic Flag while reciting the oath:
Athletes' Oath
The judge, also from the host nation, likewise holds a corner of the flag but takes a slightly different oath:
Judges' Oath (Official's Oath)
The first Paralympic Oath was held at the first Paralympic Games, in Rome in 1960. The Paralympic Oath is identical to the Olympic Oath, with the exception of the words 'Olympic' and 'Paralympic'. The oath was originally written by Pierre de Coubertin. The first oath (an Athlete's Oath) was held at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920. The original text by Coubertin, has since been modified several times. The first Judge's/Official's Oath was held at the Olympic Games in Sapporo in 1972.[21]
Athletes and judges that have delivered the Paralympic Oath are listed below.[19][21]
The Paralympic Order is the highest award of the Paralympic Movement. The recipients get a medal with the IPC logo on it. The Paralympic Order is awarded to individuals for particularly distinguished contribution to the Paralympic Movement.[25][26]
Each Paralympic Games have a mascot, usually an animal native to the area or occasionally human figures representing the cultural heritage. Nowadays, most of the merchandise aimed at young people focuses on the mascots, rather than the Paralympic flag or organization logos.
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