Athlete First

Today the Paralympic Movement is recognised as a global sportingphenomenon attracting thousands of athletes from an ever-increasingnumber of countries. Athlete First provides a thoroughlyresearched history and analysis of the Paralympic Movement,including the development and organisation of the InternationalParalympic Committee. As well as recounting factual achievementsand events, the book examines the position of sport andinternational competition for people with a disability within theirchanging historical context and in relation to the Olympic Movementand able-bodied sport. * The first history of the origins and development of theParalympic movement * Examines disabled sport and international competition withintheir changing historical context * Includes details of key players in the movement - onand off the field Written in an accessible style by a recognised historianAthlete First will prove invaluable to researchers andprofessionals involved in the field of sport and disability as wellas sport scientists and physical education specialists with aninterest in sports history. The Publisher appreciates the role played by the InternationalCouncil of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) inbringing this publication to fruition, and acknowledges thefinancial assistance provided by the International OlympicCommittee.