(ATR) The Paralympic Movement celebrates its 70th anniversary by returning to the place where it all began.
The first wheelchair sports competition was organized by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann at Stoke Mandeville, the home of Britain’s National Spinal Injuries Centre.
The Stoke Mandeville Games held on July 29, 1948 involved 16 injured servicemen and women taking part in an archery competition. By 1960, when the event became known as the Paralympic Games, 400 athletes from 23 countries were involved.
Dignitaries, former and current athletes as well as members of the Guttmann family gathered at Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, Great Britain on Sunday for a commemoration.
"Seventy years ago it was a few paraplegics from the Spinal Unit doing some archery, and in two years’ time there will be the Paralympics in Japan, with 5,000 competitors from all over the world. It’s amazing," Eva Loeffler, daughter of Ludwig Guttmann, was quoted by the IPC.
The day was organized by WheelPower (formerly the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation) and the National Spinal Injuries Centre.
Eight spinal injury patients were given the chance to try their hand at archery, the sport that started it all, culminating in a competition in the afternoon.
Click here for a photo gallery from the day's events.
Written by Gerard Farek
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