Read the transcript of a video about the Paralympic Games.
Narrator: The Paralympic Games have a long and exciting history. It is a sporting competition for people with different disabilities, and now thousands of athletes from all around the world compete.
Narrator: It’s called the Paralympic Games because it is held every four years alongside the Olympic Games, the Parallel Olympic Games. Athletes compete on the biggest stage, in front of cheering crowds, with spectacular ceremonies and a world-wide television audience.
Nyree Lewis, swimmer: I’m an athlete. I train to be at the Paralympic Games because it’s the ultimate event, you can’t get any higher than the Paralympic Games, and for me to go out there and try win my Gold medal, it is the climax of what we’re training for.
Andre Bienek, Wheelchair Basketball player: It’s an honour to play for your country and represent your country at the Paralympics, it’s really great, and I love it.
April Kerley, swimmer: It is a lot of sacrifice but in a good way. I wouldn’t exchange this for anything in the world. It’s self motivation really that has got me here. Committing a lot of time and energy in the pool and outside of the pool to prepare for this, but it’s worth it.
Narrator: Some of the sports are exclusively in the Paralympics like Boccia, Wheelchair Basketball and Goal Ball.
Libby Clegg, Athlete: There’s lots of different disabilities out there that I don’t know about and never heard of before and it’s give people and opportunity to get a better understanding of it. It’s such a great achievement because they’ve not got to get over the fact they have a disability, they’re achieving something within themselves, within a sport.
Curtis Lovejoy, swimmer: If you commit yourself to get to this point, and you work hard at what you’re doing, I think that at the end you will be pleased with your result.
Clare Strange, Wheelchair Basketball player: I had an accident when I was eighteen, prior to that I was dreaming could I possibly, maybe be an Olympic Athlete and after my accident the last thing I was thinking was that I would go and be a Paralympian and fulfil that dream. Two and a half years later I was out at the Sydney Games competing for my country, which was a phenomenal experience.
Narrator: Paralympians are very committed, determined athletes, who achieve remarkable things and show respect for their fellow competitors. The Paralympic games are a really special event which only happen every four years. To host them in the UK for 2012 is a once in a life time opportunity.
