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 fieldWritten 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.

List of Figures and Boxes.Foreword: Sir Philip Craven.Foreword: Prof. Dr Gudrun Doll-Tepper.International Council of Sport Science and PhysicalEducation.Preface.List of Abbreviations.Chapter 1. A Showcase of Ability.Chapter 2. An Air of Hopelessness.Chapter 3. The Era of Development: 1960 to 1980.Chapter 4. Fair, not Equal: 1980 to 1988.Chapter 5. Building Bridges not Walls: 1988 to 1992.Chapter 6. Spirit in Motion: 1992 to 1996.Chapter 7. Repair What Needs Repair? 1996 to 2000.Chapter 8. Sport is About Emotion: 2000 to 2004.Bibliography and Resources.Index.