Wikipedia

Paralympic symbols

(Redirected from Paralympic Oath)

The Paralympic symbols are the icons, flags, and symbols used by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to promote the Paralympic Movement and the Paralympic Games.

Motto

edit

Since 2019, the Paralympic motto has been "Change Starts with Sport" which highlights the transformational impact of the Paralympic Movement's activities on society.[1] Before this the motto was "Spirit in Motion" which was introduced at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[2]

Symbol

edit

Current

edit
Emblem of the Paralympic Games ("Paralympic Agitos")
ArmigerAndrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee
Adopted28 September 2004; 21 years ago (2004-09-28)
ShieldThree agitos, coloured red, blue, and green, the three colours.

The symbol of the IPC consists of three red, blue, and green crescents encircling a single point on a white field.[2][3] It was modernized from the 1992 emblem by advertising agency Scholz & Friends[4] and was formally used for the first time during the closing ceremony of the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[5][4]

In October 2019, the IPC unveiled a new version of the emblem with more consistent geometry, and brightened colours to match those used in the Olympic rings.[6][7]

Previous

edit
The first Paralympic symbol (1988–1994) used five pa.

The first IPC logo was created for the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul and based on a traditional Korean decorative component called a pa, two of which make up the taegeuk symbol used in the flag of South Korea. The first Paralympic flag used five identically colored pas arranged similarly to the Olympic rings.[2][3]

In 1991, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) requested that the IPC modify its logo due to its similarity to the Olympic emblem.[2][3][8][9] As a result, a new Paralympic symbol utilizing only three pas was revealed at the 1992 Winter Paralympics.[8] It took effect after the 1994 Winter Paralympics and officially remained through the 2004 Summer Paralympics.[2][3]

Paralympic emblems

edit

Like the Olympics, each Paralympic Games has a unique emblem containing the name and year of the event, and reflecting the distinctive and cultural elements of the host nation. Due to the increased integration and synergy between the two events, recent Paralympics have generally shared their overall branding with their corresponding Olympics, and have accordingly used emblems with concepts that are a complement to their corresponding Olympic emblem. The 2012 Summer Paralympics were the first to share a common design with the Olympic emblem,[10][11] while the 2024 Summer Paralympics were the first to use the exact same emblem with no variation between the two events.[12]

Flag

edit
The International Paralympic Committee
The Paralympic agitos
UseSport Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5 or 1:2
Adopted20 October 2019

The Paralympic flag consists of the Paralympic symbol on a white background. The current version of the flag was first flown in 2019.

Flame and torch relay

edit

As with the Olympic Games, ahead of each edition of a Paralympic Games a torch relay is held in order to build awareness and engagement in the upcoming event. During the torch relay the Paralympic flame is transferred from torchbearer to torchbearer while taking in key locations often in the host city and country. The flame is used to light the Paralympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympic Games.

In October 2023, the IPC announced that beginning for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the Paralympic flame would be created in Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual birthplace of the Paralympic Movement, just as the Olympic flame is ceremonially created in Olympia, Greece.[13][14][15] Until 2024, Stoke Mandeville was used from 2014 onwards to create a "heritage flame" which then contributed to the Paralympic flame in the host country of the Games.

For Paris 2024, the Paralympic Flame was transferred from the UK through the Channel Tunnel to France before it was split into 12 parts and visited multiple French cities before coming together again as one flame for the Opening Ceremony.

A common format for the Paralympic torch relays between 2012 and 2022 was to have multiple ceremonial flames kindled in different regions of the host nation (with London using four flames kindled by scouts at the highest peaks of each country in the United Kingdom, and Tokyo using flames from each of Japan's prefectures), which are then united to form the official Paralympic flame for the remainder of the route.[16][17][18][19][20][21]

Medals

edit

Paralympic medals are made of gold-plated silver, silver, or bronze and are awarded to the top 3 finishers in each event. They are designed differently for each Paralympic Games.

Anthem

edit
Anthem of the Future
French: Hymne de l’Avenir
German: Hymne der Zukunft
Hymne de l’Avenir
Hymne der Zukunft
Official anthem of the Paralympic Games and the International Paralympic Committee
LyricsGraeme Connors, 2001
MusicThierry Darnis, March 1996
Adopted1996

The Paralympic Anthem, also known as the Paralympic Hymn, is played during the raising of the Paralympic Flag. The anthem, "Hymne de l’Avenir" (en. "Anthem of the Future"), was composed by Thierry Darnis.[22] It was approved by the IPC in March 1996,[23] and lyrics were added by Australian country singer Graeme Connors in 2001.

Paralympic Oath

edit

The Paralympic Oath is recited at every Paralympic opening ceremony. It is a solemn promise made while holding the Paralympic Flag by one athlete, judge, and coach representing, respectively, all participating competitors, officiating referees and officials, and coaches.

History

edit

The Paralympic Oath has been taken since the first Paralympic Games and is identical to the original Olympic Oath written by Pierre de Coubertin, with the exception of the word 'Olympic' being substituted by 'Paralympic".

Paralympic Order

edit

The Paralympic Order is the highest award given by the Paralympic Movement to individuals for particularly distinguished contributions to the Movement.[24][25]

Post nominal letters

edit

Starting in 2022, the IPC introduced the post nominal letters PLY, similar to the IOC's OLY, to recognize individuals' contribution to the Paralympic movement. They was first awarded to Ragnhild Myklebust and Kevin Coombs.[26][27]

Mascots

edit

Each Paralympic Games has a mascot, usually an animal native to the area or, occasionally, human figures representing the host nation's cultural heritage.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ↑ "International Paralympic Committee - Who we are". International Paralympic Committee.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "New Logo and Motto for IPC". International Paralympic Committee. 2003. Archived from the original on 6 April 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 International Paralympic Committee – The IPC logo, motto and flag, CRWFlags.com
  4. 1 2 "No. 18: The Agitos, the Paralympic symbol is unveiled". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ↑ New Logo and Motto for IPC Archived 6 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  6. ↑ "IPC Launches New Look: Change Starts with Sport". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ↑ "Refreshed IPC logo designed to give "parity" with Olympic Rings". www.insidethegames.biz. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  8. 1 2 Vom Rehabilitationssport zu den Paralympics Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine (German), Sportmuseum Leipzig
  9. ↑ Athlete first: a history of the paralympic movement, by Steve Bailey, Google Books
  10. ↑ "London unveils logo of 2012 Games". BBC Sport. 4 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2007.
  11. ↑ "Pyeonchang 2018 unveils official Paralympic emblem". 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  12. ↑ "Paris 2024 unveil new shared Olympic and Paralympic Games emblem". insidethegames.biz. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  13. ↑ Fullbrook, Danny (6 October 2023). "Stoke Mandeville revealed as permanent home of Paralympic flame". BBC News. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Burke, Patrick (6 October 2023). "Stoke Mandeville to stage first standalone Paralympic Flame Lighting Ceremony". insidethegames. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  15. ↑ "Paralympic Flame to be created at Stoke Mandeville for all future Paralympic Games". International Paralympic Committee. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  16. ↑ Goddard, Emily (3 January 2013). "Bid to make Stoke Mandeville permanent home of Paralympic Torch lighting gathers momentum". insidethegames. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tokyo 2020: Torch Relay concept revealed". paralympic.org. 21 December 2018.
  18. ↑ "Tokyo 2020 Unveils Paralympic Torch Relay Concept : "Share Your Light"". Tokyo 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2019.
  19. ↑ "London 2012: Scouts to spark Paralympic flame". BBC News. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  20. ↑ Taylor, Jerome (15 August 2012). "Mountain cauldrons will spark Paralympic torch relay". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  21. ↑ "Rio 2016 reveals first details of Paralympic Torch Relay as part of 500 days to Games celebrations". Rio Organizing Committee. 27 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Graeme Connors adds Lyrics to Paralympic Hymn". The Paralympian. No. 4. 2001. Archived from the original on 6 January 2002. Retrieved 20 March 2017.
  23. ↑ IPC Handbook – Bylaws Governance and Organizational Structure Archived 26 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine (.pdf file), International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  24. ↑ The Paralympian – Issue 1/2010 Archived 19 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The Paralympian page 14, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  25. ↑ Paralympic Order, International Paralympic Committee (IPC)
  26. ↑ "IPC introduces PLY post-nominal titles to recognise Paralympians".
  27. ↑ "The Paralympic pioneers who helped create a PLY legacy".
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paralympic_symbols&oldid=1358097514#Paralympic_Oath"