Question 17
MediumOriginal questionThe 'para' in Paralympic Games comes from
Show the answer and explanation
CorrectNot quiteAnswer C
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The name is formed from the Greek preposition para, meaning beside or alongside.
The Paralympic Games run parallel to the Olympic Games, in the same host city and in the same year.
The link to paraplegia is a common assumption, and the movement did begin with spinal injuries, but the Games now cover a far wider range of impairments and the name is not derived from that word.
Worth noting
This is one of those cases where the obvious etymology is the wrong one, and knowing why makes both the name and the scope of the Games easier to remember.
- Concept
- What the prefix in Paralympics means
- Typical timeTypical
- 45 s
- Your timeYours
- —
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