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History

 

Paralympic Games Quick Facts

  • Since 1988 the Paralympic Games have been held in the same city as the Olympic Games
  • The Games take place 2-3 weeks after the close of the Olympics, in the same host city and using the same facilities
  • The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960
  • The 2010 Winter Paralympic Games will be held in Vancouver, Canada
  • The 2012 Paralympic Games will be held in London, England

 

Lakeshore Foundation & The Paralympic Games

 

  • In February of 2003, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) licensed Lakeshore Foundation as the first-ever, official USOC Training Site for both Olympic and Paralympic sports.   Lakeshore earned this unique designation because of its long history of contributions to athletics for individuals with physical disabilities; its world-class facilities designed specifically to meet the needs of athletes with physical disabilities, while also accommodating able-bodied athletes; and due to the superior training and experience of Lakeshore Foundation staff. 

In licensing official training sites, the USOC conducts a serious study of the needs of athletes in training, and comprehensively evaluates a potential center's ability to meet those needs. Not surprisingly, such agreements are not common. In fact, Lakeshore Foundation is the first site to have earned a Paralympic designation
  • When athletes train at Lakeshore Foundation, they have access to sport science, sports psychology, on-site housing, dining services and much more.  Some of the world’s best athletes now come through Birmingham on their journey to Olympic and Paralympic greatness.

 

Lakeshore Foundation & Paralympic Games Quick Facts

  • Lakeshore Foundation has sent 36 athletes and coaches to the Paralympic Games since 1988, the most from any single organization in the United States.
  • Lakeshore Foundation is sending 15 athletes to Beijing, China for the 2008 Paralympic Games, the largest athlete delegation in the organization’s history.
  • Lakeshore athletes have brought home 20 Paralympic medals
  • 12 Paralympic athletes and six coaches participated in the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece
  • Lakeshore Foundation has hosted 37 Paralympic and International Delegations
  • More than 1,000 national and international athletes have trained at Lakeshore Foundation since its inception including; the United States, El Salvador, Canada, Belgium, Bosnia, Australia, Great Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, China, Denmark and others.