The World Wheelchair Games, formally known as the Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Games and the Stoke Mandeville Games, gave birth to the Paralympics. The World Wheelchair Games is an event that is held in Stoke Mandeville annually (the only exception was in 1999; the year when the Summer Paralympics were held in New Zealand). The Games started in 1948 by Sir Ludwig Guttmann who organized a sporting competition involving World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. In 1952, the Netherlands joined in the games creating the first international competition for the disabled. Silver 2004 The Paralympic Games are an official equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with physical disabilities. ... Stoke Mandeville is a village to the south of Aylesbury in the county of Buckinghamshire. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Silver 2004 The Paralympic Games are an official equivalent of the Olympics for athletes with physical disabilities. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Sir Ludwig Poppa Guttmann (July 3, 1899 - March 18, 1980) was a German neurologist who founded the Paralympics and is considered one of the founding fathers of organized physical activities for the disabled. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War (sometimes WW2 or WWII or World War Two), was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

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