1988 Summer Paralympics
The 1988 Summer Paralympics (Korean: 1988년 하계 패럴림픽; RR: Cheon gubaek palsip-pal nyeon hagye paereollimpik) were the first Paralympics in 24 years to take place in the same city as the Olympic Games. They took place in Seoul, South Korea. This was the first time the term "Paralympic" came into official use.
There were initially two expressions of interest in hosting the 1988 Paralympic Games.The first was made by Dr. Whang Youn Dai in name of Seoul, South Korea and Dr.John Grant from Melbourne,Australia.They showed the possible bids from their respective national organisations during the fourth meeting of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC) held at the Aylesbury Civic Center,United Kingdom held on 28 July 1983.However,at final choice would be held during the sixth meeting of ICC scheduled for New York City on 14 June 1984.The ICC sent to the two interested cities the same questionnaire and they had one year to respond.When they had do be delivered,only Seoul returned the document with full answers, showing total interest.Due a political movements in Australia showed that Brisbane was interested in hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics and also the Summer Paralympics that year, which would block a possible separate bid for Melbourne and they did not respond to the ICC questionnaire. Thus, Seoul was the only city that answered the questions and they were evaluated as excellent and positive and in this way it was confirmed that the city would be the host the 1988 Summer Paralympics. The 1988 Paralympics was, at that time, the largest and most well-facilitated in Games history. The Seoul Paralympic Games gave a new generation of Paralympic athletes the opportunity to compete in many of the well-designed and well-constructed facilities used previously for the Olympic Games. The results showed the importance of assistance from host countries.[1]
The Seoul Paralympic Organizing Committee (SEPOC) had only a tangential relationship with the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOOC). But this relationship was substantial enough to recruit and train many of the sports,technical officials and another common areas for the Paralympic Games as well.
For the first time in history since Tokyo 1964, the Olympics and Paralympics were held in the same city - a tradition that was revived there and has never been abandoned.This is also the first Summer Paralympics on history under the aegis of the International Co-ordinating Committee (ICC).[2] The ICC was accepted into the Olympic Family in 1982, which allowed greater co-operation by National Olympic Committees in regards to the organization of Paralympic Games.[2] The Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee (SLOOC) regarded the Paralympic Games as an extension of the Olympic Games and formulated a big support plan which allowed sharing of Seoul Olympic manpower, facilities, equipment, and key personnel.[2] The SLOOC gave a subsidy of US$12,857,143.[2]
