1980 Olympics Arnhem The why and how
The previous Games
Dr Gutmann, president of ISMGF, thought it would be a good idea to host the World Games for the Disabled in the same country where the Olympic Games are held. A successful event since the first World Games in Rome in 1960. After administrative consultation with the IOC, the World Games can continue with the name Paralympics or Olympics for Disabled. Until now, competitions were only organized internationally for wheelchair-bound athletes.
In 1960 there were 400 athletes. Although Dr Gutmann also founded the ISOD (amputees) this year, of which he also became President, this group was not yet admitted to these Games.
In 1964 in Tokyo, 370 wheelchair athletes from 23 countries took part.
In 1968, for medical reasons, the Paralympics were not organized in Mexico (too high altitude) but in Tel Aviv (Israel) with 750 wheelchair athletes from 29 countries.
In 1972 Heidelberg (Germany), 1000 wheelchair athletes from 44 countries took part in the Games. During the tournament, an athletics demonstration was given by amputee and blind athletes. In
1976 Toronto (Canada) 1560 athletes from 40 countries participated. For the first time, formal participation (460) of amputees and blind people in the program on a modest scale. Standing Volleyball is only a demonstration sport.
In 1980 Arnhem (Netherlands), almost 2,500 athletes from 42 countries participated in 5 different diagnoses. The wheelchair athletes, the amputees, the elderly, the blind and the spastics. Where spastics and les autres were admitted to a limited extent (classes).
In 1984 USA and England. This year it became once again clear how little unity the International Organizations were. The wheelchair group did not want to continue together with the others and organized the wheelchair Games in Champaign (USA),due to fewer events and classes for wheelchair users Ultimately, they were unable to complete the financial picture and handed the order back to ISMGF, which then simply organized the Games in Stoke Mandeville, with strong financial support from the Dutch national Fund NFSG. The other Organizations such as the ISOD,(incl the Les Autres) , the IBSA and the CP-ISRA were able to hold the Games in New York (USA)
1980 Olympic’s award
At the 1976 Games it was known that the next Olympic Games would be held in Russia. Despite many attempts by the ISMGF to establish contacts, it was not possible to get a clear answer as to which city in Russia would host the Paralympics. Through many diplomatic contacts, ISMGF received the message that Russia does not want to organize the Paralympics. The reason for this is that Russia has no disabled people and does not practice this sport. ISMGF wanted the Paralympics in 1980 anyway and invited Countries to apply for these Games in 1977. The Dutch Board nominated the Netherlands as a candidate, A broadly based Commission conducted an investigation and submitted a report to a special Members’ meeting. The meeting agreed if the terms and conditions notified by the Commission are followed. The NIS was able to further complete and submit its “bid” to bring the 80 Games to Arnhem.
The South Africa issue
There is now strong international political pressure in the sports world to ban South Africa from international tournaments in connection with the Apartheid regime. This pressure is also increasing on the Dutch Associations and the Valid Associations such as NBB and NeVoBo and other Associations declare their solidarity. It means that the NBB does not cooperate in the sending of the wheelchair basketball team to the annual Stoke Mandeville in 1979. So the basketball players do not go. This decision caused Dr Guttmann to explode in anger and threatened to expel the Dutch wheelchair basketball players and deprive the Netherlands of organizing the 1980 Games. The meeting with the countries present in Stoke was grim and did not accept Dr Guttmann’s views. He still managed to declare during the meeting that he had decided to also admit the Spastic athletes to the Games in Arnhem. Moreover, he announced that he had adjusted the classification of “les Autres”. The changes cost many players from the Dutch Sitting Volleyball team a place in the Arnhem Games. The Les Autres athletes had to meet/be comparable to amputees. Ultimately, the Dutch Parliament made the final decision that South Africa was not welcome in the Netherlands. As a result, ISMGF was unable to take further sanctions against the Dutch Sports Association.
The organisation
The announcement in 1979 by Dr Guttmann that the CP-ISRA can still participate in Arnhem with a number of athletes and that the “Les Autres” can participate to a limited extent came as a bombshell for the Organization. Nearly 3,000 medals in 697 disciplines with 2,500 athletes have now been recalculated. A gigantic job to classify all those athletes according to the latest changes. In addition, to get the competition programs for the individual diagnosis groups and disciplines into timetables and accommodations. Then place the athlete in the correct program based on his classification or remove him because he has been disqualified.
There are now 8 classes for Wheelchair users, 9 classes for amputees/Les autres, 2 classes for the Blind, 4 classes for Spastic athletes..
Volleyball surprise
Egypt entered a team in the Standing and in the Sitting competition. They only brought players for one Team. After the first match in Standing Volleyball they withdrew the Team from the Standing competition and continued in the Sitting competition where they finished 6th.
The gold medal distribution 1980
America 76 ,Poland 76, Germany 68, Canada 63, England 45, Netherlands 33
Of the 42 participating countries, only 2 countries remained without the honorary metal.
The accommodations:
De Rijnhal in Arnhem, Zwembad in Veenendaal, kazerne Schaarsbergen en Papendal