Author: John Cairney, Professor and Head of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences; Director, The Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies, The University of Queensland

The Paralympic Games, now a major global event, has a history rooted in rehabilitation. The first official Paralympic Games was held in Rome in 1960. But its origins trace back to 1948, when neurologist Ludwig Guttmann organised the Stoke Mandeville Games in England for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries. He believed sport could play a powerful role in rehabilitation, pushing the boundaries of human performance in ways other approaches could not. Today’s Paralympic Games continue this legacy, with technology playing a central role in these achievements. Technology has enabled athletes with disabilities to reach incredible heights. However,…