The Paralympics begin again on Wednesday in Rio, where some of the world’s greatest athletes will compete for their countries across more than two dozen sports.
The games, which feature athletes with disabilities, include all the inspiration and intrigue of the Summer Olympics while also arguably having more of an effect on the people who watch them. To a noticeable degree, stories of the athletes’ perseverance have helped change the views of people who watch the Paralympics. After the London Games in 2012, for example, the vast majority of people in the United Kingdom ― including both those with and without disabilities ― believed the perception of people with disabilities had improved. That’s real change.
To get excited for the Paralympics once again, we’ve rounded up just some of the many awesome photos from Paralympics past.
Get excited. And watch. This is going to be good.