Paralympiads

Noun

Paralympiad (plural Paralympiads)

1. An occurrence of the Paralympic Games.
   • Teams from many nations as far apart as Canada, Portugal and Pakistan, were entered in the sports festival held at Stoke Mandeville, England, this summer. […] Perhaps at this time, when the bloody wars of this century are in the forefront of our minds, the most significant aspect of the Paralympiad...[1954 November 9, “Wheelchair Olympics”, in The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton, Alta.: The Southam Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 1

   Synonyms:

   Paralympic Games, Paralympics

2. (rare) A period of four years between occurrences of the Paralympic Games.
   • The Games of the VI Paralympiad attracted over a million spectators.2006, Liam McCann, “The Paralympic Games: Rome 1960 – Athens 2004”, in The Olympics: Facts, Figures & Fun, London: Facts, Figures & Fun, AAPPL Artists’ and Photographers’ Press, →ISBN, page 94
3. (broadly) Usually preceded by a descriptive word: a competition or series of competitions for disabled participants involving sports or other activities.
   • Affiliated programs [to the Third Paralympic Congress] also will include an International Trade and Economic Initiative for international government and business leaders; an Abilities Expo, featuring exhibits of assistive technology and services; and the Cultural Paralympiad, a celebration of the...1996 June, G. Andrew Fleming, “The Paralympian—Another Kind of Hero”, in William Peters, editor, U.S. Society & Values: Electronic Journals of the U.S. Information Agency: America’s Olympic Summer...