1980 Summer Paralympics
summer paralympics dutch paralympische zomerspelen branded olympics disabled sixth summer paralympic game held arnhem netherlands june soviet union host summer olympics invited host paralympics however disability sport passed notoriously statement issued denying existence disabled people country labelled invalid soviet official soviet paralympic team first represented summer winter game also last soviet union extant first paralympics former soviet territory would controversy preparation game inclusion team south africa netherlands public official opinion inclusion south african team pressure came number sport organisation organising committee dutch parliament negative well eventually parliament decided allowing participation south african team although much publicity relating south african participation negative succeed bringing disabled sport movement mind many people would otherwise considered subject dutch organiser also increased visibility fundraising building fund would hold surplus year game would naturally find expression international fund sport disabled supporting future paralympic movement paralympics first ever mascot pair squirrel noggi joggi designed necky oprinsen sintmichielsgestel chosen design competition dutch broadcaster avro competitor divided four disability category amputee cerebral palsy visually impaired wheelchair first time cerebral palsy athlete competed paralympics volleyball added program new sport fortythree delegation took part arnhem paralympics iceland kuwait sudan made first appearance prior game state general national parliament netherlands host country adopted motion declaring south africa participation undesirable due policy apartheid game thus marked south africa first absence summer paralympics since joined movement remained absent netherlands decision thus corrected anomaly whereby south africa banned olympic movement since still authorised take part paralympic game top npc number gold medal listed host nation netherlands highlighted summer olympics winter paralympics international paralympic committee