The sports

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  Wheelchair fencingThree types of sword; foil, epee and sabre, each one as swashbuckling as the next. Keep your eyes peeled though, some bouts last just eight seconds in these warp-speed encounters
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  Wheelchair rugbyOtherwise known as Murderball, wheelchair rugby has more crashes than an old PC. Be careful though, there's a lot of testosterone flying around. It might get you in the face
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  Wheelchair basketballSharp shooting, rock-solid defensive resolve and a complete lack of fear. That's what's needed to make it in the world of wheelchair basketball. Well, that and a very high pain threshold…
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  VolleyballStrength, agility and telepathy. These are just a few of the skills in a sitting volleyball player's genes, making them a bit like a comic book super hero. Only without the lycra
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  Wheelchair tennisStrawberries and cream and a nice glass of Pimms. Add to that searing serves, killer returns and pin-point precision, and you've got a potent mix of athletic ability
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  Table TennisYou've seen Forest Gump, you know what it's all about: speed. Part of the Paralympic Games since its inception in 1960, table tennis combines fast hands with a healthy dollop of skill
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  SwimmingParalympic swimming events are fast, furious and feature enough photo finishes to fill a gallery bigger than your average gap-year snap collection
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  ShootingThis is a sport in which the sharpest shooters hold their nerve while the world watches on. A steady hand is a must, a millimetre the wrong way and it’s game over
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  SailingSailing isn't just about a day out at the seaside with a packet of chips and some fresh air, to succeed in this game you've got to tame the elements as well as your opponents...
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  RowingRowing requires upper-body strength and determination rarely found in landlubbers, no wonder these guys have arms as wide as tree trunks and lungs as deep as swimming pools...
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  (Track) CyclingIf you could bottle the atmosphere from the Paralympic velodrome, you'd have bottle of pure adrenaline. Get ready for a full-on speed fest guaranteed to keep your nails gnawed
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  (Road) CyclingThink the Tour de France is exciting? Prepare to splutter joyous cappuccino foam all over the place when you watch Paralympic road cycling. Sprints, marathons, time trials; it has it all
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  PowerliftingOne of the most visually impressive sports at the Paralympics, you'll need to sweep your chin from the floor once you've seen these guys lifting weights of up to three times their body weight
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  JudoThe ancient art of Judo is practice that requires deep thought and a clear mind. Then, and only then, can you bundle into your opponent screaming as you wrestle them to the floor
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  GoalballGoalball is a fast and furious sport where players rely on bat-like ears and cat-like reflexes. If you like your sports to include blindfolds and people hurling balls at one another, then you'll love this.
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  Football 7-a-sideSmaller pitch, no one bothering with the stupid offside rule... yes, 7-a-side football is officially the greatest seven-a-sided sport IN THE WORLD
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  EquestrianWith glossy hair and toothy smiles, this is like watching a Glee Club for horses. Taking the reigns are riders whose levels of equine understanding put your average horse whisperer to shame
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  BocciaLike chess, only not remotely boring, Boccia is a thrilling game of strategy and precision. To reach the top, you need extreme control, robust nerves and almost laser-guided accuracy
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  ArcheryPrecision and nerves of steel are the name of the game as the arrows fly towards that elusive bull's-eye
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  Football 5-a-sideBlind footballers don't just have an armoury of sublime technical skill at their disposal - they've got a mental image of the pitch more detailed than an architect's blueprints
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  AthleticsLightning-fast bladed sprinters, throwers with Spartan strength and edge-of-the-seat drama? Check, check, check. Welcome to the enthralling world of Paralympic track and field

21 Sports

• Archery
• Athletics
• Boccia
• (Road) Cycling
• (Track) Cycling
• Equestrian
• Football 5-a-side
• Football 7-a-side
• Goalball
• Judo
• Powerlifting
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Swimming
• Table tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball
• Wheelchair basketball
• Wheelchair fencing
• Wheelchair rugby