Now in a fully revised and updated third edition, The Paralympic Games Explained is the leading introduction to the Paralympic Games, one of the largest multi-sport mega-events in the world. The book explores every key aspect of the Games, from the history and development of the Paralympic movement to the Games’ economic and social impact.

This new edition includes new data and research material from Paris 2024, Beijing 2022 and Tokyo 2020, and looks ahead to Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. It examines key themes in Paralympic studies including governance; sustainability; societal attitudes to disability and disability sport; media and marketing in disability sport, and the debates around the legacy of the Games. This edition also explores new theoretical developments in the analysis of disability, sport and society, and presents 10 new case studies of Paralympic nations, including France, Chile, Namibia, Samoa and South Korea.

With useful features included in every chapter, such as review questions, study activities, web links and guides to further reading, this book is an essential text for any course on the Paralympic Games or disability sport, and invaluable reading for anybody with an interest in sport and society, sport history, sport management, mega-events, or disability and society.