EXPLAINER: Making sense of Olympics, Paralympics, Deaflympics and Special Olympics

The Winter Olympic Games are set to take place from 6 to 22 February 2026 in Milano Cortina. Much like the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, these Games occur every four years and represent the pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes across the globe.

Approximately 2,900 athletes from over 90 National Olympic Committees will compete in 116 events on ice and snow, spanning eight sports and 16 disciplines.

Below is a breakdown of the various Games and what sets them apart:

SUMMER VS. WINTER GAMES

The primary distinction between these two events lies in the environment and the equipment used.

Summer Olympic Games: These feature sports played on grass, in water, or in stadiums (e.g., athletics, swimming, and cycling).

Winter Olympic Games: These are exclusive to snow and ice (e.g., skiing, ice hockey, and figure skating).

Both occur every four years, but they are staggered so that an Olympic event takes place every two years (e.g., Summer 2024, Winter 2026, Summer 2028).

THE PARALYMPICS

The term Paralympic means "parallel" to the Olympics. These Games take place roughly two weeks after the Olympic Games in the same host city and venues.

Eligibility: Athletes must have one of 10 eligible impairment types, such as limb deficiency, impaired muscle power, or vision impairment.

Elite competition: This is a high-performance event where athletes must meet strict qualifying standards to compete.

Technology: The Paralympics often showcase advanced adaptive technology, such as "blades" for running or specialised wheelchairs.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

The Special Olympics is fundamentally different from the Paralympics because its primary focus is on intellectual disabilities.

Inclusivity: While the Paralympics focuses on top elite performers, the Special Olympics believes every person with an intellectual disability should have the chance to compete.

Divisioning: Athletes are grouped with others of similar ability so that every race is fair and everyone has a chance to win.

Frequency: They hold World Summer and Winter Games every four years, but also run grassroots programs and local competitions 365 days a year.

DEAFLYMPICS

Started in 1924, the Deaflympics is one of the oldest multi-sport events in the world and is specifically for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Level Playing Field: Athletes do not use hearing aids or cochlear implants during competition to ensure equality.

Visual Cues: Instead of starter pistols or whistles, officials use visual signals such as flashing lights and flags.

Cultural Identity: Deaf athletes often do not consider themselves "disabled" in a physical sense; rather, they view themselves as a cultural and linguistic minority. They prefer a separate event where they can communicate freely in Sign Language without barriers.