Most people have probably heard of the Paralympics, but how many have actually watched them?

The Paralympics, much like they sound, are olympics. However, the athletes that compete have different physical and/or mental limitations. These limitations include "impaired muscle power (e.g. paraplegia and quadriplegia, muscular dystrophy, post-polio syndrome, spina bifida), impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency (e.g. amputation or dysmelia), leg-length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment." Besides this difference, the Paralympics and Olympics are quite similar.

Since the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the Paralympics have been held in the weeks following the Olympics. They are also held in the same location as the Olympics, in both the winter and summer. The Summer Games are composed of 22 sports and the Winter Games are composed of five, usually with multiple events per sport. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in each event, just like in the Olympics. Since each athlete has a different range of motion, each event has multiple categories based on ability. In the team events, a certain number of athletes of each category are a team which keeps the playing level fair.

Unfortunately, the Paralympics do not receive nearly as much media coverage as the Olympics. This year, NBC will show 260.5 hours of Olympic coverage and NBCSN will show 330 hours, among many other channels with similar amounts. In contrast, NBC and NBCSN will show a combined 66 hours of the Paralympics. That is also 60.5 more hours than the 2012 Games in London. Live coverage will also be available at TeamUSA.org. Even with this increase in television coverage, the Olympics have undeniably more media coverage than the Paralympics.

Almost every Olypmic year, there are stories of how the athletes were inspired by previous Olypmic athletes. With so much coverage, it's easy for that to happen. For disabled (or "differently-abled," as I prefer) children, however, it is not as easy to find athletes like them. With so little media coverage, it is more difficult for differently-abled athletes to reach the same audience. Not only do Paralympic athletes deserve the same amount of media coverage as Olympic athletes, people should be able to watch athletes that are just like them- regardless of physical or intellectual ability.

Sometimes it's easy to forget that differently-abled athletes are just as athletic (and talented) as abled-bodied athletes.

If you'd like to learn more about the Paralympics, please explore https://m.paralympic.org/paralympic-games