Snooker at the Paralympic Games
Snooker featured in the Paralympic Games right from the beginning, at the 1960 Paralympics in Rome. It was included in the program for the next 28 years, excluding the 1980 games. In 1988 the sport took place in Seoul for the last time. To this day, it is unknown why exactly the sport was dropped. Many people suggest that snooker is not an athletic sport and that is why it has been removed.
The events included throughout these years were for male participants only, and the rules were similar to that of the able-bodied snooker. The event format was simple, there were four groups were participants competed against each other. The player with the best score proceeded to the knockout-stages, where the winner was determined. Two bronze medals were awarded, one to each of the semi-final losers, with the winners battling it out for gold in the final.
Although snooker was discontinued from the Paralympic Games, snooker fanatics around the world are hopeful that it will be included in the near future. In 2015, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association was created to raise awareness about the sport. They have been promoting the opportunity for disabled athletes through grass roots level and competition. Snooker being introduced to the Paralympic program is a real possibility and could only be positive news for all disabled athletes.
Related Pages
- List of sports at the Paralympics
- Discontinued Paralympic Sports
- List of Sports for Athletes with Disabilities
- More about the sport of snooker
- Complete list of sports
- Main Paralympics page
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