Basketball remains one of the most followed sports in the world, but few people know that the sport is also played by physically disabled athletes. In fact, over 100 countries currently play wheelchair basketball, with teams such as France, USA, Great Britain, etc. set to compete in the sport at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. Wheelchair basketball was initially designed to help injured soldiers rehabilitate and help them relieve stress. Since the physically disabled athletes had to use wheelchairs to travel around the court, the sport was called wheelchair basketball.

There is also an International Wheelchair Basketball Federation, which shows that the sport was first played in 1945 between two hospitals in the United States.

The International Paralympic Committee states: “Wheelchair basketball first emerged in the United States around 1946, developed by wounded servicemen from World War II. Most were former able-bodied players who wanted to continue playing the game. The simple adaptations and minor rule variations for people in wheelchairs allowed the sport to spread throughout the United States and eventually worldwide.”

Wheelchair basketball was introduced at the 1960 Paralympic Games in Rome. The Paralympic Games in Rome had a total of eight sports, one of which was wheelchair basketball. In the inaugural campaign, it was the United States of America that won two gold medals in wheelchair basketball.

Wheelchair basketball match Australia – Netherlands Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Great atmosphere … photo.twitter.com/1npir5OlyP

— sdl (@sandrine_lange) August 29, 2024

The Paralympic Games begin with pure energy, intensity and excitement! #Paris2024 #Paris2024WWB #Paralympic Games #wheelchairbasketball photo.twitter.com/mXWrQI2Nsl

— IWBF #WheelchairBasketball (@_IWBF) August 29, 2024

Wheelchair basketball has become extremely popular over the years.