The Organization of Paralympic Sport in the United States

In the United States, Paralympic sport is governed by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), as set forth in the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 1998. The USOC formed a dedicated Paralympic Division in 2001 to manage this responsibility in close cooperation with other USOC divisions and many of the sport-specific national governing bodies such as USA Archery and USA Hockey. Together, the USOC and the national sport-specific organizations execute a plan to secure slots for the United States in Paralympic competitions and then select the top athletes to represent the United States at each edition of the games. This article describes how athletes with disabilities gain access to sports and recreation opportunities and how the USOC and a number of other organizations support them in their respective sports. (Contains 1 table.)