Ever since Papua New Guinea made its first appearance at the Summer Paralympics in 1984, it has never fielded more than three para-athletes.This year, PNG is set to send eight athletes to Paris, driven largely by the efforts of Australia’s Paul Bannister.
Fun fact: Paralympic history began in 1948 at a hospital for war veterans in Stoke Mandeville, located 60 kilometres north of London. German neurologist Sir Ludwig Guttman was looking for a way to help his paraplegic patients, all World War II veterans, rehabilitate more quickly. His specialised unit was made up Royal Air Force pilots with spinal cord injuries, who all needed to use wheelchairs. Dr Guttman organised sporting events as the Olympic Games took place in London.
