Tokyo Paralympics: Quirky, interesting facts and how to become a sideline expert

What’s a tapper? How does someone without arms play table tennis? Why do some athletes wear metal aprons? All the answers here plus more quirky facts ahead of Tokyo Paralympics.

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani is the second tallest man in the world.

What’s a tapper? How does someone without arms play table tennis? Why do some athletes wear metal aprons?

There are plenty of fascinating facts and things that will surprise about the Paralympics Games.

We take a look at some of the most interesting and quirky things so you can be a couch expert when the Games begin on Tuesday.

Morteza Mehrzadselakjani of Iran in the sitting volleyball gold medal match in Rio.

HEIGHT MATTERS

The tallest Paralympian on record is sitting volleyballer Morteza Mehrzad.

He is 2.46m and he’s actually the second tallest man in the world.

He also won gold at the Rio Paralympics with his Iran teammates.

SHOOTING FOR GOLD

To be a Paralympic shooter you definitely need to be eagle eyed. Their bullseye is only 0.05 cm wide, approximately the same size as a full stop on a printed piece of paper.

There is a workshop that can repair all sorts of things at the games - including running blades.

ONE-STOP REPAIR SHOP

There is a technical repair centre at the Games for the repair and maintenance of prosthetics, wheelchairs and other relevant equipment. It includes 100 specialists from around the world.

SPECIAL SPORTS

All sports at the Paralympics have an Olympic counterpart except for two. Boccia and goal ball.

Australian playing Great Britain in Rio.

ON THE OFFENCE - WITH THE RIGHT CHAIR

You might not have known this but wheelchair rugby actually has two different types of chairs – one for offensive and the other for defensive players.

The difference is that defensive wheelchairs have a long bumper at the front for using to stop the oppositions movement.

COACHING FROM THE RIGHT POSITION

In football five-a-side, you may wonder what the coaches are doing behind the attack and goal. They are actually there to direct forward players.

Egypt's Ibrahim Hamadtou competing in table tennis at the Rio Paralympic Games.

TABLE TENNIS GUN

At the Rio Paralympics in 2016, Egypt fielded and armless player who held the paddle in his mouth to compete.

VERY IMPORTANT APRON

One of the most important pieces of equipment for a wheelchair fencer at the Paralympics is a metal apron which covers the lower half of their body to make sure it’s two of target areas are not registered.

Wheelchair athletes at the start of the men’s marathon in Rio.

FINISH LINE RULES

This one is interesting. In wheelchair racing athletes aren’t considered to have finished the race until the centre of their front wheel crosses the finish line.

OLYMPIC STAR BECOMES PARALYMPIC CHAMP

One athlete has won a medal at both the Olympics and the Paralympics. Hungarian Pal Szekeres won a bronze medal at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He was then injured in a bus accident in 1991 and went on to take fencing gold in his wheelchair at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

Matthew Levy is one of Australia’s hopes in the pool.

WHAT ARE TAPPERS?

If you are wondering why there are people leaning over the edge of the pool in some swimming races it’s because they are tappers. These assistants tap the head of swimmers who are visually impaired, to let them know when to make a turn.

WHY THESE ATHLETES COVER THEIR EYES

In goal ball every member of the team must wear an eye covering as players have different levels of vision. This means it is a fair playing field for all.

The silver, gold and bronze medals for the Paralympics.

MEDAL COLOURS

So how does a visually impaired athlete know they have received the right colour metal?

Organisers have insured medals are recognisable by touch, with a series of indentations included on the side of the middle for the first time. One indent Teishan is a gold medal, two silver and three a bronze. Brielle also spells out Tokyo 2020.

EXTRA HEIGHT

Wheelchair basketball players are actually allowed to tilt the chair is to gain a much-needed height advantage for shots, rebounds and blocks.

Steelers player Chris Bond at the London Paralympics.

EQUIPMENT SURPRISE

Wheelchair rugby isn’t actually played with a rugby ball. Players instead use a size 5 volleyball with a modified surface which helps them grip it.

GUN TEAM

One of the most dominant teams in any sport at the Paralympics is Brazil in football five-a-side. Brazil have been undefeated since the sports debut at the Athens Games back in 2004.

TV GUIDE

The Rio 2016 Paralympics smashed TV viewing records with a 4.1 billion cumulative audience. Many more are expected to tune in for Tokyo.

Kenyan para-rower athlete Asiya Mohammed training ahead of the Games. She will be the first Kenyan woman ever to attend a Games.

GOING THE EXTRA DISTANCE

Rowing has decided to make it harder for athletes. It has doubled the 1000m race to 2000m for Tokyo.

SPORT SUPERSTARS

US swimmer Trischa Zorn, who competed until 2004, is the most decorated Paralympian with 55 medals which includes 32 goal.

Swedish shooter Jonas Jacobsson is the most decorated male Paralympian with 27 medals, including 17 gold. He retired after Rio at 51.

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