In 1992, Spain had competitors in archery, wheelchair basketball, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, boccia, cycling, fencing, judo, tennis, 7-per-side football, table tennis and athletics.[1]
Spain won 34 gold medal, 31 silver medals and 42 bronze medals.[1] Spain finished fifth in total medals.[2]
Background
The Games were held in Barcelona. Competitors with spinal cord injuries, amputations, cerebral palsy, Les Autres and vision impairments were eligible to compete in these Games.[3]
In 1992, the Games were held at home for Spain, with the Games being staged in Barcelona.[4] 82 countries participated.[5] These were the first Games to be broadcast live on television.[6] The Games used the same venues as the Summer Olympics.[7]
Organizers decided to not charge an admission fee to events in order to attempt to foster interest locally in disability sport.[8] Domestically, there was very little interest in the Paralympic Games when compared to the Olympic Games.[2]
22 of Spain's gold medals, 14 silver medals and 12 bronze medals came in athletics. 35 medals were won by athletes with vision impairments, 9 by athletes with physical disabilities and 4 by athletes with cerebral palsy.[1]
1 of Spain's gold medals and 3 bronze medals came in cycling. 2 medals were won by athletes with vision impairments, and 2 with physical disabilities.[1]
7 of Spain's gold medals, 14 silver medals and 22 bronze medals came in swimming. 9 medals were won by swimmers with vision impairments, 28 by swimmers with physical disabilities and 6 by swimmers with cerebral palsy.[1]
When Spain played the United States on the second day of competition, 12,500 people were in attendance. Organizers had to turn away 4,000 people who had wanted to attend.[12]Philip Craven, future President of the International Paralympic Committee, played his first Paralympic Games wheelchair basketball at these games when he scored 30 points against the Spanish team.[13]
