VOCABULARY in pictures

Basketball:
What do you know about basketball? Learn about the past and present of the sport. Also learn the rules and lots of useful vocabulary.

Boccia:

Boccia, the Paralympic sport, has its origin in games played during the time of the Roman Empire. Men and women wheelchair athletes with cerebral palsy and related conditions compete together in team, pair and individual events. The aim is to propel balls so they end up as near as possible to a special white target ball called a ‘jack’. Have you ever played a game like Boccia?

Boxing:
What do you know about boxing - past and present? Learn the rules and basic boxing vocabulary.

Canoe - Kayak:

Aren't canoeing / kayaking the same thing? Find out, as well as learning about the past and present of the sport. Also learn the rules and lots of useful vocabulary.

Cycling:

Can you ride a bike? If so, how often do you go cycling? Have you ever seen a bicycle race? There is a lot more to Olympic cycling events than you might think. Olympic cycling consists of BMX, mountain bike, road and track events. Find out more about these different events and learn the vocabulary and language of cycling.

Diving:

Diving is one of four aquatic sports on the Olympic programme, and was first included in the programme in 1904. It developed in the 18th century in Sweden and Germany, with gymnasts practising routines by jumping into water. It requires great acrobatic skills and coordination. Have you ever tried diving? Find out more about the rules and history of the sport.

Equestrian:

‘Equestrian’ means connected with riding horses. What do you know about the equestrian events at the Olympics? Did you know that equestrian is the only Olympic sport in which men and women compete against each other on equal terms? There are three different events - jumping, eventing and dressage. Have you ever seen these in action? Find out more about the differences and learn the vocabulary and useful language.

Football:
Everyone knows football, don’t they? It is a very popular sport but not many know that football has a long Olympic history too. Find out more about the history of the sport and learn or revise some football vocabulary and useful language.

Rules:
- Two teams of 11 players play on a pitch. Each team tries to score more goals than the other.
- A game lasts 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves.
- Players can use any part of their body except their arms and hands to move the ball. The exception is when a player takes a throw-in.
- Goalkeepers can use their hands, especially when making a save.
- If a player commits a foul, then a free kick is awarded to the other team.
- If there is a foul inside the penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded to the other team.
- If there is a more serious foul such as a bad tackle or handball, the referee can show a yellow or red card. Two yellow cards or one red card mean a player is expelled from the game.
- If teams have the same score (a draw) then extra time and penalty shootouts are used to decide the winner.
- In Olympic football male players must be under 23 years old, though they can have three older players in each team. There are no age restrictions for female players.

Football 5-a-side:
There are two football events at the Paralympics: 5-a-side and 7-a-side. 5-a-side Football is played by visually impaired athletes using a special ball which has a noise-making device inside. Have you ever played 5-a-side Football?
Imagine trying to do it with a blindfold on!

Rules and Classification:

What is it?
5-a-side football is a type of football played on a smaller pitch, with smaller goals, and a shorter duration. Generally the rules are similar to 11-a-side football, but with adaptations for athletes with a disability.

Who can participate in 5-a-side football at the Paralympics?
5-a-side football is open to visually impaired athletes.

Classification:
Classification B1 (totally blind) only

How is it played?
- Games are played between two teams, each with four outfield players and a goalkeeper.
- The outfield players are visually impaired, but the goalkeeper may be fully or partially sighted.
- All outfield players wear eyeshades, which make it impossible to see, and mean that players with different degrees of visual disability can compete together.
- The ball contains a noise-making device - a bell. This allows the athletes to hear the ball.
- Teams may use one guide, who is positioned off the field of play, to assist in directing players.
- The pitch is surrounded with a rebound wall.
- There are no throw-ins and no offside rule.
- Each half lasts 30 minutes.

Football 7-a-side:
There are two football events at the Paralympic Games: 5-a-side and 7-a-side. 7-a-side football is played by athletes with cerebral palsy. The rules are very similar to 11-a-side football, with some modifications. Have you ever seen a game of 7-a-side Football?

Rules and Classification:

What is it?
7-a-side football is basically the same as 11-a-side football, but with rules adapted for athletes with a disability.
Who can participate in 7-a-side football at the Paralympics?

7-a-side football is open to athletes with cerebral palsy.

Classification:
Classes 5, 6, 7 and 8: class 5 is for athletes with the most severe disabilities, progressing to class 8 for the least disabled.

- All classes comprise ambulant athletes
- Teams must include at least one athlete from either class 5 or 6.

How is it played?
Modifications to the rules include:
- Each team consists of seven players;
- The playing field is smaller, as are the goals;
- There is no offside rule;
- Throw-ins may be made with one hand only;
- Each half lasts 30 minutes.