Timeline - Paralympics

Year

1980

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Fifty-three Australian athletes competed at the Arnhem Paralympics.

Australia at the Arnhem Summer Paralympics 1980

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List of the members of the 1980 Australian Paralympic Team for the Arnhem Games, with links to the members’ Wikipedia articles.

1980 Summer Paralympics Australian Team List

"We can't host it because ah, Russia doesn't have any disabled people"

George Dunstan on why the 1980 Games were in Arnhem, not Moscow

Sticker produced by the organising committee of the 1980 summer Paralympics -

Logo of the 1980 ‘Olympic Games for the Disabled’

Team members opened the airline menu to find this

Joe Egan led the Australian team in the opening ceremony

Only the wheelchair team marched in the opening ceremony

Front row seats for the opening ceremony

Just one member of the amputee team was allowed to march in the opening ceremony

"As an Australian team, they were very fragmented"

Don Perriman tells of the teams within the team

More than just the sport – there was a cultural program too

What is it with archers and the hats they wear?

“One bad arrow can mean disaster”

GALLERY: Quadriplegia requires unique solutions for archer Trewhella

The fast men of the track had one thing in common – beards!

Product placement – Mike Nugent wins in the chair he built

Nugent and Alp receive their medals for the 200m

A special courage – jumping blind

Perfectly balanced and ready to let fly

Wayne Patchett was Australia’s most successful athlete in Arnhem

In 1980, there was ne’er a blade runner to be seen

The start of the controversial re-run of the 100m Class C final at the 1980 summer Paralympics in Arnhem. Australian Joe Egan (3rd from right) controversially threw his starting blocks onto the track to disrupt the original running of the final when he was prevented from running after he had not been told he was in the race. After the race was run, Egan's protest was upheld and the race was re-run. Egan won the bronze medal. Also in the race was New Zealander John Eden (second from right), who would subsequently move to Australia in 1982 and compete for Australia at 4 Games. Image courtesy of Paul Bird from his personal collection.

But there was controversy nevertheless

Head to head in the wheelchair slalom

‘Poppa’ would never again be there to oversee the Games in person

Got a ‘?’ – this is the place to ask

A good transport system is essential at any Paralympics

Caspers and Kosmala were at home on the range

Barbara Caspers, ready for business

She used to be an archer, so maybe that explains Libby’s headwear choice

You allowed a cameraman where?

Competition standard was high but the scoreboard was basic

Australian team members in their dormitory room during the 1980 summer Paralympics in Arnhem. Each athlete had a single or a bunk bed and a locker. This room was shared by 12 team members. Left to right: Mr Roberts (amputee team manager), Charlie Tapscott, Rene Andres (in wheelchair), Joe Egan (front), unknown on bed. Image courtesy of Paul Bird from his personal collection.

The accommodation wasn’t too fancy either

Tip-off, Australia vs USA

Size isn’t everything, but it helps in basketball

A moment from the game between the Australian and USA in wheelchair basketball at the 1980 summer Paralympics shows the stage of evolution of basketball chairs in 1980. The USA won easily, 87-36.This image is a still from a film made by Donald Worley about Australia's participation at the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Basketball was a different game in 1980 and so was the equipment

Carolyn Connors guided to the start of the 100m freestyle

"The term they used was escort"

George Dunstan on the days when there were no coaches – just escorts

You can almost feel the drama at the weightlifting

A moment of truth for Brian McNicholl

Back at the athletics, it was a wet, wet track

Australian wheelchair athlete Sue Hobbs (centre) pursues eventual gold medallist Juana Soto of Mexico and to win a silver medal in the women's Class 5 1500m at the 1980 summer Paralympics. Behind Hobbs is Curtiss of the USA, who finished third. Hobbs won three silver medals in athletics at the Games.This image is a still from a film made by Donald Worley about Australia's participation at the 1980 Summer Paralympics in Arnhem, Netherlands.

But there was a silver lining for Sue Hobbs

And you could see the race up close if you wanted to stand trackside

Erich Hubel takes silver behind an amazing new world record in the 800m

GALLERY: The weird and the wonderful world of sport wheelchair design in 1980

"I'd take my everyday wheels off and put the racing wheels on"

Julie Russell on racing in a ‘convertible’ day chair

The Games Village even had its own daily newspaper

From the track to the dance floor – in the same chair

A memento of the Games – friendship, unity, sportsmanship

Letter from the Australian Prime Minister to Australian Paralympian Paul Bird after his return from the 1980 summer Paralympics. Each Australian athlete who competed at the Games received this letter, personally signed by the Prime Minister.

Appreciation from the PM

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