Paralympic history by Don Worley – Atmosphere

Behind-the-scenes at Paralympic events in the 1970s-80s.

These are highlights from the collection of Paralympic films shot by Adelaide dentist and amateur filmmaker Don Worley.

The collection includes almost 10 hours of footage which helps chronicle the development of the Australian and international Paralympic movement from a time when such material is incredibly scarce. 

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has found that Worley’s is possibly the only footage in the world to survive from some of these early sporting events for people with a disability.

This compilation includes footage from the following events:

— World Games for the Disabled – Heidelberg, Germany, 1972 (NFSA ID: 1462044)

— Commonwealth Paraplegic Games – Dunedin, New Zealand, 1974 (NFSA ID: 1461877)

— Toronto Olympiad for the Physically Disabled – Toronto, Canada, 1976 (NFSA ID 1461959)

— VII World Wheelchair Games – Stoke Mandeville, UK, 1984 (NFSA ID: 1462104)

— Australian National Wheelchair Games – Adelaide, Australia, 1973 (NFSA ID: 1462041)

— Arnhem 80 – Arnhem, Netherlands, 1980 (NFSA ID: 1461889)