Geilo 1980
Winter Paralympics head to Norway
Following the success of the first ever Winter Paralympic Games in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden four years earlier, Gelio in Norway was awarded the right to host the second Winter Paralympics in 1980.
While the 1980 Winter Olympics was held in Lake Placid, Geilo prove a more than adequate host for the 1980 Winter Paralympics which saw all classes with locomotor disabilities able to participate at the Games for the first time.
At the Geilo 1980 Games, there were still only two competitive parasports available to the athletes: Alpine and Nordic skiing (as in Örnsköldsvik four years before). The Games also saw a demonstration (and therefore non medal event) in sledge downhill racing.
To the delight of the home supporters Norway claimed 54 medals with 23 gold and finished top of the medals table. Finland finished second making it a Scandinavian top two while Austria took third place.
Date Games were held: February 1-7
Number of nations represented: 18
Number of competitors: 350+
Number of medals awarded: 168
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