Google Doodle cleverly highlights wheelchair basketball at Paris Paralympics with a message on cleanliness

In continuation of its tradition of celebrating significant global events with creative and heartwarming Doodles, Google on Friday, August 30, brought to fore the thrilling sport of wheelchair basketball in a charming cartoon Doodle

The illustration featured Google’s signature Summer Games birds performing an impressive slam dunk, but if you looked closely, there was more to the Doodle than just a playful animation.

What caught the eye of many observers was that the bird in the Doodle was not dunking a regular basketball. Instead, it appeared to be tossing a piece of rubbish into the net, which was actually one of Paris' iconic green waste bins, commonly seen along the city’s streets. This clever twist carried a significant underlying message: don't litter!

Paris, the city where the historic 2016 Climate Agreement was signed, seems to have inspired Google to use this opportunity to remind people of the importance of keeping our cities clean. Whether it’s the renowned City of Lights or any other city across the globe, the message is clear: we all share the responsibility of maintaining cleanliness and protecting our environment.

Wheelchair basketball takes the spotlight at the 2024 Paris Paralympics

The 2024 Summer Paralympics have kicked off in Paris, with wheelchair basketball emerging as one of the main attractions. This exciting sport will be featured from August 29 to September 8, and both men’s and women’s tournaments are set to capture the attention of sports fans worldwide.

This year’s tournament has seen a reduction in the number of teams compared to previous Paralympics. Only eight teams will compete in each tournament, a significant decrease from the last Games, where twelve men’s teams and ten women’s teams participated.

Teams qualified for the event through zonal championships, with the top four nations from each zone earning their place in the Games. Those who missed out on direct qualification had one final opportunity through a repechage tournament, where teams competed based on their World Championship rankings. As hosts, France, along with the repechage tournament host, were also guaranteed spots if they had not already qualified.

The tournaments are set to deliver fierce competition, as the world’s top wheelchair basketball teams battle it out for Paralympic glory. On day one of the Games, Team USA triumphed over Spain in the men’s wheelchair basketball competition. The match ended with a score of 66-56 in favor of Team USA.

Notable performances included Alabama Paralympian Brian Bell, who contributed ten points and made two successful free throws. On the opposing side, Alabama Paralympian Ignacio Ortega Lafuente, representing Spain, scored 17 points and was flawless from the free-throw line, making four out of four attempts.

A closer look at wheelchair basketball and its significance

As per olympics.com, Wheelchair basketball is more than just a sport; it has played a pivotal role in the history of the Paralympic Games. Originally developed as a rehabilitation activity for injured World War II veterans, wheelchair basketball was instrumental in the growth of parasports across the globe. This sport combines speed, skill, chair control, and teamwork, encapsulating the very essence of Paralympic competition.

Today, wheelchair basketball is played in over 108 countries worldwide. The game’s rules closely mirror those of traditional basketball, with two teams of five players each competing on a court of the same size as the Olympic standard. The hoop is also set at the same height. However, there are notable differences, particularly in dribbling. Players are required to pass or bounce the ball after every two pushes of their wheelchair’s wheels to avoid being penalized for travelling.

In wheelchair basketball, the wheelchair itself is considered an extension of the player’s body. These specialized chairs are built with rigid frames, three or four wheels, and an anti-tip wheel at the back to withstand the intense contact and collisions that occur during matches. Each wheelchair is custom-made to fit the player’s body measurements, impairment, and role on the court.

All athletes in wheelchair basketball compete in wheelchairs due to impairments that affect their motor function. Players are classified on a point system according to the severity of their impairment, with points ranging from 1 to 4.5. A lower point value indicates a more severe impairment. During the Paralympic Games, the total points for the five players on the court for each team must not exceed 14.

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This system ensures fair competition while accommodating a range of impairments, including paraplegia, quadriplegia, amputation, or other physical impairments that limit movement.

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