View source for 1964 Summer Paralympics

{{Short description|Multi-parasport event in Tokyo, Japan}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|1964|Summer|Paralympics|
| image     = Paralympic Tokyo 1964.gif
| host_city = [[Tokyo]], Japan
| nations   = 21<ref name="International Committee"/>
| athletes  = 375<ref name="International Committee">{{cite web |title=SUMMER PARALYMPIC GAMES OVERVIEW |url=https://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games/summer-overview |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=4 October 2025}}</ref>
| opening   = 3 November 1964
| closing   = 12 November 1964
| opened_by = [[Akihito|Crown Prince Akihito]]
| events    = 144 in 9 [[Paralympic sports|sports]]
| stadium   = [[Yoyogi Park|Oda Field]]
| prev      = [[1960 Summer Paralympics|Rome 1960]]
| next      = [[1968 Summer Paralympics|Tel Aviv 1968]]
}}
The {{Nihongo|'''1964 Summer Paralympics'''|1964年夏季パラリンピック|1964-Nen Kaki Pararinpikku|lead=yes}}, originally known as the '''13th International Stoke Mandeville Games''',<ref name="dinf">[http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/japanese/resource/handicap/bok001/bok001all.html The Thirteenth International Stoke Mandeville Games for The Paralysed], dinf.ne.jp, March 17, 1999</ref> were the second [[Paralympic Games]] to be held. They were held in [[Tokyo]], Japan, and were the last Summer Paralympics to take place in the same city as the Summer Olympics until the [[1988 Summer Paralympics]]. The [[Summer Paralympics]], so far the only [[Paralympics]] held in [[Tokyo]] to take place with Spectators, as the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]] in [[Tokyo]] held without spectators due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

The 1964 Games, although still formally an edition of the International Stoke Mandeville Games, were the first to use the term "Paralympic" in association with the event; the term "Paralympic Games" was approved by the [[International Olympic Committee]] (IOC) first in 1984, while the [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC) was formed in 1989.<ref>[http://www.paralympic.org/export/sites/default/Media_Centre/Media_Information/2008_07_History_and_Use_of_Term_Paralympic.pdf History and Use of the Term Paralympic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216204230/http://www.paralympic.org/export/sites/default/Media_Centre/Media_Information/2008_07_History_and_Use_of_Term_Paralympic.pdf |date=2011-12-16 }}, [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC)</ref><ref name=ipc>[http://www.paralympic.org/Paralympic_Games/Past_Games/Rome_1960/ Rome 1960], [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC)</ref>

In contrast with the 1960 Games, many events had more than three participants, meaning that athletes were no longer guaranteed a medal upon completing their event.<ref>[http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/index.html?type=npc#athlete IPC searchable database]</ref>

Tokyo hosted the [[Summer Paralympic Games]] again in [[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020]].

== Sports ==
Nine sports were competed at the 1964 games. In [[athletics (sport)|athletics]], a [[wheelchair racing]] event in the form of a 60 m dash was added; previously the athletics program had included only field events. Wheelchair racing has since become one of the most prominent Paralympic events.<ref name="tokyo">{{cite web |title=Tokyo 1964 |publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]] |year=2008 |url=http://www.paralympic.org/paralympic-games/tokyo-1964 |access-date=2011-07-12 }}</ref>

* [[Archery at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Archery]]
* [[Athletics at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Athletics]]
* [[Dartchery at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Dartchery]]
* [[Snooker at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Snooker]]
* [[Swimming at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Swimming]]
* [[Table tennis at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Table tennis]]
* [[Weightlifting at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Weightlifting]]
* [[Wheelchair basketball at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair basketball]]
* [[Wheelchair fencing at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair fencing]]

== Medal table ==
{{main|1964 Summer Paralympics medal table}}
The physical medals themselves were created by a team of patients led by engineering instructor George Butler. The medals awarded displayed an engraving of a globe on one side paired with an image of the sport awarded on the other. Due to the fact that this was the first time the games were called the Paralympics, the words written on the medals said "Stoke Mandeville International Games – Tokyo 1964." The medals were also engraved and coated by George Butler himself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tokyo 1964 |url=https://www.paralympic.org/tokyo-1964 |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=International Paralympic Committee |language=en}}</ref>

Athletes from 17 of the 19 [[National Paralympic Committee]]s (NPCs) won at least one medal. By default, the table is ordered by the number of gold medals the athletes from a nation have won. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If nations are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by [[List of IOC country codes|IPC country code]].

With a few exceptions, each event contributed one medal of each type to the table (although for team events, multiple physical medals were actually awarded). Two bronze medals were awarded in the [[Dartchery at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|dartchery]], [[Snooker at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|snooker]] and [[Table tennis at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|table tennis]] events.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medallists  Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games  Dartchery|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results.php?competition=1964PG&gender=x&sport=dartchery&discipline=&event=Pairs&eclass=open|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=31 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831191332/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results.php?eclass=open&sport=dartchery&competition=1964PG&gender=x&discipline=&event=Pairs|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Medallists Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games Snooker|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results.php?competition=1964PG&gender=m&sport=snooker&discipline=&event=Snooker%20Event&eclass=paraplegics%20-%20open|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111111/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/results.php?competition=1964PG&gender=m&sport=snooker&discipline=&event=Snooker%20Event&eclass=paraplegics%20-%20open|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Medallists Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games Table Tennis|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=21|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111123/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=21|url-status=dead}}</ref> Some [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Paralympics|swimming]] events did not award silver or bronze medals.<ref>{{cite web|title=Medallists Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games Swimming|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=20|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=12 May 2011|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111134/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=20|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Inaccurate reports===
{{See also|Michal Escapa}}
At the start of the [[Paralympic Games]] there was no precision in reporting the results of the competitions. The [[Israel|Israeli]] athlete [[Michal Escapa]] was reported to be of [[Italians|Italian]] nationality and without a first name, as she is mentioned in the [[International Paralympic Committee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/tokyo-1964/results/swimming/womens-25-m-breaststroke-incomplete-class-2|title=Swimming - Women's 25 m Breaststroke Incomplete class 2|website=paralympic.org|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> of the [[Italian Paralympic Committee]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comitatoparalimpico.it/images/MediaGuideTokyo2020_web_compressed_17.08.pdf|title=Media Guide Tokyo 2020|website=comitatoparalimpico.it|language=it|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> web sites) for the reports of the [[Swimming at the 1964 Summer Paralympics]] where she won two bronze medals, simply reported as Escapa and not as Michal Escapa.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/michal-escapa|title=Michael Escapa - Profile|website=paralympic.org|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref><ref name=ESCAPA>{{cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/escapa|title=Escapa - Profile|website=paralympic.org|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> However, as can be seen from a 1968 Israeli newspaper reporting an interview with the athlete, she was the same athlete who had won medals in swimming and table tennis in Tokyo 1964.<ref name=TEL_AVIV_1968>{{cite web|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/?a=p&d=mar19680927-01.1.56&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN%7ctxTI-%2525u05d0%2525u05e1%2525u05e7%2525u05e4%2525u05d4-------------1&p=recaptcha&l=he|title=Michal Escapa - Hi whose mistake?|website=nli.org.il|quote=... but at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, she came to the place of success precisely. And she brought an additional Israeli team trophy as well as two sports for me|language=he|date=27 September 1968|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref>

{{legend2|#ccffcc|{{double dagger}} First-time Paralympic appearance|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

*''To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the [[File:Sort both.gif|link=|alt=]] icon next to the column title.''

{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = JPN
 | flag_template  = flagIPC
 | event          = 1964 Summer
 | team           = NPC
 | gold_FO = 0 | silver_FO = 0 | bronze_FO = 32
 | gold_GBR = 18 | silver_GBR = 23 | bronze_GBR = 20
 | gold_ITA = 14 | silver_ITA = 15 | bronze_ITA = 14
 | gold_AUS = 12 | silver_AUS = 11 | bronze_AUS = 7
 | gold_RHO = 10 | silver_RHO = 5 | bronze_RHO = 2
 | gold_RSA = 8 | silver_RSA = 8 | bronze_RSA = 3
 | gold_ISR = 7 | silver_ISR = 3 | bronze_ISR = 13
 | gold_ARG = 6 | silver_ARG = 15 | bronze_ARG = 16
 | gold_FRG = 5 | silver_FRG = 2 | bronze_FRG = 5
 | gold_NED = 4 | silver_NED = 6 | bronze_NED = 4
 | gold_FRA = 4 | silver_FRA = 2 | bronze_FRA = 5
 | gold_AUT = 4 | silver_AUT = 1 | bronze_AUT = 7
 | gold_JPN = 1 | silver_JPN = 5 | bronze_JPN = 4 | host_JPN = yes 
 | gold_BEL = 1 | silver_BEL = 0 | bronze_BEL = 2
 | gold_SUI = 0 | silver_SUI = 1 | bronze_SUI = 0
 | gold_MLT = 0 | silver_MLT = 0 | bronze_MLT = 2
 | gold_SWE = 0 | silver_SWE = 0 | bronze_SWE = 1 
|gold_USA=50|silver_USA=41|bronze_USA=32}}

Athletes with outstanding performances included [[Margaret Harriman]] of [[Rhodesia at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|Rhodesia]] who won two gold medals in archery,<ref name="archery">{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=1|title=Medallists-Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games-Archery|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=17 March 2012|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111025/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Serge Bec]] of [[France at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|France]] who won two individuals gold medals, one team gold medal and one team silver medal.<ref name="fencing">{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=9|title=Medallists-Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games-Wheelchair Fencing|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=17 March 2012|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111036/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=9|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Dick Thompson (athlete)|Dick Thompson]] of the United Kingdom won two individual golds, one silver and one bronze in athletics.<ref name="athletics">{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=2|title=Medallists-Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games-Athletics|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|access-date=17 March 2012|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311111047/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/reports.php?type=event&criteria=0&games=1964PG&sport=2|url-status=dead}}</ref> The United States' [[Ron Stein]] won six golds and [[South Africa at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|South Africa]]'s [[Daniel Erasmus]] won two golds and two silvers in athletics.<ref name="athletics"/>

== Participating delegations ==
Nineteen delegations participated in the Tokyo Paralympics.<ref>{{cite web |title= Medal Standings - Tokyo 1964 Paralympic Games |publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]] |year=2008 |url=http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/reports.html?type=medalstandings&games=1964PG |access-date=2011-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/hira/paralympics/participants/code/PG1964|title=Participation Numbers in 1964 Paralympic Games |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |accessdate=September 10, 2024}}</ref>

The 1964 Games marked [[Austria at the Paralympics|Austria]], [[Fiji at the Paralympics|Fiji]], [[Japan]] and [[South Africa at the Paralympics|South Africa]]'s Paralympic Games début. South Africa had just been banned from taking part in the [[1964 Summer Olympic Games]], due to its policy of [[apartheid]]. It was not, however, banned from the Paralympics until [[1980 Summer Paralympics]],as Japan (in a host country position) did not oppose its participation.<ref>[http://www.iisg.nl/collections/anti-apartheid/history/jaren70-5.php "'The Netherlands against Apartheid' - 1970s"], International Institute of Social History</ref><ref>[http://www.paralympic.org/Sport/Results/search.html?npc=RSA&gender=all&medal=all&sport=all&games=all South Africa at the Paralympics], [[International Paralympic Committee]]</ref> A letter from archery medalist [[Irene Preslipski]] published in the ''[[Times Leader]]'' on December 1, 1964, also mentions delegations from [[Ceylon]], [[Mexico]] and the [[Philippines]] marching in the opening ceremony. However, these countries only sent in officials.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagIPC|ARG|1964 Summer|25}}
* {{flagIPC|AUS|1964 Summer|17}}
* {{flagIPC|AUT|1964 Summer|7}}
* {{flagIPC|BEL|1964 Summer|3}}
* {{flagIPC|FIJ|1964 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|FRA|1964 Summer|13}}
* {{flagIPC|GBR|1964 Summer|44}}
* {{flagIPC|IRL|1964 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|ISR|1964 Summer|19}}
* {{flagIPC|ITA|1964 Summer|19}}
* {{flagIPC|JPN|1964 Summer|16}}
* {{flagIPC|MLT|1964 Summer|2}}
* {{flagIPC|NED|1964 Summer|11}}
* {{flagIPC|RHO|1964 Summer|6}}
* {{flagIPC|RSA|1964 Summer|9}}
* {{flagIPC|SWE|1964 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|SUI|1964 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIPC|USA|1964 Summer|65}}
* {{flagIPC|FRG|1964 Summer|1}}
{{div col end}}

==Ceremonies==
[[File:031164 - Tokyo opening ceremony -7 - 1a - adjusted.jpg|thumbnail|right|300px|Members of the Australian Team march at the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 1964 Summer Paralympic Games]]
The Opening ceremony was organized in the [[Yoyogi Park]], and the Closing Ceremony at [[Yoyogi National Gymnasium]].<ref name="tokyo"/> About 5000 spectators were present at both of the ceremonies.<ref name="tokyo"/> Then Crown Prince [[Akihito]] and Crown Princess [[Empress Michiko|Michiko]] were present in both of them.<ref name="tokyo"/>

==Media Coverage & Reception==
Earlier it was thought that the Games might not get much media coverage, due to the focus on the Olympic Games, but both radio and television media gave high coverage to the Games.<ref name="tokyo"/>

Most coverage in the media viewed the new Paralympics highly, and considered its new execution very well-done. The dedication to those with a variety of disabilities was thought to contribute to overall "international goodwill." This also made the Paralympic organization seem more "humane" since it was thought to be a good way of integrating disabled people into social and work environments.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-28 |title=Japan Had Lofty Goals for the 1964 Paralympics |url=https://www.neh.gov/article/japan-had-lofty-goals-1964-paralympics |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=National Endowment for the Humanities |language=en}}</ref>

British press was notably criticized by the founder of the games, Dr Ludwig Guttmann, for what he considered to be "poor coverage" of the games. He felt that in comparison to other countries, British press seemed to view the Paralympics not as a sports event, but as standard news.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Iona |date=2021-08-24 |title=From the archive: the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/from-the-archive-blog/2021/aug/24/the-1964-tokyo-paralympics-archive |access-date=2025-11-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Organizing Committee ==
[[Yoshisuke Kasai]] was the chairman of the board of directors.<ref name="dinf"/> The board had 3 vice-chairmen, namely T. Azuma, H. Dazai and I. Miki.<ref name="dinf"/> The auditor of the organizing committee was M. Tozawa,<ref name="dinf"/> and the secretary general was K. Ujiie.<ref name="dinf"/>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/japanese/resource/handicap/jsad/z16004/z1600402.html The Tokyo Games For The Physically Handicapped - Paralympic Tokyo 1964] ([[Japanese language|Japanese]])

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = ''[[Summer Paralympic Games|Summer Paralympics]]'' <br />[[Tokyo]]
| before = [[1960 Summer Paralympics|Rome]]
| after = [[1968 Summer Paralympics|Tel Aviv]]
| years = ''II Paralympic Summer Games'' (1964)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{EventsAt1964SummerParalympics}}
{{Paralympic Games}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1964 Summer Paralympics| ]]
[[Category:1964 Summer Olympics|Paralympics]]
[[Category:Sports competitions in Tokyo]]
[[Category:International sports competitions hosted by Japan|Paralympics]]
[[Category:Multi-sport events in Japan]]
[[Category:1964 in multi-sport events|Paralympic Games]]
[[Category:1964 in Japanese sport|Paralympic Games]]
[[Category:Summer Paralympic Games by year]]
[[Category:November 1964 sports events in Asia|Paralympics]]
[[Category:1964 in Tokyo|Paralympics]]
[[Category:Olympic Games in Japan]]