 The Winter Paralympics began in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik , Sweden . Those Games were the first Paralympics ( Summer or Winter ) that featured athletes other than wheelchair athletes . The Games have expanded and grown to be ( along with the Summer Games ) part of the largest international sporting event after the Olympic Games . Given their expansion the need for a very specific classification system has arisen . This system has also given rise to controversy and opened the door for cheating . Winter Paralympians have also been convicted of steroid use and other forms of cheating unique to Paralympic athletes , which has tainted the integrity of the Games . 
