Highlights

Italy have participated in every Paralympic Games since the inaugural event in Rome in 1960, when their 80 medals (including 29 gold) put them top of the table. Multi-sport athlete Roberto MARSON won 26 Paralympic medals (16  gold, seven silver, three bronze) in three sports (athletics, swimming, wheelchair fencing) over four Paralympic Games (from 1964 to 1976). Four-time Paralympian Luca PANCALLI competed in the Games from 1984 to 1996, winning eight gold, six silver and one bronze in swimming. He was appointed president of the Italian Paralympic Committee in 2000, before being named vice-president of the Italian National Olympic Committee, the first disabled person to hold that position.