2024 Paralympic Games: Goodbye until next time.

And just like that the excitement of 11 days of the Paralympics is over with an incredible ending ceremony.

Set in the beauty of the French capital Paris, the 11 days of elite competition that will produce new stars at a range of landmark venues.

The 2024 Paralympics started on 28 August. Where you will find a fantastic showcase for disabled talent. You’ll get watch the best disabled athletes in the world compete on a global stage.

If you watched the Olympics earlier in the summer. You will have seen a number of the venues you fell in love with, set to return in the Paralympics, with 18 of the 35 Olympic locations being repurposed for the paralympics. The Stade de France and La Défense Arena will once again host athletics and swimming, respectively, and cycling will return to the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. The sand has been removed from the Eiffel Tower stadium so that blind football can replace beach volleyball. The only event to be held outside the French capital will be the para-shooting in Châteauroux.

The key events? like the Olympics, its focus is the centrepiece of the Paralympic Games. The track and field programme. As the athlete start to prepare to compete from the 30th August, Running for nine days and produces medals every day. You won’t miss the opportunity to watch or miss the excitement, particularly as everyday is jam packed, Saturday 7 September is boasting no fewer than 22 finals over its two sessions.

Which British star have I most enjoyed watching out of the 215 athletes that has formed the ParalympicsGB team.This year alone there are 81 debutants, meaning an incredible chance for new superstars to showcase their talents. Amongst the fresh names, 19-year-old cyclist Archie Atkinson (racing in the C4 pursuit), 13-year-old swimming prodigy Iona Winnifrith (in the SB7 100m breaststroke and SM7 individual medley). I thoroughly enjoyed Alfie Hewitt. Found myself shouting at the TV “COME ON ALFIE” . I also enjoyed watching the equestrian in the beautiful setting of the Château de Versailles.

How much do you know about the classifications stage feature of disability sports. Selection for competition is based on the nature and severity of their disability. In order to ensure fair competition, all athletes have to go through the classification process where they are assessed by technical and medical experts to ensure they are entered in the appropriate category. This is one reasons why we see so many medals; there are dozens of different classifications, The track and field especially.

However, the Paralympics are about more than just the sport itself. For 2 weeks, there will be more disabled people on our screens than at any other time.

Like me 24% of the UK is Disabled but only 4% of ads feature disabled people that’s why Channel 4 and BUPA are on a mission to champion better representation on disability and advertising . If you want to find out how search “24 on screen“.

That’s why you may have also noticed on Channel 4, More 4 they have been representing more advert with disabled people. Channel 4’s move to include subtitles during all live broadcasts.

I hope you have cheered on the fantastic ParalympicsGB athletes, as well as brilliant disabled presenters that covered the events.

As always, my hope for change. That disabled people’s talents need to be recognised in all arenas, at all times. For the Paralympics to have a legacy beyond their sport, that everyone improves their understanding and attitude towards disability.

To end, I just want share a few words that you would’ve heard In the closing ceremony. The first was from Tony Estanguet (President of the Paris 2024 organising committee of the Olympics and Paralympics games).  

Said “Everyone has seen what an inclusive world looks like”.

And

Andrew Parsons of the international Paralympic committee.

Said “ through sport they’ve shown what humanity can achieve when given an opportunity to succeed you saw strength and difference but now it’s time for you and society to make a difference loo”

If you didn’t hear them, I would urge you to go and listen to both speeches as they are just a very small snippet of what was said from two very powerful speakers.

Sport brings us together And shows us what’s possible when accessibility is prioritised.

Until next time K