Activity Alliance’s Post

Will you be watching the Paralympics? What is your reason for watching? Channel 4 recently commissioned research that showed nearly 60%of people said they watch the Paralympic Games to “see athletes overcoming their disabilities” whereas just 37% say they watch the Paralympics for “exciting sporting competition." Nana is a disability advocate which is driven by his personal experiences and his passion for making a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. He believes that the Paralympics provide an opportunity for disabled athletes to demonstrate that they can compete on the same level as able-bodied individuals. Despite the societal tendency to view Paralympians as "superhuman," the event highlights that athletes with disabilities are equally capable. Having a disability doesn't make someone superhuman—it simply means we compete in sports with different challenges. Channel 4's Paris 2024 Paralympic Games campaign challenges patronising attitudes using it's "Considering What?" theme which is a good move away from the previous "Superhumans" theme. We'll be watching the Paralympics with the same vigour that we watched the Olympics as there are always many lessons to be learnt from the world of sport that can be transferred into organisations. #Paralympics #Inclusion #Disability

["Special Olympics is not the Paralympics. I've been hearing a lot of 'You must be busy!' and 'Why aren't you in Paris?' , though as the 2024 Paralympics wind down, I thought I'd make some distinctions between these games and the Special Olympics.] - Pierre Comis I'm following up on what Pierre said to help building awareness about the Special Olympics , It's good to know the difference and share it with others! #SpecialOlympics (where I volunteered at the #BerlinWorldGames2023 👇📸) serves individuals with intellectual disabilities. Events are held year-round, and the World Games occur every two years. It's open to individuals of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced athletes. #Paralympics serves athletes with physical disabilities and is a competitive event held right after the Olympic Games. Athletes must meet qualifying standards, and classification ensures fair competition based on impairment type and severity. Each organization is designed to meet different needs, and both are valuable in promoting #inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities.

Forbes shares three things we can learn from the summer paralympic games this summer in Paris. 1. Don't overdose on inspiration - while we can be inspired by their disabled athletes, let's focus on their commitment, their training and their achievements and less about their disability. 2. Paralympic sports provide lessons -- in achievement, adaptations and desire to be great in a sport that speaks to you. We can all relate to this. 3. Paralympic games are fun to watch - we all like to watch people achieve great things. This is true in both the Olympic games and Paralympic games. #DisabledAndCapable #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityCompetitive Andrew Pulrang | International Paralympic Committee https://bit.ly/3TWhYFY

The Paralympic Games is a major international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. Held every four years, shortly after the Olympic Games, the Paralympics showcases the extraordinary talents of over 4,000 athletes from across the globe. The beginning of the Paralympic Games can be traced back to Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, a pioneering neurologist born in 1899 in Germany. Fleeing the Nazi regime in 1939, Guttmann settled in England, where he would make significant contributions to sports for people with disabilities. As the founder of the Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, he used sports as a form of rehabilitation for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries to gain physical strength and psychological resilience. In 1948, he organised the Stoke Mandeville Games —a sports competition for wheelchair athletes that coincided with the London Olympics. This event laid the foundation for the Paralympic Games that officially commenced in Rome in 1960 with 400 athletes from 23 countries. The Paralympics have since evolved to include athletes from over 160 countries participating in 22 sports and 549 events and was watched by over 4.1 billion people during the Tokyo 2020 Games. The Paralympics, a celebration of incredible athletic skills, is a testament to the transformative impact of Dr. Guttmann's treatments. It promotes inclusion, equality, and disability awareness, inspiring athletes and spectators worldwide. #Paris2024 #Olympics #ParisOlympics #Sports #ParisOlympics2024 #DisabilitySport #Paralympics #Paralympian #ParaAthlete #Paralympics2024 #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityPride #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilitySupport

𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦-𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺. It is near impossible for disabled people to find a level playing field in any walk of life, even among their own like. This was starkly manifest in the recently concluded Paralympics, an event where one would think the disabled would feel more at home. On the contrary, if you had watched these games, you couldn’t help but wonder at the starkly unequal match-ups. For example, an armless archer drawing the bow with her feet competing with those sitting on a wheelchair but shooting with their hands or some even standing upright. There is a great dilemma here. Of course, too broad a classification creates these unequal competitions, but more specific or narrower categories would mean too many of them and consequent loss of competitive pool and public interest for something already considered a ‘side-show’ event. Something about this phenomenon I acutely learned in my days of futures contracts structuring wherein if you kept the basis very specific, it will be very useful to a segment of the trade but won't attract a large market, so you have to balance it out by broad-basing even while introducing 'basis-risk' for everyone. Paralympic movement wants to be competitive, attract eyeballs, money, sponsorships, and at the same time remain 'inclusive' for diverse types and shades of disabilities. So no matter where the line is drawn, some athletes will benefit more than others. Then there is another aspect of unfair help from assistive technology. Take the case of Markus Rehm the ‘Blade Jumper’ whose carbon-fiber leg powered 8.72 metres long jump would have won him the last seven mainstream Olympics. Or the infamous double amputee the ‘Blade runner’ Oscar Pistorius who was accused of having an unfair advantage over able-bodied due to his artificial limbs. Should such athletes be outright barred from competing in open events? There are no simple answers to these questions.

It’s ok to get it wrong, as long as you reflect on and learn from your mistakes. Well done to #channel4 for ripping up its controversial “superhuman” narrative used in marketing campaigns for the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, and instead focussing on the sporting successes and achievements of para athletes. Not “Superhuman” but “Super. Human”. It’s patronising for disabled people to be thought of as superheroes for excelling in their chosen sport or profession, and language which seems positive and supportive can actually come across as inequitable and non-inclusive. I often experience it myself at a significantly lower sporting level when people say to me (often accompanied by the subconscious pitying head tilt!) “wow you row and run half marathons even though you have MS”…in my case, it’s actually because of the MS - my condition gives me resilience and tenacity that I never had before my diagnosis! I hear so many people avoiding discussing disability at all for fear of getting it wrong and inadvertently causing offence. The best solution is open and transparent communication - bringing disabled people into the conversation and listening to their input on language/treatment/adjustments/workplace policies. I believe it is far better to discuss disability in an open and forgiving forum and stumble over the language than to avoid the conversation altogether. #disabilityinclusion #multiplesclerosis #disabledathletes #paralympics

“With 100 days to go until the Paris Games, the IPC’s Andrew Parsons says it is vital for disability rights they are the best ever.” “We’re talking about the 4,400 athletes living in the village, but we also want to be able to influence positively the lives of 1.2bn people with disability,” Parsons says. “We have the feeling that persons with disability have been forgotten in some of these international debates. If you see some other movements, and we applaud them all, [those related to] gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation have moved a lot, while the persons with disability have been left behind. “The pandemic has shown us, if you see the number of persons with disability and the kind of health assistance that was provided to them even in very developed countries, the policies that were designed to be very inclusive were not,” says Parsons, who does not have a disability. “Sometimes you don’t see persons with disability in those top discussions [and this is] fundamental to design the policies that will lead to real inclusion.” “I believe we have the best platform to help change that because, if you think on sport, politics, culture, whatever, the Paralympic Games is the only event of global impact that puts persons with disabilities centre stage. That’s why we understand the responsibility we have. “In September, the United Nations will host its summit for the future to look again at its sustainability goals. In this critical moment wWe have the Paralympic Games as a platform one month prior to it. It’s a very good opportunity that we don’t want to waste.” Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024 International Paralympic Committee #Paris2024 #Paralympics

As the Paralympic flame was extinguished, signaling the end of the Games in Paris, Amanda Wilkinson, CEO, took a moment to reflect on the achievements of the Games, the barriers for developing countries, and the future of inclusive sports for all. “The Paralympics provide an important time for nations to gather together to celebrate disability sport, and the incredible athletes whose skill, determination, and resilience make them the best in their fields. “It's an amazing opportunity to highlight the importance of disability sport for the progress of the communities and nations they represent. “However, for the Paralympics to fully realise its value of equality, more must be done to tackle the barrier of under-investment in less-resourced nations to take part. Not only does this mean equipping athletes with the tools they deserve to compete at the highest level, but upstream from that investing in grassroots sport, to catalyse the ambition, passion and talent of future athletes. “Athletes at the Paralympics and the Olympics represent the very small minority with the skills to become the very best sportspeople in their fields. But you shouldn’t need to be a global contender to have the chance to participate. Everyone should have the chance to take part in sport, and sport inclusion brings benefits to the whole community. “We are pleased to see new nations competing at each new Paralympics, but it would be wonderful if more could be done to level this particular playing field to see more athletes from poorer nations get a chance to compete.” This goes beyond sports—it's about ensuring that all disabled people have the opportunity they rightly deserve to reach their full potential.  It was encouraging to see the WHO launch a campaign during the Games that called for global action to break down barriers to access to assistive technology, ensuring everyone can benefit from the tools that facilitate participation and independence. For anyone who wants to get more active, take a look at #EveryBodyMoves initiative powered by Toyota, which provides a local activity finder for inclusive sports and activities that everyone can get involved with. Every Body Moves  #Paris2024 #Olympics #ParisOlympics #Sports #ParisOlympics2024 #DisabilitySport #Paralympics #Paralympian #Paralympics2024 #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityPride #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilitySupport #WheelchairSports #sportswheelchair

🏅 Unveiling the Untold Stories: Paralympic Challenges Beyond the Limelight 🏅 As we celebrate the conclusion of the Paris Paralympics 2024, it’s important to recognise the incredible achievements of disabled athletes. However, while these Games highlight extraordinary performances, they also bring to light broader issues that need our attention. Let’s delve into the complexities behind the Paralympic spotlight to better understand the diverse experiences of disabled individuals. 🌍 Not Every Disabled Person is a Paralympian There’s a common misconception that the Paralympics represent the ultimate path for all disabled people in sport. However, not every disabled person is—or should be expected to be—an elite athlete. For some, disabilities present physical limitations that make competitive sports unattainable, while others may simply not desire that path. The assumption that every disabled person should aim for Paralympic success can create unrealistic standards and narrow views of achievement. Success for disabled people should be measured in diverse ways, not solely through athletic performance. 🤔 The “Inspiration” Label: A Subtle Form of Ableism? While Paralympic athletes' achievements are impressive, framing them as "inspiring" can sometimes be a subtle form of inspiration porn—a term used to describe the objectification of disabled people to motivate non-disabled individuals. This perspective can diminish the focus on their athletic prowess and emphasise their disability, suggesting their value comes from overcoming adversity rather than acknowledging their skills and talents. 📣 The Role of the Media: Avoiding Tokenisation The media often highlights Paralympic athletes' triumphs over disability rather than their sporting achievements. This can reduce their stories to feel-good narratives rather than meaningful insights into their experiences as elite athletes. Media coverage should focus on their athletic abilities and the context of their sport, promoting genuine understanding and respect. 🌟 Broadening the Conversation: Recognising the Diversity of Disabled Lives Disabled athletes should be seen as part of a broader conversation about disability. Success means different things to different people, whether excelling in sports or pursuing other ambitions. The Paralympics should be viewed as one expression of disabled excellence, not a universal benchmark. Recognising the spectrum of disabled experiences creates a more inclusive and respectful environment. 🌍 Call to Action: Moving Beyond Inspirational Tropes Let’s expand the conversation around disability beyond inspiration and triumph. By avoiding romanticised narratives and focusing on the achievements within the context of sports, we can respect the diverse realities of disabled lives and promote accessibility and equity in all areas of life. #ThoughtProvokingThursdays #RestorativeJustice #MediationNotConfrontation #CognitiveDiversity

For the last two weeks, the #athletes of the 2024 #paralympics have been in the international #sports spotlight. Their achievements should ensure they’re always treated like athletic hero’s, but as they begin their journey home, the #airlines they travel on will treat them inhumanly, with no respect, and quite frankly like #cargo. Just as they were on their way to Paris, they will be manhandled in and out of flimsy, narrow and uncomfortable aisle chairs onto and off aircraft, risking serious injury. They should be celebrating their #achievements on board, but many will dehydrate and starve themselves as most commercial aircraft have no #accessible toilets. Many will arrive at their destinations to find their #wheelchairs damaged, or that they’ve even been lost. All this because airlines and #aircraft manufacturers have not worked together to make #accessibility a priority. They would rather take the chance they will be forced to make accessibility a feature on #commercial aircraft through possible #legislation rather than of their own accord, knowing any legislative #enforcement could take decades. Help change this and give #paralympians, disabled #veterans and all those with mobility #disablities the dignity of being able to fly comfortably, safely and with dignity. Please read and sign this petition https://chng.it/XLVWt2Ls5y - let’s support everyone’s advocacy efforts for accessibility. #Accessibility #AccessibleTravel #Wheelchairs #Disability #Transportation #aviation #AccessibleTourism #RightsOnFlights #tourism #equality #airtravel #wheelchairtravel #aircraft #design #airlines #aircraft #airtravel #equality #Boeing #Airbus #FAA #Boeing #Airbus #AllWheelsUp #aviation #DisabilityAwareness #AmplifyDisabledVoices #DisabilityRights #SeeTheAbility #DiversityAndInclusion #DisabilityPride #Paralympics2024 #Paris