The President of International Paralympic Committee, Andrew Parsons hailed the “most transformative sporting event on Earth” on Wednesday. Paris Paralympic Gameswhich should serve to “open minds wide” and which “will demonstrate what people with disabilities can achieve at the highest level when barriers to success are removed”, while asking athletes to show the world that they must “be recognised, celebrated, rewarded and above all respected.”
“People of France, sports fans around the world, welcome to the most transformative sporting event in the world, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games,” he said. Parsons in his speech at the opening ceremony of the event.
The Brazilian recalled that Paris is “the most beautiful city in the world”, but that the world is “in one of the most critical moments” of its most recent history and “at a time of growing global conflict, growing hatred and exclusion”. “Let sport be the social cement that unites us,” he asked.
“At the Paris Paralympic Games, we will celebrate what makes us different“We will demonstrate that there is strength in difference, beauty in it, and that difference is a powerful force for the French. I want these to be your Games, eleven days of sensational sport and for you to be able to enjoy them together, with family, friends, and loved ones. A unique opportunity to defend the rich diversity of your country, to applaud inspiring athletes and to celebrate the best of Paris, France and humanity,” the leader added.
He stressed that it was also time to “open minds wide.” “What we will see from Paralympic athletes are skills and abilities that will surprise us. Levels of resilience and determination that will give us an energy and camaraderie that will inspire us. “Paralympic athletes are not here to participate, they are not playing, they are here to compete, to win, to break world records,” Parsons said.
“They are also here to achieve something much greater than personal glory. They want equality and inclusion for themselves and for the world’s 1.3 billion people with disabilities. Through their actions, they will challenge stigma, change attitudes and redefine the boundaries of what is thought possible,” the CPI President continued.
The Brazilian president has no doubt that the event “will demonstrate what people with disabilities can achieve at the highest level when the barriers to success are removed”, but lamented that “the fact that these opportunities largely only exist in sport in 2024 is shocking”. “This is proof that we can and must do more to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities, whether on the playing field, in the classroom, in the concert hall or in the boardroom,” he said.
Historic Paralympic Games
“For this reason, 225 years after the Place de la Concorde was at the heart of the French Revolution, I hope the Paris Paralympic Games will spark a revolution of inclusion,” Parsons said, referring to the country’s official motto. “Liberty, the right to live freely and without oppression. Equality: every person with a disability deserves the opportunity to thrive and live a life free of barriers, discrimination and marginalization. Fraternity, we are one, but we are not equal, we are all of the same family, humanity,” he warned.
“By competing in the most iconic sporting venues ever seen, let us show the world that Paralympic athletes should be recognised, celebrated and rewarded, but most importantly respected. Through the power of sport, let us show world leaders that unity is possible, that we can come together as peaceful rivals, play by the rules and positively impact society. Long live the inclusion revolution,” Parsons concluded.
