THE PARALYMPIC GAMES: A PLATFORM FOR CHANGE. PARALYMPIC ATHLETES: LANTERNS OF HOPE.
Keywords:
Paralympic Games, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Speech, Opening Ceremony, President of the Internacional Paralympic CommitteeAbstract
This paper presents the content of the speech delivered by the President of the International Paralympic Committee, Mr. Andrew Parsons, during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Paralympic Games on August 24, 2021.
Its publication in Citius, Altius, Fortius follows both the interest and the objective of continuing to support the dissemination of Olympic messages among the Spanish-speaking community.
The content of such speech referred to the efforts and entities that have been supporting the needs of people with disabilities. Mr. Parsons stated that the Paralympic Games are a platform for change, but that it is up to all of us to play our part every day to achieve a more inclusive society.
He also stated that discrimination is fueled by focusing on what makes us different, as well as overlooking what unites us. It undermines what we can achieve together as humans. With his words he proposed that while we better rebuild the post-pandemic world, we must promote societies where there are opportunities for everyone; differences are a strength, not a weakness.