Once again, the Paralympics wowed audiences with moments filled with emotion. From the incredible stories to the unbelievable athletic feats, Tokyo 2020 produced another brilliant event.
Credit: Paralympics.org
But what lessons could viewers learn from watching the Paralympic Games?
Here are some of the things I learnt from watching Tokyo 2020.
Reminding the World of the Incredible Paralympic Athletes
Probably the most obvious point to take away from these games is just how incredible the Paralympic athletes are. Just like the previous games, there have been some standout stars that captivated viewers with their stories and performances.
There are so many stars that could be highlighted, but I will mention a few that grabbed my attention the most during the games.
The first mention has to be Dame Sarah Story. After winning her third gold medal in Tokyo, she became the most successful GB Paralympic athlete of all time. The win in the Women’s C4-5 Road Race, a title she has retained since 2012, put her total up to a record breaking 17 golds.
Credit: The Guardian
I first saw Storey perform in 2012 where she dominated on both the track and road cycling. Her impressive performances along with her professionalism made me an instant fan. If you haven’t watched or heard of her story, I encourage you to go research her career.
Another highlight from the British team was the success of the Wheelchair Rugby squad. The team managed to win the gold for the first time. They beat the favourites USA 54-49 in the final. This victory inspired many to use #IWouldWatchWheelchairRugbyOnTV on twitter to show their support for the sport.
Looking outside of the GB team, the standout moment comes from the Afghanistan athletes that managed to evacuate from the country to compete.
Houssain Rasouli and Zakia Khudadadi evaded the Taliban in a successful global operation that resulted in the two competing in the long jump and Taekwondo. This achievement has been praised worldwide and has emphasised the unity that the Paralympics creates.
There are many more athletes that deserve recognition and that could be talked about. Some honourable mentions to Jonnie Peacock, Ellie Robinson, David Smith, Hannah Cockroft, Aled Davies, Chris Skelley, Kadeena Cox and many more.
Disabled Sports Need to be Showcased More
The previously mentioned highlights shows how inspiring and entertaining the Paralympics can be. The stories told and performances displayed has captivated audiences and left many wanting to see more.
However, there is currently a great difficulty finding disability sport outside of the Paralympics. When compared to their Olympic counterparts, Paralympic sports appear to have less promotion and broadcasting. In addition, there is also a contrast in the amount that local clubs and grassroot competitions are advertised within the community.
There may be a few reasons behind this such as the lower amounts of funding, less of the population being classed as disabled, and disability sports being significantly newer. Although these factors may restrict these sports from reaching the same level, it should not stop these competitions from being regularly promoted to the general public. In fact, it is crucial that these sports receive regular exposure in order to progress.
Instances such as #IWouldWatchWheelchairRugbyOnTV and the success of shows like ‘The Last Leg’ and ‘Jonnie’s Blade Camp’ indicates that there is interest from audiences to watch disability sports programming.
Now it is up to broadcasters, companies, and promoters to show the same support and provide a platform for these sports to flourish.
The Success of GB Paralympics
The Great Britain Paralympics squad had a very successful games at Tokyo 2020. They finished 2nd in the overall standings, with a medal collection of 41 golds, 38 silvers, and 45 bronzes.
This tally was higher than countries such as the USA who have a significantly higher population. Results like these reinforce the strength of Paralympics GB. Relative to other countries around the world, it is safe to say that the UK’s disability sports programmes and structures are top tier.
Although disability sports in the UK have the capabilities to be strengthened further, the current climate seems to present GB as part of the leading pack. The only country that could lay claim to having a better system in place is China.
The Chinese Paralympic squad collected a remarkable 96 golds, 60 silvers, and 51 bronze medals. They managed to almost double the GB tally to win the games in convincing fashion. However, it is also important to note the vast differences in populations between the two countries.
Another impressive performance from both squads has solidified the success of their respective systems for disability sports. Other countries should aspire to reach the level of the likes of GB in the future to create a more competitive fight for medals.
Inspiring the Next Generation
In 2012, the motto for the London Games was ‘Inspire a Generation’. The motto referred to the aims that those involved had for the event. The statistics and reactions suggested that both the Olympic and Paralympic games achieved these goals.
However, the conclusion and impact of London 2012 was not the end. In the events that have followed, new strategies have been devised in order to inspire the younger generations to become future Olympic and Paralympic champions.
These strategies have had a significant impact on the Paralympics with many British athletes stating that they were inspired to compete after watching previous events.
For this year’s games, Channel 4 ran a program called ‘Jonnie’s Blade Camp’. In the show, Paralympic sprinter and Jonnie Peacock trained 5 young amputees in order to help them gain confidence and motivate them to unleash their sporting potential.
Credit: C4
I am yet to watch the full show, but after watching clips on YouTube, and a segment with the kids on the Paralympics coverage, it is clear to see that Jonnie had inspired these young athletes to reach their goals and dream big.
With all the distractions and external factors that modern day sports can possess, it is crucial to remember the fundamentals goals in sport. This includes inspiring everyone all over the world to get involved and motivate new talent.
Sport Can be for Everyone
Another important inspirational message that can be taken from watching the Paralympics is that sport has little limitations. No matter what your age, size, or physical ability is, there is a sport for you.
Watching athletes with a wide range of disabilities smash records and competing at an international level emphasises the power of the human body. Whether it’s one visually impaired man throwing another over his shoulder, or a double amputee running the 100 metres, these athletes are showing that anything is possible.
In addition, the Paralympic athletes and their achievements show that adversity does not need to limit participations in sport. Countless Paralympians would have been told they could never play sports again.
Instead of accepting this, they use this as motivation to recover and find a way to return to competition. This is a lesson that we athletes and non-athletes can learn from. Adversity that we face do not need to define us.
Sport is an important aspect of life for many individuals and communities. This is why it is important to allow everyone the opportunity to play sport. Moreover, encouraging and motivating people to take up sport is just as important.
The Future Looks Strong
Finally, the performances and success of Tokyo 2020 shows that the Paralympics is set for a great future. With each passing games, the event becomes more popular and competitive than before.
Throughout Tokyo 2020, 69 World records and 124 Paralympic records were broken. These numbers suggests a huge progression in a variety of events since Rio 2016.
Credit: Paralympic.org
The games also saw the emergence of new stars from all over the globe. For example, archer Kevin Mather won gold in his debut, whilst 19 year old swimmer Gabriel Araujo won 3 medals in his first games.
These statistics and examples suggest that the future of the Paralympics is in good hands, with the ability to continue on an upward spiral. All eyes will now be on Paris to see whether next games can be even more successful.
Conclusion
Those were the lessons that I learnt from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
Were these similar to what you learnt? What lessons do you learn from watching the Paralympics? Let me know in the comments!
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