Last 24th August the 15th edition of the Paralympic games ended in Tokyo with spectacular performances of the athletes. This sport-event lasted two weeks and was attended by athletes with physical, mental, and sensorial disabilities.

The Paralalympic Games idea  was born  in 1944 by a German neurologist : Ludwig   Guttman

who wanted to help injuried soldiers to recover and to return to normal life. The first Paralympic Games took place in Rome in 1960 and featured the talents of 400 athletes from 23 countries.

Modern Praralympics were attended by approximately 4,400 athletes from across the world  who  competed for a total of 539 gold medals.

Twenty two disciplines were present at the games including athletics, swimming, cycling, fencing, archery, team sports and many others and  the most common disability categories included  blind, paraplegics and limbless athletes.

Innovations featured in the Paralympics can eventually help all disabled people, highlighting technology, design, and initiatives that are making sport more accessible and enjoyable for all.

The Paralympic Games are the most valuable event in the world where athletes demonstrate their limitless possibilities. It is an opportunity where people with impairments can make a challenge, and the experience of participating will help you grow as a person,”

During the multi-sport event athletes with impairments showed determination, perseverance, and dedication. That was a great message for all mankind, because there are no differences among non-disabled people  and people with  disabilities  who can live their own life like the other ones  bringing to the world the true meaning of the word inclusion.

 

The Paralympic values are equality, inspiration, courage and determination. These values were  expressed by the Paralympians in their best ways; for example the famous fencer Bebe Vio, gold medal winner and a really nice girl whose determination has been a true inspiration for me.

The message is “to win the freedom of being herself, real and powerful.”

You have to imagine a person without a leg or both running one hundred metres in a race  or swimming in the pool establishing paralympic category records in the same way as the Olympics; it is a wonderful message. They thaught me to be strong and  not to be afraid of the life obstacles and to be friendly also with challenges. Sport is an inclusive competition not  a divisive one; we can learn by these athletes to improve ourselves.