OPINION: Paralympians don't want patronising press

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games starts tomorrow (Wednesday), and those of us left bereft when the Olympics ended can breathe a sigh of relief and settle back into the groove on the couch for 12 more glorious days of competitive sporting action.
Ahead lies another splendid opportunity to become self-assured armchair experts, this time in 22 different sports, each diverse and spectacular in its own right.
The prospect of national pride also looms large for a second time, with 35 athletes travelling from Ireland to Paris to compete in nine sports including Para Archery, Para Swimming, Para Rowing, Para Cycling and my favourite, Para Table Tennis. There is no guilt about forgoing the outdoors for a fortnight-long feast of sport on the TV given the omnipresent rain and chilly temperatures. No longer the afterthought it once was, the Paralympics is now a highly anticipated event, and participation is regarded – or should be – with just as much prestige as competing in the Olympic Games.
But it’s not the Olympic Games. The Paralympic Games is a distinct event in its own right, and there are few things that make it particularly brilliant.
The first one, however, is not how ‘inspirational’ the athletes are, so can we park that one, please? Sure, Paralympic athletes will have their stories told in emotive ways – the Paralympics website says as much: “The Paralympic Games are more than just a sporting event – they offer a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on sport and disability, inspire individuals, bring about social change, and promote inclusive professional and sports opportunities for people with disabilities.”
The tendency towards extra sentimentality in Paralympics coverage, however, is strong. If disabled athletes are inspiring anyone, let it be other disabled people to reach their potential or live more independently. Or policymakers, politicians or town planners to make a real difference to the lives of disabled people. Let it not, however, be misty-eyed non-disabled people watching from the couch, because no disabled athlete wants to be patronised or reminded that their hard work makes others grateful that they are not disabled. Admiring the accomplishments of Paralympic athletes is fine. Pitying or patronising them for achieving their goals ‘in spite of’ their disabilities is not.
Speaking of achievements, the Paralympics offers us another opportunity to respect the capacity of the human body and mind to reach its potential and excel in competitive sport. Sport and the desire to compete are universal and transcend our bodies. The demands of competing at Paralympic level – both mental and physical – are enormous, requiring consistent, rigorous training, determination, dedication and knowledge.
The level of competition in the games is outstanding, with some of the best athletes in the world achieving the highest standards and pushing the boundaries to set new records, despite being under-resourced. Several leading Paralympians have declared on social media that they will not be “participating” at the Games, rather they will be “competing” – a campaign against language bias that demonstrates the fierce drive, commitment and competitive mindset of these elite athletes, all of which deserves genuine respect.
Some incredibly cool advances in technology empower and assist para athletes to compete at the highest level. In recent years, for instance, there have been huge scientific advances in the development of prosthetics for sport. Wheelchairs are now precision engineered and designed for individual sports and for individuals – in wheelchair racing, athletes use custom-built, aerodynamic wheelchairs, fine-tuned to maximise speed and stability with adjustable features.
On track and field and in the pool, athletes can train and refine their technique using data-generating, wearable sensor technology or sound-based systems. Exoskeletons and robotic aids represent the next generation of adaptive technology, for athletes with severe disabilities, providing support for walking or even running. Excitingly, the use of AI in development is only in its infancy.
The cutting edge nature of these technologies should remind us that things like mobility aids and wheelchairs are not confinements, they are in fact powerful tools that empower disabled people to reach their potential both in everyday life and elite sport, and should therefore be recognised and respected as such.
Just like the Olympics, the Paralympics will not lack its controversies. Israel will once again compete. The visually impaired Italian sprinter Valentina Petrillo will, at 50 years of age, become the first openly transgender woman to compete, representing Italy in the women’s 200m and 400m. Both debates are too complex for the confines of today’s column but will, sadly, inevitably generate headlines and provoke further toxic commentary in the current climate.
But back to the sport. If the Paralympics helps people’s opinions about disability and disabled people to evolve, that is a good thing. But above all, like any big sporting event, it will be fantastic fun to watch. Becoming an expert on the rules and strategies of sports like Wheelchair Basketball or Sitting Volleyball will be every bit as exciting and absorbing as Olympic Skateboarding or BMX Freestyle was.
Sport is for everyone. If you like sport, you’ll like Paralympic sport. Get the schedule planned, don the beret and ditch the inspiration porn. Paris, nous arrivons!