His view is shared by Andrew Parsons, President of the Worldwide Paralympic Committee, who described the staff as “one of many nice tales of the Paris 2024 Paralympics. Every of those athletes has overcome great odds to get right here and has a compelling message to share with the world”.
Representing greater than 120 million forcibly displaced folks worldwide, the eight athletes and two information runners kind the most important Refugee Paralympic Group ever, after the staff made its debut on the Rio 2016 Paralympics with simply two athletes.
The eight refugees are hosted in six nations and can compete throughout six sports activities – Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para desk tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, and wheelchair fencing.
Collection of staff’s flagbearer
The Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC) introduced Sunday that T11 Para athletics sprinter Guillaume Junior Atangana would be the Refugee Paralympic Group’s flagbearer at Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony.
When he was a young boy growing up in West Africa, Mr. Atangana’s sole ambition was to turn out to be the world’s biggest footballer. However on the age of eight, his imaginative and prescient started to deteriorate and by the age of 12, he had misplaced his sight fully.
Turning to Para athletics and sprinting, he was in a position to restore his confidence and his love of sports activities. He completed fourth within the 400m T11 on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, simply lacking out on a medal.
Talking on his choice as flagbearer, Mr. Atangana stated, “I’m very moved and completely happy. It provides me shivers. I can already image it in my head. I see myself as a giant champion, the one who made his goals come true.”
Hope amid adversity
Globally, it’s estimated that not less than 18 million folks with disabilities have been forcibly displaced from their houses, because of battle, battle, violence and human rights violations.
Many face larger dangers of violence, discrimination, exploitation and abuse, and limitations in accessing vital help, help, schooling, sporting and livelihood alternatives.
Amid such adversity, the 2024 Refugee Paralympic Group represents an important “message of hope to thousands and thousands of refugees the world over, and certainly to all of us,” Mr. Grandi stated.
‘This exceptional staff reminds us of how vital it’s for folks with disabilities to have the possibility to completely take part in society on an equal foundation,” he added.