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Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

It's our turn to take the main stage

August 13, 2024

it’s our turn to take the main stage

by Matt Haanappel

Summary

  • The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are set to commence in three weeks, showcasing athletes with disabilities from around the world.
  • The Australian Olympic Team recently celebrated its most successful campaign, now shifting focus to the Paralympic athletes.
  • The games represent a significant shift in perceptions of disability sports, demonstrating inclusivity, innovation, and resilience.
  • Organisations like WynActive foster diverse and welcoming environments, promoting equality and respect in their communities.
  • The Paralympics challenge outdated views on disability and aim to build a society where everyone can succeed, regardless of ability.
In just three weeks, the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will begin, uniting athletes from across the globe to demonstrate that success is possible for everyone, regardless of ability. While it’s important to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Australian Olympic Team, having just completed their most successful campaign to date—even surpassing the legendary Sydney 2000 Games—the time has come for a shift in focus. Now, it’s our moment. The Paralympic Games will be held at the same prestigious venues and attended by the same enthusiastic crowds as the Olympic Games. It’s noteworthy that the Paralympics have consistently been hosted in the same city as the Olympics since Rome in 1960, a tradition integral to the success of every Paralympic event.
Since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the event has become the third most-watched sporting spectacle worldwide, trailing only the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. This rise in viewership, especially noticeable in Australia where the Paralympics first “went commercial” in 2016, signifies a major shift in global perspectives on disability sports—elevating it from the periphery to the forefront.

Athletes today are not defined by their disabilities; rather, they are admired for their talents, perseverance, and challenge of societal constraints.

Matt Haanappel OAM PLY (Aquatics and Community Participation Manager)
Historically, the Paralympics have been regarded as secondary, a mere accompaniment to the Olympics, even as recently as the Athens 2004 Games. However, the Tokyo Games and the upcoming Paris 2024 edition highlight a significant transformation. Today, the Games have truly embodied their name, ‘Parallel’ to the Olympics, and since 2020, finally achieving equal footing with the Olympics. Marking a new era in sports where the accomplishments of athletes with disabilities are acknowledged and celebrated.
Ludwig Guttmann, the German-British neurologist and “father of the Paralympics,” believed in the power of sport for people with disabilities, noting that it was a natural progression to start a sports movement for them. Guttmann would be immensely proud of the evolution of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital Games and the transformative impact they’ve had globally. On behalf of all Paralympians, both past and present, I thank Guttmann for his inspiring vision. Athletes today are not defined by their disabilities; rather, they are admired for their talents, perseverance, and challenge of societal constraints.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will showcase that the spirit of competition and pursuit of excellence are universal, regardless of physical or cognitive differences. This message extends beyond sports, echoing societal values of inclusivity and equality. The Paralympics do more than just celebrate elite sportsmanship; they challenge the prevailing narratives about disability. Too often, people with disabilities are seen either as sources of inspiration or are disregarded entirely. Although well-meaning, these views can limit understanding and recognition of the diverse and rich identities of those with disabilities. The Paralympics dispel these outdated notions by portraying athletes with disabilities as they truly are; competitors, equals, and dedicated individuals reaching the peak of their sports.
The Games offer insights into the experiences of living with disabilities, emphasising the significance of adaptation, innovation, and resilience—traits essential not only in sports but in everyday life. Whether it’s developing new techniques, using adaptive equipment, or creatively training and competing, Paralympians demonstrate the strength of adaptability. Their success is not about overcoming disability but excelling within the scope of their abilities. This lesson is applicable beyond sports, influencing all aspects of life.
Aligned with this spirit of inclusivity, innovation and resilience, WynActive is dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued. Through our venues at Werribee Outdoor Pool, AquaPulse, and Eagle Stadium, we embrace diversity and inclusivity, striving to create spaces that support and celebrate individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. Our goal is to ensure that all members of our community have equitable access to our facilities and programs and to promote a culture of understanding and respect
WynActive recognises that the Paralympic Games are only one part of the larger effort for equality and inclusion. The visibility and recognition the Games offer should be leveraged to drive social change, ensuring all individuals with disabilities can succeed and thrive. This involves tackling systemic barriers that hinder full participation in society, such as exclusion, and inadequate access to community services, education, employment, and support. At WynActive, in my capacity as the Aquatics and  Community Participation Manager, I am committed to proactively addressing these challenges for our community.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are more than a sporting event; they are a celebration of human diversity, resilience, and the universal pursuit of excellence. These Games challenge outdated perceptions of disability, demonstrating that competition, determination, and success transcend any single group. As we move forward, let’s carry the lessons of the Paralympics with us, aspiring to create a world where every individual can succeed, thrive, and be recognised for their true selves. As we support the athletes in Paris, let’s also dedicate ourselves to building a more inclusive society—one where everyone, regardless of ability, can reach their full potential.
Don’t miss the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, which starts with the Opening Ceremony at 4am August 29, Melbourne Time, on Nine and Stan Sport.
About the Author: Matthew Haanappel OAM PLY, born with Cerebral Palsy, is a Paralympic Gold Medallist and World Record Holder in swimming from the 2012 and 2016 Games.
He is the Aquatics & Community Participation Manager at WynActive and a media commentator on Paralympic sport, disability, diversity, and inclusion.