The Paris Paralympic Games is raising awareness among the new generation about the people with disabilities.
“We believe that the Paralympic Games is a unique opportunity to promote a more inclusive society and change the way the new generation think about disabilities,” said Marie Barsacq, Paris 2024 Executive Director of Legacy and Impact.
Barsacq mentioned that Olympic and Paralympic Week 2024, a joint initiative involving schools (nursery, primary and secondary) and universities in France, emphasised inclusivity at its core. The initiative aims to build awareness of the Paralympic movement, with abled participants encouraged to team up with the disabled competitors.
“It concluded with five million young people involving in,” Barsacq said.
Barsacq noted that, in addition to bringing the Paralympics to schools, they will ensure that 250,000 youngsters aged six to 18 attend the games in person during the Paris Paralympic Games.
“The first group of 500 students will go to Roland Garros on the first day of school on Monday while 1,000 will head to the Aquatics Center and interact with athletes in the Paralympic Village.”
“We also launched a programme from April to June in schools to encourage students write letters to the athletes. And today, we asked the athletes to write back. As you can see, we really focus our job to change perception about disabilities of the new generation.”
“The city of Paris has already committed to promote accessibilities in a wider society after the games, it’s a long process, but it will of course go on,” Barsacq said.
