Author: Editor Prime

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are set to break all viewing records with an estimated cumulative global TV audience of 4.25 billion people likely to watch the Games.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) believes the combination of more broadcasters, increased levels of coverage and more live sport than any previous Games, makes it highly likely Tokyo 2020 will surpass the 4.1 billion cumulative viewers who enjoyed the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

In total, the Games will be covered by more than 150 television, radio and online outlets in a record 177 territories.  Thanks to increased investment from broadcasters, live coverage from 21 disciplines across 19 sports – more than ever before – will be available to broadcasters by Olympic Broadcasting Services.  As a result, many broadcasters are planning to show more hours of coverage.

Alexis Schaefer, the IPC’s Commercial, Partnerships and Broadcasting Director, said: “With more live sport available to broadcasters than ever before, I am confident we will break all viewing records for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“The role of broadcasters in screening the Games has never been more important given there are no international spectators and limited domestic crowds.  But the increase in the number of broadcasters and their levels of coverage is testament to the appeal of the Paralympic Games and the elite sporting performances of Para athletes.

“We have also seen with the launch of WeThe15 this week how important the Paralympic Games are in the global conversation on persons with disabilities. In addition to delivering exciting and entertaining world-class sporting action from Tokyo, broadcasters are also telling the stories of Paralympians to inspire the next generation, challenge biases and stereotypes.  We are extremely grateful to all rightsholders for helping to share the outstanding performances and powerful narratives with billions of viewers around the world.”

Japan leads the way – record coverage from the host broadcaster In terms of Games-time coverage, NHK, Japan’s long standing Paralympic broadcaster, is leading the way with more than 540 hours of coverage planned.  This is more than any previous host nation broadcaster and exceeds the 500 hours of coverage Channel 4 produced of London 2012.

In the USA, host nation of the LA28 Paralympics, NBC will be showing more than 1,200 hours of Games coverage across all platforms, as will Channel Seven in Australia and CBC in Canada.

British broadcaster Channel 4, who have followed up their award-winning campaigns for London 2012 and Rio 2016 with another epic promotional film for Tokyo 2020, will show more than 300 hours on traditional TV and make all 1,200 hours available across digital platforms.  In addition, 70 per cent of its on-screen presenters are persons with a disability.

New broadcast partners and initiatives in Africa, Asia, Latin America and MENA The growing interest and participation in the Paralympic Games is evident across continents as more major broadcasters come on board to bring coverage of the Games and showcase homegrown athletes.

In Africa, comprehensive Games coverage is led by Pay TV broadcaster SuperSport in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, and public broadcaster South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in South Africa. For the first time in history, the Games will also be widely shown on free-to-air TV channels in 49 territories in Sub-Saharan Africa reaching more than 250 million people, thanks to Para Sport Against Stigma, a partnership between the IPC, Loughborough University, and the University of Malawi, Chancellor College, which aims to support social change and overcome stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities in Africa. 

In Asia, with the support of Reddentes Sports, IPC’s Official Media Rights Partner in Asia, the Paralympic Games have brought on new broadcast partners in Asia and will be entering new territories.

The Hong Kong Government secured coverage rights for six broadcasters: RTHK, TVB, ViuTV and Hong Kong Open TV, as well as Pay TV channels Hong Kong Cable Television and NowTV, guaranteeing that the Games will be available across all platforms.

Indonesian media group Emtek is bringing 125 hours of live competition coverage on top of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and daily highlights coverage to Indonesia via free-to-air, Pay TV, and OTT broadcasters O Channel, IEG’s Champions 1/2/3 and Vidio.

In Malaysia, satellite and IPTV broadcaster Astro will be partnering with public broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) to provide daily coverage of the Games.

In another first, Taiwanese broadcasters ELTA TV, Public Television Service (PTS), Eastern Broadcasting Company (EBC) have joined forces to bring the Paralympic Games to Taiwan viewers for the very first time.

In Philippines, free-to-air broadcaster TV5 and Pay TV sports network Tap TV have committed to broadcast the Opening and Closing ceremonies, as well as daily highlights.

IPC also partnered with IPC member, Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) which went on to grant broadcasting rights to Pay TV Eurosport India and public broadcaster Doordarshan show live action, delayed broadcasts and highlights from events which feature Indian athletes and teams.

In Middle East and North Africa, pan-region broadcaster beIN Sports will be bringing daily highlights of the Games to 25 territories in the region.

In Latin America, Argentinian free-to-air broadcasters TV Pública and DeporTV will be providing a wide-ranging coverage of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, with live, delayed and highlights coverage, and special features across their linear, online and social media platforms. 

In Brazil, TV major Globo’s free-to-air and Pay TV coverage is complemented by public broadcaster TV Brasil (EBC) which will be covering the Paralympic Games in partnership with the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, forming a dedicated team of journalists who will be reporting from Tokyo, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, to provide round-the-clock news updates of the performance of Brazilian Para athletes to their audience via Brazilian news and media outlets including National TV and radio, complementing the live or delayed competitions and daily highlights coverage.

In Chile, public service broadcaster Televisión Nacional de Chile (TVN) will be presenting the Paralympic Games on National TV in Chile for the first time, committing to use the reach of their broadcast platforms to change people’s perceptions of persons with different abilities. Santiago will host the 2023 Parapan American Games.

In Mexico, another new broadcast partnership is found in Univision’s Spanish-language sports channel TUDN, which will bring hours of live and highlights coverage to the Mexican market.

The list of worldwide broadcast partners of the Paralympic Games can be found here https://www.paralympic.org/tokyo-2020/broadcast

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will take place between 24 August and 5 September. 

International multi-sport event will take place across 14 Birmingham venues

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (August 19, 2021) – The World Games 2022 has now announced all 14 of the Birmingham community venues that will host competitions when the historic event takes place next July.

The World Games 2022 (TWG2022), an international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee, will hold its 11th edition in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022.  An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in 34 different sports throughout The World Games 2022.

“All of these venues offer a unique experience to both fans and competitors,” said The World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers. “These locations were carefully selected as the best Birmingham has to offer, and we’re excited for them to host the best ever edition of The World Games.”

Below is a list of each venue and the sports that will take place at each location. Each venue will include The World Games 2022-branded signage and décor.

Avondale Park – Archery

Barber Motorsports Park – Drone Racing, Canopy Piloting

Birmingham Crossplex – Inline Hockey, Artistic Roller Skating, Speed Skating, Wheelchair Rugby, Lifesaving, Finswimming, Canoe Polo

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex – DanceSport, Gymnastics, Bowling, Korfball, Floorball, Powerlifting, Billiards

Birmingham Southern College – Fistball, Orienteering (sprint), Karate, Wushu, Ju-Jitsu

Boutwell Auditorium – Sumo, Kickboxing, Muaythai

Hoover Metropolitan Complex – Softball

John Carrol Catholic High School – Flying Disc

Legion Field – Flag Football

Oak Mountain State Park – Waterski/Wakeboard, Canoe Marathon, Orienteering (Middle Distance)

Protective Stadium – Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Railroad Park – Duathlon, Orienteering (Sprint Relay)

Sloss Furnaces – Sport Climbing, DanceSport (Breaking), Gymnastics (Parkour), Beach Handball

University of Alabama at Birmingham – Lacrosse, Racquetball, Squash, Flying Disc, Tug of War, Boules Sports

ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022

The World Games 2022 Birmingham is the new generation of global sport competition, welcoming elite athletes from all over the world to compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the Birmingham community in 14 venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2022 Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from July 7-17, 2022 and will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 is supported by the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit TWG2022.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Paralympic Experience

• Three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016); Two-time medalist (1 silver, 1 bronze)
• Beijing 2009 Paralympic Games,
• London 2012 Paralympic Games, silver

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2018
• Years of participation: 2006, 2014, 2018
• Medals: 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze)
• Silver – 2014; Bronze – 2006

Bio:

Trevor Hirschfield is the co-captain of Team Canada and is widely considered to be one of the best low-point players in the world. He was originally introduced to wheelchair rugby thanks to the sport’s co-inventor, Duncan Campbell, who was his recreation therapist at the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, BC.

Hirschfield made the national team in 2006 and became the co-captain in 2012. On the court, he is known for his intelligence and his ability to “play up” and guard athletes with a higher point value. These talents have earned him several World Championship All Star awards, as well as become the first low-point player to ever be named IPC Athlete of the Month.

Despite having achieved much success within the sport, Trevor still believes that his career highlight has yet to happen. He’s eager and firmly committed to leading Team Canada back to the top of the wheelchair rugby world and his sights are firmly set on the 2021 Paralympic Games.  

Trevor Hirschfield’s nickname: T-Bone, Bone

Favourite Binge TV Show: Breaking Bad

Guilty pleasure snack: Ice cream

Favourite artist: Blink 182

Favourite sports team: Detroit Red Wings

Least favourite class in school: Calculus

Paralympic Experience

• Paralympic debut (2020)

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2018 – Gold
• Years of participation: 2018
• Medals: Gold

Bio:

In her third year at university, Kae Kurahashi suffered a cervical spinal cord injury in an accident while trampolining. She later got to know about wheelchair rugby at the Independence Support Centre, and, at the age of 26, she received her first call to Japan;s team selection camp and was selected for Japan for the first time. Kurahashi was the first woman to be selected for Japan and was a member of the winning team at the 2018 World Championships. Her fearless and courageous play makes her one of the strongest players within Japan’s strongest lineup.

Favourite athlete: None
iPhone or Android? Android
Twitter or Instagram? Instagram. It’s interesting to see what my friends post.
Cats or dogs? I cannot choose as I love them both!
Last country visited: USA
Favourite world landmark: Eiffel Tower
Favourite cartoon character: Miffy
Favourite superhero: Sailor Moon

Beach or mountains? Mountains. I feel like I want to breathe in a lot of good air.
Favourite Actor / Actress? None
Favourite all time movie: My Neighbor Totoro
Favourite sporting team: Hanshin Tigers (Japanese professional baseball team)

Favourite athlete: None

Most used app: LINE
Last app you downloaded: Animal Tower Battle
Favourite video game: Super Mario Kart

Favourite snack: Kelp, plum paste called Umeneri, gummi

Highlight of your sporting career? Now
Favourite subject in school: Physical Education
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Enjoy

If you could have a chat with anyone, dead or alive, who would you select? Tom. Dog that already passed away as I could not meet at the last moment.

Paralympic Experience

• One-time Paralympian (2016); One-time medalist (1 silver)
• Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, silver

World Championship Experience

• Most recent: 2018 – bronze
• Years of participation: 2014, 2018
• Medals: 2 (2 bronze)
• Bronze – 2014, 2018

Bio:

Chuck has been a member of the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA) since 2007, when he first joined the St. Louis Spartans.   He has been on the US National Wheelchair Rugby team since 2012. Chuck has been a co-captain with the St. Louis team for many years and is also co-captain of the USAWR team for the past five years.  He is a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer receiving his certificate after passing performance testing and the dreaded written test. Chuck can be seen in the local CrossFit gym five-six days a week, where he has other individuals in wheelchairs that he mentors and coaches as well as coaching able-bodied athletes in class settings.  Chuck was in an episode of NCIS New Orleans with his USAWR teammates. Tokyo 2020 will be his second Paralympic Games as he brought home a silver medal from the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and a Gold from the 2019 Parapan American Games. He has been married to Kelly for 24 years and has three wonderful children Blake (21), Bailey (20), and Allison (18).

Favorite athlete: Michael Jordan

iPhone or Android? iPhone

Twitter or Instagram? Instagram 

Cats or dogs? Definitely Dogs

Last country visited: England

Favorite world landmark: Acropolis of Athens/Parthenon 

Favorite cartoon character: Wile E. Coyote 

Favorite superhero: Wolverine

Beach or mountains? Mountains 

Favorite Actor / Actress: Sean Connery / Emily Blunt

Favorite all time movie: Tombstone 

Most used App: Daily Crossword 

Last App you downloaded: OCHA

Favorite video game: Tie between Final Fantasy and Legend of Zelda

Which would you rather win—a Grammy or an Oscar? Oscar 

Favorite subject in school: History 

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? A quote from David Goggins, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations… we fall to the level of our training!”

The first official Paralympic video game ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ has been launched and is now available worldwide for download on App Store and Play Store.

Developed by JP Games, a studio founded by renowned Japanese game director Hajime Tabata, with the support of Worldwide Paralympic Partners Bridgestone and Ottobock, ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ is an avatar role-playing game (Massive Avatar RPG). It places players into a virtual Paralympic Games held in a fantasy, futuristic, inclusive and diverse metropolis known as Pegasus City. Its deputy mayor is none other than Doraemon, one of Japan’s most iconic characters.

The development of ‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ video game is part of the International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC) efforts to bring Para sports to a new and young audience. At the same time, it aims to highlight the benefits of video games to inspire positive change and tackle social issues. It has already seen real-world athletes, artists and influencers come together to raise awareness about the Paralympics.

IPC Chief Brand & Communications Officer Craig Spence said: “The launch of Pegasus Dream Tour is a wonderful opportunity to connect with and further promote Para sports across new and younger audiences in an innovative and fun way.

“Pegasus Dream Tour will bring together gaming and sport enthusiasts from all around the globe, who will have the opportunity to enjoy a Paralympic experience from the comfort of their homes not as mere spectators but as participants as well.”

Ryoji Yamada, Executive Director of Corporate Communications Division, Bridgestone Cooperation, added: “Bridgestone was proud to be the first partner of The Pegasus Dream Tour when it began development in 2019, and we are excited to see this truly innovative video game come to life through its official launch.

“We believe strongly in the Paralympic Movement’s mission to create a more inclusive world through sport, and we hope this project will help a new generation of fans engage with the Paralympic Games and support the inspiring Paralympic athletes who are chasing their dreams.”

Peter Franzel, Head of Events, Exhibitions & Sports at Ottobock, said: “We are very proud and grateful to support The Pegasus Dream Tour with our know-how of prosthetics and wheelchairs. Now, we are excitingly looking forward to the launch of this great Paralympic App Game, which will spread the Passion for Paralympics into the world and new audiences.”

The game generates an advanced avatar named ‘Mine’, which pursues its dreams of becoming a Para athlete and is created based on the player’s own face through a photo taken with their smartphones. Mine can forge new relationships with other avatars by freely roaming the city and participating in different competitions.

As Mine goes about its life with its forward-looking attitude and matures, the player will also be inspired and motivated by their alter ego to lead a positive and healthy life.

Players can participate in boccia, football 5-a-side, athletics and wheelchair basketball online tournaments and interact with other players as they take part in this immersive Paralympic experience not only as spectators, but as actual participants.

Players are also encouraged to communicate and collaborate with each another in order to tackle various issues and help Pegasus City evolve and build a better future together.

They will also come together for a series of in-game experiences including the “Pegasus Avatar GALA Party”, a live event that will feature popular artists who share the game’s mission of advancing social contributions through gaming.

Japanese sporting legend and two-time figure skating Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu has been named as one of the video game’s ambassadors.

“I am honoured to have been appointed as the ambassador for The Pegasus Dream Tour. As someone who enjoys games and an athlete as well, I look forward to this wonderful opportunity to experience the excitement of the Paralympics through gaming. I will also be appearing as a character in the game, and I hope to meet you in Pegasus City!”

Pegasus City was created by a team of up-and-coming female creative artists whose goal is to create a space where the individuality of each person is fully respected and where everyone can lead positive lives.

The video game’s original music is composed by Harvard and Juilliard School-graduate violinist Sumire Hirotsuru.

‘The Pegasus Dream Tour’ is available in five languages: Japanese, English, French, German and Spanish.

In addition, Japanese mascot Kumamom, real-life sport journalists and nine of the world’s best Para athletes will show up in the game such as Japan’s boccia player Takayuki Hirose, Canadian wheelchair basketball player Patrick Anderson, New Zealand’s field athlete Holly Robinson and Argentina’s football 5-a-side legend Silvio Velo.

They are joined by Worldwide Paralympic Partner Bridgestone-supported athletes Manami Tanaka (wheelchair tennis, Japan), Kohei Kobayashi (badminton, Japan), Rie Ogura (badminton, Japan), Scout Bassett (athletics, USA) and Chaiwat Rattana (athletics, Thailand).

DOWNLOAD

App Store https://apps.apple.com/co/app/the-pegasus-dream-tour/id1496568742?l=en

Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jpgamesinc.android.pegasus_ww

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) today signed an agreement to work together to foster diversity and equity through global initiatives promoting health and sport for everybody, everywhere.

The two partners will collaborate to improve global access to quality rehabilitation and assistive technology as part of universal health coverage; and mitigate existing inequalities in relation to access to these life-changing services — a prerequisite for equal opportunities and participation in sports for persons with disabilities, including for Paralympians and Para athletes.

“Sport and health are natural allies, with mutually reinforcing benefits,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “More than that, the Paralympic Games are an inspiring statement of what persons with disabilities can achieve. We hope this partnership between WHO and IPC will provide a platform for more persons with disabilities to participate in sport, but also for demonstrating why universal health coverage is so important, by ensuring all persons have the care and technologies they need to fulfil their potential.”

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “This new partnership is one that will greatly benefit society, as sport is a tremendous tool for ensuring persons lead active and healthy lifestyles. The IPC’s partnership with the WHO goes beyond promoting physical and healthy lifestyles and will also focus on highlighting the role assistive technology plays in the creation of an inclusive world, especially for the over 1 billion persons with disabilities.”

Mr Parsons and Dr Tedros signed the MOU in Tokyo. The Paralympic Games will begin on 24 August and conclude on 5 September.

Disability is a global public health issue but with a higher prevalence in lower-income countries with even less access to health care and assistive technology. The World Health Organization estimates about 15 percent of the world’s population live with a disability – and this number is growing due to demographic changes including population ageing and the global increase in chronic health conditions. Only 1 in 2 persons with disabilities can afford health care, including rehabilitation services; and 1 in 10 have access to life-changing assistive technology. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed persons with disabilities to increased risks of contracting COVID-19 and having poorer health, as health information and care have not been provided in ways easily accessible to them. 

The Birmingham Organizing Committee for The World Games 2022 (TWG2022) has officially launched ticket sales. The release date marks only one year until the city welcomes the world to the Opening Ceremony at Protective Stadium.

The World Games 2022, an international multi-sport event organized with the support of the International Olympic Committee, will hold its 11th edition in Birmingham from July 7-17, 2022. An anticipated 3,600 athletes will participate in more than 30 different sports throughout The Games.

“Today is a very big day for the State of Alabama and the entire nation as The World Games 2022 officially opens our ticket sales,” TWG2022 CEO, Nick Sellers said. “We could not be more excited for this once-in-a-lifetime event. This is the first opportunity sports fans will have to attend an international multi-sport event on American soil since the pandemic. We’re honored to have that distinction and we can’t wait to see thousands of fans from around the world in Birmingham a year from now to watch the new generation of sports.”

Tickets can be purchased for each individual sport, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies and in select packages. To purchase tickets to The World Games 2022, visit TWG2022.com. “We want to encourage everyone to jump on the opportunity to purchase their tickets now,” Sellers said. “We expect many venues to sell out quickly, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on their chance to witness history.”

The Birmingham Organizing Committee also announced several musical artists that will perform at The World Games 2022, including Master of Funk turned TWG2022 Master of Ceremonies Bootsy Collins and country music icons Randy Owen and Sara Evans.

In addition to the musical artists, the official mascots of The World Games 2022, Vulcan and Vesta, were also officially revealed.

Named after the famous Vulcan statue that overlooks Birmingham, the largest cast iron statue in the world, Vulcan is joined by a female companion, Vesta. Both mascots are presented by O’Neal Industries and in partnership with the Vulcan Park and Museum with costume design by Princess Closet Designs.

The Vulcan originally represented Birmingham at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and has come full circle to help the community welcome the world in July 2022.

The announcements and ticket sales were celebrated at an event at The Club in Birmingham featuring comments from Sellers, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato.

ABOUT THE WORLD GAMES 2022

The World Games 2022 Birmingham is the new generation of global sport competition, welcoming elite athletes from all over the world to compete for gold in 34 unique, multi-disciplinary sports. Featuring 3,600 athletes from more than 100 countries, the international event will unite global fans with the Birmingham community in 25+ venues around the greater metropolitan area. The World Games 2022

Birmingham, which marks the 40th anniversary of the event, will take place from July 7-17, 2022 and will generate an estimated $256 million in economic impact. The World Games was established by the International World Games Association, an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The World Games 2022 is supported by the International Olympic Committee. For more information visit TWG2022.com or find us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The IWRF announce the inaugural International Wheelchair Rugby Federation Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference 2021 in partnership with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (Loughborough University). The event brings together practitioners, coaches, medical staff and students, from the fields of sports science, medicine, physiotherapy, coaching and strength and conditioning.

Taking place Wednesday 22^nd September 2021 13:00 – 18:30 BST.

This virtual event will cover historical insights into sports science and medicine, covering topics on Classification, thermoregulation, autonomic dysreflexia, shoulder health, nutrition and much more.

The event is delivered by:

The event will be delivered by Professor Vicky Goosey-Tolfrey, Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC), Loughborough University, and IPC Paralympic Scientific Award recipient 2017.

Dr Viola Altman, IWRF Classifier and Honrary Clinical Lecturer in Rehabilitation at Loughborough University.

Steve Griffiths, IWRF CEO.

Dr Ken Lee, IWRF Chief Medical Officer and Associate Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Administration Medical Centre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA).

Supported by Dr Sven Hoekstra, Research Assistant of the PHC at Loughborough University.

The events online registration will be opening soon.

IPC announces six athletes to compete for the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games

• The athletes and where they are refugees from: Ibrahim Al Hussein (Syria), Alia Issa (Syria), Parfait Hakizimana (Burundi), Abbas Karimi (Afghanistan), Shahrad Nasajpour (Iran), and Anas Al Khalifa (Syria).
• International stars Chris Martin, Alphonso Davies, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Barbara Hendricks, Khaled Hosseini, Asmir Begović champion the refugee cause and welcome the “world’s most courageous sports team” in a heart-warming reveal video https://youtu.be/dhlCevI-vIM
• IPC working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Airbnb to support the team and raise awareness of the 82 million displaced people globally.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has today confirmed the six athletes who will represent the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT) at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The athletes, one woman and five men will compete in Para athletics, Para swimming, Para canoe and Para taekwondo.

The team represents the more than 82 million people around the world who have been forced to flee war, persecution, and human rights abuses, 12 million of whom live with a disability. The Chef de Mission for the team is Ileana Rodriguez, a refugee from Cuba who competed in the London 2012 Paralympic Games in swimming for the USA.

Andrew Parsons, IPC President, said: “I would urge people everywhere to support the world’s most courageous sports team, the Refugee Paralympic Team. These athletes exemplify how change starts with sport: they have suffered life-changing injuries, fled for their safety and undertaken dangerous journeys, but despite the many barriers put in their way, they have become elite athletes ready to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

“Sport is a powerful tool to include refugees with disabilities in society and the announcement of the Refugee Paralympic Team is a poignant moment for the IPC – we are delivering on a commitment we made at the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum in 2019 to promote equal participation in sporting events for refugees.”

The IPC is working with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to provide opportunities for these remarkable Para athletes to tell their stories at the Games and send a strong message of hope and inspiration to others around the world who have been forced to flee. While all refugees face significant challenges, those with disabilities are frequently at heightened risk and face additional barriers to accessing assistance, services, and opportunities.

UNHCR, the IPC and the RPT athletes are calling for a world in which all displaced people – with or without disabilities – can equally access sport and a commitment to an inclusive and equal world for all. RPT athlete Abbas Karimi, who was a member of UNHCR’s Global Youth Advisory Council and who has recently been named a UNHCR High Profile Supporter epitomises this commitment as a passionate advocate for disabled refugees’ access to and inclusion in sport – at all levels.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomed the announcement.

“I am thrilled to congratulate each of the six athletes named today as members of the IPC Refugee Paralympic Team. I am also immensely proud of our collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee in promoting inclusion of refugees with disabilities in sport. These athletes, as individuals and as a Team are sending a message of hope and inspiration to refugees around the world. They are truly trailblazers in promoting refugee and disability inclusion, in elite sport and in life, and we hope their example will move us one step closer towards an inclusive and equal world for all,” Grandi said.

The RPT was announced via a video by stars from the worlds of music, sport, literature, stage and screen who champion the refugee cause. They included Goodwill Ambassadors and High Profile Supporters from UNHCR, the UN Refuge Agency. The athletes on the Refugee Paralympic Team for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are:

• Ibrahim Al Hussein, Syrian refugee living in Athens, Greece, Para swimming – announced by Coldplay frontman, Chris Martin.
• Alia Issa, Syrian refugee living in Athens, Greece, Para athletics (club throw) – announced by British actress and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
• Parfait Hakizimana*, Burundian refugee living in the Mahama Refugee Camp, Rwanda, Para taekwondo – announced by opera singer and French Legion d’honneur recipient and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Barbara Hendricks.
• Abbas Karimi, Afghan refugee living in Fort Lauderdale, USA, Para swimming – announced by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Khaled Hosseini, the best-selling author of The Kite Runner and himself an Afghan refugee.
• Anas Al Khalifa, Syrian refugee living in Halle, Germany, Para canoe – announced by footballer and UNHCR High Profile Supporter, Asmir Begović, who was forced to flee his home in Bosnia and Herzegovina at a young age, first arriving in Germany.
• Shahrad Nasajpour, Iranian refugee living in Phoenix, USA, Para athletics (discus) – announced by Bayern Munich and Canada footballer Alphonso Davies, himself a refugee originally from Liberia and recently announced as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.

*Parfait’s participation in the Games is subject to him being classified by 1 August 2021.

The RPT Tokyo 2020 will compete under the IPC flag, and will be the first Team to enter the Japan National Stadium during the opening ceremony. 

The IPC has been able to support the RPT to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games thanks to the generous backing of commercial partners:

• Airbnb – Worldwide Paralympic Partner. Airbnb, as part of its mission of belonging, has been supporting refugee initiatives since 2015, first through its Open Homes programme, and now Airbnb.org and Paralympian Experiences – and is the lead partner of the Refugee Paralympic Team.
• ASICS – Official Supplier of the IPC. ASICS is the official sport apparel kit provider of the RPT at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
• Panasonic – Worldwide Paralympic Partner. Panasonic published a photo book entitled Ayase Haruka meets Beautiful Athletes showcasing their “Beautiful Japan towards 2020” campaign. Part of the proceeds from the sales of this book were donated to supporting the RPT.

Catherine Powell, Global Head of Hosting at Airbnb, said: “I’d like to congratulate the six members of the Refugee Paralympic Team competing in Tokyo 2020 officially announced today. When I read the stories of Abbas, Shahrad, Anas, Alia, Ibrahim and Parfait, their journeys seem so different, yet there is a common thread – how often one person helped change their lives by welcoming these terrific athletes into their new communities and making them feel they belong, I encourage you to go and read more about these athletes and join Airbnb in cheering them on!”

Tokyo 2020 President Hashimoto said: “The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee welcomes the participation of the Refugee Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, following its debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. I hope that the Refugee Team will show the world the endeavour, the resilience and the hope of human beings through sporting competition, and that they will perform at their best with a wish for peace. We will continue to cooperate with the IPC and relevant local municipalities and will make every effort to ensure everything proceeds smoothly and safely for the Refugee Team.”

The RPT also honours the legacy of Sir Ludwig Guttmann. He was a refugee who found a new home to welcome him and repaid that kindness by helping create one of the world’s great movements, the Paralympic Movement. The RPT builds on previous refugee initiatives created by the IPC. At the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games a two-person team of refugee and asylum-seeking athletes formed the Independent Paralympic Athletes Team.

Ileana Rodriguez, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Paralympic Team, added: “I am so pleased for all the athletes who have made it to the Refugee Paralympic Team. This past year has been especially challenging for refugee athletes, but they are no stranger to toughness in their lives. Showing the very best of human spirit, they will be a team like no other at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. They will proudly represent the 12 million refugees around the world who have a disability and show that everyone has potential.”