Tag: paralympics

The Paris Paralympics were the “greatest ever” according to one former IOC marketing executive while another told AFP it “delivered in spades” the thing that people relate most to in sport – emotion.

Mainly packed stadia, iconic venues and the feel-good factor derived from the Olympics that came before them turned the Paralympics into a festival of sport, according to Michael Payne, a former head of marketing at the International Olympic Committee.

Its counterpart the International Paralympic Committee can breathe a sigh of relief after Rio was widely criticised for its hosting in 2016 and the Tokyo edition was deprived of spectators due to Covid restrictions.

“Paris built on the magic of the Olympic Games and delivered a spectacular Paralympic Games -– to my mind the greatest ever,” Payne told AFP. “All the ingredients that made the Olympics so special have been carried forward to the Paras, delivering an incredible atmosphere.”

His fellow former IOC marketing executive Terrence Burns said in his 30-plus years of experience of Paralympics there was no comparison “in both fan and commercial interest.”

 “In so many ways I believe the Paralympics are truly coming into their own as a separate yet complementary ‘product’ from the Olympics,” Burns told AFP.

 “I give the IOC full marks for working hard to make the Paralympics a product that brands want not only to support, but to market.”(It is) a difference with a profound distinction.”

For Payne, who in nearly two decades at the IOC was credited with modernising the organisation’s brand and improving its finances through sponsorship, the high profile of the Paralympics had hugely positive ramifications.

 “The Paralympics provides a massive boost worldwide to the disabled movement -– bringing the issue of disability front and centre,” said the 66-year-old Irishman.

”(There is) a real legacy from general accessibility to a broader debate and awareness about disability throughout society.”

He said that before Paralympic Games became mainstream, “disability was often hidden and rarely talked about”.

Payne said the athletes were the main actors in making the Paralympics the spectacle they are, with a knock-on positive impact for disabled people back in their own countries.

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 “The stories of what some refer to as ‘the super humans’ provides an inspirational platform that is impossible to ignore,” he said.

 “Everyone recognises the incredible challenges that each Paralympic athlete has had to overcome -– and watching their performances in Paris, you look on totally awestruck.”

Burns also said the athletes drove the narrative.

 “I think people react and relate to sport through a single prism: emotion,” he said.

 “The Paras deliver on that in spades.

 “Increased coverage and exposure means more fans can experience it.”

British amputee sprinter Jonnie Peacock is one who would like that exposure to be even greater.

The two-time 100m champion made an impassioned plea to World Athletics that Paralympic athletes be included in the main televised section of the elite Diamond League meetings.

Payne thinks his argument holds water, but says though the Commonwealth Games combines both para and able-bodied events it would be a no go for the Olympics to follow suit.

 “Including Para sports events in individual world championships could well work for certain sports,” he said.

 “But a total integration into the Olympics would not work to my mind.

 “Both events are now so big, they each need their own stage… and frankly I think Paralympics are better served on the stage by themselves.”

Burns, who since leaving the IOC has assisted five successful Olympic bid city campaigns, says Peacock does have a point.

 “I would also argue that mixing might dilute the focus on Paralympic sport, though (it is) worth experimenting with.”

Burns said the only real downside is the “confusing classifications system”.

Payne praised the organisation of the Paralympics.

 “Some joke that the Olympics are just a ‘test event’ for the real thing, giving the local organisers the time to iron out all the small operational problems!”

Nigeria’s Flora Ugwunwa won a silver medal in women’s javelin F54 at the 2024 Paralympics with a throw of 19.26m.

This marks Ugwunwa’s third consecutive Paralympic medal, following gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021.

The Nigerian athlete threw 19.26 meters to claim the second position on the podium and secure silver medal ahead of Salehi Elham of Iran.

She made her silver winning throw after the second attempt but could not improve on it despite four more attempts.

The medal is Nigeria’s first in Para-Athletics, and the country’s fourth medal overall at the ongoing Paralympic Games.

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Nurkhon Kurbanova of Uzbekistan, Ugwunwa’s fierce rival, won gold medal with a 21.12 meters.

Kurbanova’s throw broke Ugwunwa’s former world record of 20.25 meters she had set at Rio 2016.

The Uzbek had lost the gold medal to Ugwunwa four years ago and had to settle for silver.

Kurbanova had dominated the six-athlete final, throwing beyond 20 meters on each attempt.

The 30-year-old broke Ugwunwa’s record on her third throw, registering 20.27 meters before breaking her record in her fifth attempt.

Nigerian Paralympics power-lifter Esther Nworgu said claiming the silver medal in Paris was “like heaven” having dislocated her shoulder just two days ago.

Nworgu, who lost the use of her legs as a child, only missed out on gold in the bench press to defending champion in China’s Cui Zhe in the up to 41kg category by one kilogram.

The 21-year-old’s efforts were limited however as she was effectively lifting the bar with one arm due to the injury.

 “I was so emotional because I never expected any medal from this competition,” Nworgu told reporters. “I had an injury two days ago and the doctors confirmed that I should not compete because it was critical.

 “There is no adjective I can use to quantify my happiness right now.

“It is like heaven to me,” the wheelchair user added with heavy strapping on her right shoulder after the medal ceremony.

As an eight-year-old Nworgu lost the use of her legs without a clinical reason before then starting the sport a decade ago.

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 “I accepted my disability, joined it with the love in my personality and this (the medal) is the result,” she said. “I don’t like using “d-i-s” in my ability, I like using “th-i-s” in my ability.

 “When there is disability there is ability and what people see as ‘disability’ is not what I see, I see it as a strength and an ability.

 “In sport, there are many things you have to realise about yourself.

 “Sport is like an X-ray, it brings you out and shows what you are inside,” she added philosophically.

Nworgu is part of a strong Nigeria powerlifting field in the French capital which includes eight competitors and host of world record holders.

After securing silver and a temporary world record, Nworgu fell to the ground with her coach Patience Igbiti, who won a Paralympic silver and bronze medal at Athens in 2004 and then Beijing four years later.

“Nigerians are strong people. Our strength comes from the mind,” a smiling Nworgu said on the opening day of powerlifting at the 2024 Games.

 “When you tell yourself ‘I can do this’ you see yourself doing it.

 “When you speak it in your mind you see your body doing it,” she added.

In the next Paralympics in Los Angeles in four years’ time, China’s gold medallist Zhe will be 41, while Nworgu will be three months shy of her 26th birthday.

 “In the nearby future, I want to rule my world,” Nworgu said.

 “I want to win medals, break and create world records,” she added.

World number two Para Badminton player, Eniola Bolaji will square up with Mandeep Kaur (India) and Celine Vinot (Australia) in the group stage of the women’s SL3 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

The para Badminton player, Bolaji touched down in Paris, France for the 2024 paralympics a few days ago and the athlete is eager to perform. 

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Eniola is one of the athletes that will be flying Nigeria’s flag in the upcoming Paralympics game which is billed to start from today to 8th September with around 4400 athletes competing in 22 sports.

Nigeria will present a total number of 24 athletes who will participate in 4 different sporting events.

Team Nigeria comprises two para badminton players, nine powerlifters, eight para Table Tennis and five para athletes.

Eniola Bolaji, who is the African number one Badminton player was recently ranked second in the world.

Described as one of Nigeria’s greatest ever Paralympian,  Lucy  Ejike’s career as a power-lifter spanned more than 24 years. During this  time, she  has won six Paralympic medals across six Paralympics Games from 2000 in Sydney through to  the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games.  As the  Paris 2024 Paralympics  get underway  in Paris, eyes  would certainly be on this record-breaking  Team Nigeria  star athlete, OLUWAMYOMIKUN OREKOYA  reports…

When Lucy Ejike represents Nigeria at the Powerlifting event at the upcoming  Paralympic Games in Paris next  week, it will undoubtedly another crown to her illustrious career

The mother of two, who is preparing to feature at her record breaking seventh appearance is upbeat about her chances of winning gold at the summer Games which will be held from August 28 to September 8.

Should the 46-year-old even manage a podium finish in the Games, she would extend her record as the only athlete in both Olympic Games and Paralympics games to have won at least a medal in every appearance she made.

Described as one of Nigeria’s greatest ever Paralympian,   Ejike’s career as a power-lifter spanned more than 24 years. During this  time, she  has won six Paralympic medals ( three gold, two silver and a bronze) across six Paralympics Games from 2000 in Sydney through to  the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games. She won a further silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth games women’s lightweight category of the Para Powerlifting event behind compatriot Esther Oyema.

Along the way, she has moved up through the weight categories – from up to 44kg at Sydney and Athens 2004, to up to 48kg at Beijing 2008, then up to 56kg at London 2012 while, in Rio and Tokyo she was up to 61kg.

She was Nigeria’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of Rio 2016. Later that year, she was named Female Athlete of the Year at the 2016 Nigeria Sports Awards.

Ejike said her motto for Sports and life is ‘God, determination, discipline and hard work’, adding: “And hopefully I will return with the gold medal from Paris 2024 Paralympics.”

She became a paraplegia as a result of the effects of polio after contracting the illness at age one. But that had not deterred her from making a success with her disability

“Sports especially helped me to overcome the pain I experienced as a child,” she recalls. “It served as a sort of protection for me.”

 “I am feeling great and my training is going very well – I train for two hours a day,” said the mother-of-two. “My aim in Tokyo is to win gold and maybe set a new world record. I can definitely keep getting stronger. I feel like I can break a new record, set a new total.”

She had managed to become one of the best athletes in a country which is home to several of the world’s strongest power-lifters.

In 2018, Ejike secured gold at the African Championships in Algiers, Algeria, and silver in the women’s lightweight at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

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A year before, she made her World Championship debut in Mexico City, claiming gold in the women’s up to 61kg.

At her first appearance on the world stage, the Sydney Games at 22 years-old, she competed in the 44 kg weight class taking the silver medal with a lift of 102.5 kg, behind Fatma Omar of Egypt. Four years later at the Athens Games, while competing at the same weight class, she broke the Paralympic powerlifting world record twice on the way to winning the gold medal with a lift of 127.5 kg.

At the 2008 Beijing Games, Ejike moved up one weight class and took gold in the 48 kg event. She broke the world record with her first attempt, lifting 125 kg. She broke the record again with a second lift of 130 kg, but faltered while trying to lift 137.5 kg on her third attempt.

After her win in Beijing, Ejike stated that has intentions of moving up another weight to set a new world record in a third class. This led to a showdown at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London with her rival from Athens, and current 56 kg world record holder, Fatma Omar. Ejike took the lead in the first round with a lift of 135 kg but she was unable to better this attempt, while Omar bettered her record from Beijing with a final lift of 142 kg. Despite failing to beat Omar, the two women were a class above the rest of the field, and Ejike took silver, 17 kg over bronze medallist Özlem Becerikli of Turkey.

Four years later Ejike and Omar met for the third time at a Paralympic Games, when thy both entered the 2016 Games in Rio. After London the International Paralympic Committee changed the powerlifting weight categories for both men and women, and the two competed in the women’s 61 kg division. The year previous Mexico’s Amalia Perez had set a world record in the 61 kg with a lift of 133 kg, which Ejike surpassed with her first lift of 135 kg. Omar had failed at 133 kg on her first lift, but was successful at the same weight on her second attempt. Ejike improved her lead with her second lift, setting her second world record of the day with a weight of 138 kg. Omar responded with a final lift of 140 kg, putting Ejike into silver medal place. With her final attempt Ejike succeeded with her third world record of the day, and the gold medal when she completed a lift of 142 kg to make her a three time gold medal winner.

Ejike said that her gold medal at the Rio games remains her best medal she has won in her glittering career.

 “Doing six Paralympics has been great, but Rio was my favourite. Not just because I won the gold medal and set three world records. Above all, it was because I was Nigerian team captain and the flag bearer.”

 “Winning a gold medal in Rio was one of the greatest things that has happened in my life, because those game were so tough and challenging,” said Ejike about her battle with Omar.

 “I had to put myself together to win the gold and set three world records.

 “My experience in Brazil was great, because I knew I was going to face a very strong athlete. I prayed, I talked to myself about what to do, and I was courageous to face the battle.”

World record holder Folashade Oluwafemiayo says it will be a dream come true for her if she retains the Paralympic gold medal she won at Tokyo 2021 Paralympics again at the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympics this August.

Oluwafemiayo (+86kg) set a new World Record of 165kg at the 2024 World Para Powerlifting Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia last June and she said her firm resolve is to win again in Paris.

The multiple World Champion said that her performance at the Para Powerlifting World Cup last March and World Championship in June coupled with the level of her preparations have boosted her conviction that she will do well at the 2024 Paralympics.

She called for prayers from her teammates back home and Nigerians for a hitch-free Games.

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“As the current record holder, I need your prayers because with God all things are possible,” Oluwafemiayo told www.Aclsport.com

The African Games champion applauded the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh for ensuring the para-athletes attend an international training tour like their counterparts.

“I will say a big thank you to Nigeria and the Honourable Minister of Sport, Senator John Enoh. He did well by making us get used to the weather and all the training equipment in Germany is very perfect.

“All the para-athletes need your prayers and support from private companies.”

Kafilat Almaruf (-73kg) and Folashade Oluwafemiayo (+86kg) are Nigeria lifters with the World Record present at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Oluwafemiayo has been named the General Captain of Team Nigeria para-athletes while Kayode Alabi is the assistant captain. Rio 2016 Paralympic gold medallist, Lauritta Onye is the Flagbearer.

Full list of para-powerlifters

Women- Esther Nworgu (-41kg), Bose Bejide (-50kg), Lucy Ejike (-67kg), Kafilat Almaruf (-73kg), Bose Omolayo (-79kg), Lovelyn Obiji (-86kg) and Folashade Oluwafemiayo (+86kg)

Men – Roland Ezuruike (-54kg) and Thomas Kure (-65kg)

Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Paralympic Games after the visually impaired sprinter was selected to represent Italy in the women’s 200 and 400 metres races in Paris.

The 50-year-old, who transitioned in 2019, won bronze medals in both events at the World Para Athletics Championships last year in Paris. Prior to transitioning, Petrillo won 11 national titles in the men’s category.

“I still find it hard to believe it and I’m keeping my feet on the ground because my chance to participate in Tokyo was missed by a whisker,” Petrillo said .”I will only start thinking about the Paris Games once I arrive in France.”

Diagnosed with Stargardt’s syndrome at the age of 14, Petrillo’s visual abilities are limited to 1/50th of the normal range.

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International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons told BBC Sport that while Petrillo is welcome in Paris under World Para Athletics policies, he wants to see the sporting world “unite” on its transgender policies.

The governing bodies of many sports including athletics, cycling and swimming have tightened their participation rules for transgender athletes in elite women’s competitions over the last couple of years.

However, the IPC allows governing bodies to set their own policies and World Para Athletics permits an individual legally recognised as a woman to compete in the category for which their impairment qualifies them.

Critics of transgender inclusion in women’s sport say going through male puberty imbues athletes with a huge musculo-skeletal advantage that transition does not mitigate.

LGBT advocacy groups say excluding trans athletes amounts to discrimination and that not enough research has been done into the impact of transition on athletic performance.

The 2024 Paris Paralympics run from Aug. 28 to September 8.

President of Paralympic Committee Nigeria (PCN), Sunday Odebode ,  believes  Team Nigeria  contingent  to  the forthcoming  2024 Paralympics in Paris would surpass  its achievement  at the last  delayed Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Team Nigeria will participate in four sports including  para-badminton, para-athletics, para-table tennis and para-powerlifting at the forthcoming  event holding in Paris  between  August 28 and September 8.

Speaking  shortly   before the  Team Nigeria contingent’s departure  to their  pre-games training  camp  in Germany   through  the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Odebode  called for support and prayers from all Nigerians for the 24 athletes  that would fly the country’s flag in Paris.

“i will not promise certain number of medals because anything can happen in sport but all that i know is that with the level of our preparation and the determination of our athletes, Nigeria shall excel at the Paralympic Games,” Odebode said. “The athletes have been in camp for almost three months with serous training and now they were embarking on  foreign training tour which will further boost their morale and knowledge, so with this i hope n believe shall come back home with medals”.

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He continued: ” I will use this medium to call for support and prayers from all Nigerians for us to excel. “We need this because  there is nothing that does not need prayers .We are carrying the burden of all Nigerians and as such,  we need their support and prayers.

Onye Lauritta, a shot put thrower expressed optimism that the Team Nigeria will bring smiles to the faces of all Nigerians going by their preparation but refrained from predicting  the number of medals to be expected.

 “It is not an easy task to be at the Olympics and win medals(gold)but we all are aspiring to make the country proud and no matter the colour, medal is medal, and we are bringing medals home, “she said confidently.