It’s an Accessible Life: My 24-Hour Journey

What especially moved me was the extensive participation of countries that had only minimal participation in the four previous Olympic/Paralympic events I have attended. The large numbers of para-athletes participating in each country’s events told the story that being disabled in a third world country was less a stigma; more an honor. This acceptance pointed to a mainstreaming and acceptance of Paralympic athletes. Further, I learned that there were funds to train para-athletes for these events. An independent sponsored IPC had para-athletes from Syria and Palestine. It was wonderful to see participants from Georgia, Malawi, Seychelles and three countries in the Congo region. Along with these relative “newcomers” were the traditional powerhouses, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, and Japan. I was overjoyed to see many women participate from Muslim countries. This kind of support for female Paralympic athletes speaks strongly to the notion of women’s rights around the world.