Paris Paralympic Games draw to a close

DW (English)

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will end today with a closing ceremony this evening at the Stade de France. A huge success with audiences, the event has boosted awareness and prompted Paris to make its streets more accessible. DW reports.

Transcript

00:00The games were a showcase of impressive performances by armless archers, limbless swimmers and

00:09footballers kicking the ball into a goal they were unable to see, against stunning backdrops.

00:16And it was a formidable feast for visitors.

00:21Two thirds of the French watched at least parts of the Paralympics.

00:27There are so many happy people, volunteers, spectators, people from all sorts of countries.

00:33It was impressive to see people with disabilities overcome them to achieve the extraordinary.

00:42The games were also an occasion for some to put themselves in the shoes of people with

00:46disabilities, for example while playing sitting volleyball.

00:52This makes me realise how difficult the sport is and how much you have to adapt to it.

01:01Ahead of the Paralympics, the city made changes to help people with disabilities get around

01:07and created 17 barrier-free neighbourhoods like here in northern Paris.

01:15There are knobs on the ground for the visually impaired and the pedestrian crossing is flat

01:20without cobblestones.

01:23We've expanded this alley so that there's more space and made the two sports facilities

01:29here accessible by constructing this lift, which helps people get around the stairs,

01:35and by building a wheelchair ramp.

01:41By 2026 we'll have invested 125 million euros in these construction works.

01:46But this sports philosopher says more needs to be done to change the mindset.

01:53People with disabilities are not visible in our society.

01:56They don't hold office, you can hardly see them on TV and only a few of them are in the

02:00performing arts.

02:02It's impossible for them to project themselves and dream big.

02:07And additional construction works will be necessary.

02:10The Paris metro is largely inaccessible for people in wheelchairs.

02:14Changing that could cost more than 50 billion euros and take as long as 20 years.

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