The 2024 Paralympic Games took place in Paris between 28 August and 8 September.
During the games, Josh, Bexley Mencap member and tennis player and Nick, Income & Development Officer, went to visit the official fan zone at Battersea Power Station in London to find out more.
‘The first thing I didn’t realise was how long the games has been in existence,’ admitted Nick. Josh googled the Paralympics on the train journey and we found out that the very first Paralympics took place in Rome in 1960. That year 400 athletes competed from 23 different countries. In Paris, there were over 4,400 competitors from over 100 countries.
We arrived at the Fan Zone and Josh had a go on the Cycling machine. If you pedal quick enough you get a Gold Medal which lights up on the screen in front of you as you are cycling. Very soon Josh was cycling fast at Gold medal pace. Josh goes to a local gym and likes cycling indoors so he has plenty of experience of cycling at different speeds and distances.
Next we saw a 100 metres mini race track with four lanes. It had a start and finish line so before you could say ‘Ready, Steady, Go’ Josh was racing away. And he didn’t stop until the finish line, either. Great sprinting Josh. It will definitely help getting around the tennis court on a Monday morning!
After all that cycling and running it was definitely time for a break. So we sat down and watched the games in front of a big screen to cheer on the British athletes. We saw wheelchair rugby, badminton and swimming. Several Bexley Mencap members swim with local groups.
In all, there are 28 Paralympic sports including Boccia which is played by Bexley Dodgers Boccia team.
Did you know that there are three sports for people with learning/intellectual disabilities at the Paralympics? Check out the swimming in the S14 category, and Athletics in the 20 categories, either T20 for Track or F20 for Field. There is also Table Tennis, Class 11.
All of the sports have different categories or levels. This is to make sure that the competition is fair between athletes and to give everyone an equal chance in the event in which they are competing.
So what did we make of the Paralympics? Josh said. ‘It’s great everyone has a chance to show how good they are.’ He’s right because someone’s disability shouldn’t get in the way of them playing and enjoying different sports. Every sport can be adapted to suit an individual’s needs and abilities.
At Bexley Mencap we play tennis indoors and outdoors and won Kent LTA’s Best Disability Tennis award in 2021 and were Highly Commended at regional level in 2022. We also have a weekly Keep Fit group and a Walking Group. We have organised and led tennis competitions and multi sports fun days. We have Kwik Cricket kit and having played in our first football tournament we’re hoping to start to up a regular football activity in the near future.
If you want to join one of our groups or help as a volunteer phone 020 83036336 or email: office@bexleymencap.org.uk
