The Paris Paralympics welcomed 169 delegations of athletes from around the world, and over 2 million tickets were sold to events across the city. For me, the Paralympics was an amazing experience, getting to watch elite athletes compete at the highest level. Huge crowds cheered at each point scored and medal won, not just in support of disabled athletes but for the beauty of sport. In the end, all parasports are simply great sport, both to compete in and to watch.
The volunteers and games staff we encountered were awesome—warm and friendly, always offering options when choices needed to be made. The simplest encounters can be magical. Two ticket agents who helped us find coveted fencing tickets grinned from ear to ear when we thanked them with Canada pins.
Paris, like most cities, is in desperate need of infrastructure updates, with public transit being a major one. This includes civic and infrastructure communications, the availability of live updates on road construction, and websites that include accessibility information. These barriers weighed heavily as I planned the trip and as we navigated the city.
You may have noticed that I solved many of my challenges with money. For those with the means, many barriers can be removed. Travel for people with disabilities isn’t equitable. There isn’t a fund you can apply to that will offset the cost of special services, accessible transportation, larger hotel rooms, or the extra time it takes while waiting for transfers and doors to be opened. Travel also requires trust. You have to trust that things will be as described and that support will be available as promised. Many people with disabilities have experienced broken trust, which can make the thought of traveling even more daunting.
Having a disability doesn’t mean you don’t fall in love with a sport or passionately follow your favorite athlete or team to the highest level of competition. The excitement and joy of being a fan are universal. So, as the Paralympics come to a close and I arrive back home (with my wheelchair intact!), I would like to congratulate all the athletes and all the visitors who brought their best selves to the games!
