Photo: Instagram/Team USA
(Podcast length - 5:03 mins)
We’re not done with Tokyo as the Paralympic Games begin today. In case you’re wondering, they’re called the Paralympics. The name is derived from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic.” The Paralympic Games exist side-by-side with the Olympic Games. These athletes have amazing stories to share so here’s a little bit more about what you can expect as you tune in over the next two weeks.
Transcript
1. The Summer Paralympics debuted in 1960 in Rome. Tokyo is the first city to host the Paralympic Games twice. (The games take place in the same location as the Summer Olympics). For the first time, US Paralympic athletes will receive the same medal bonus as their Olympian counterparts. Now Paralympians earn $37,500 for a gold medal, $22,500 for silver and $15,000 for bronze, increasing their payout by as much as 400 percent. NOW WE'RE TALKING
2. Around 4,400 athletes from 162 national Paralympic committees will compete in 539 medal events across 22 sports. The team from Afghanistan will not be in attendance after their flights were cancelled due to the unrest in their country. The country's flag still flew in the Opening Ceremonies as an "an act of solidarity." BETTER TOGETHER
3. Ten different impairments determine if an athlete is eligible to compete in the Paralympics: impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency, leg length difference, short stature, muscle tension, uncoordinated movement, involuntary movements, vision impairment and intellectual impairment. You might see track and field stars like David Brown from the US, run alongside a guide while wearing an eye mask. The mask is to ensure that none have a visual advantage, like light perception. SO DETERMINED
4. Fans will not be allowed at the games due to COVID protocols, except for Tokyo's finest. More than 130,000 school children will be allowed to attend various events, even though many are too young to be vaccinated. According to the Associated Press, organizers say that it's good for the children to see athletes with disabilities competing at the highest level. It "could change attitudes in a relatively conservative society like Japan." RAISE 'EM UP
5. There are so many athletes to highlight, and we'll do so in our Instagram stories throughout the games, which end Sept. 5. A few to watch for are swimmer Jessica Long, who trains with Michael Phelps. She's the second most decorated Paralympian in US history and starred in her own Super Bowl commercial. Then there's sprinter Hunter Woodhall. You might know him from TikTok or from cheering on his long jumper girlfriend, Tara Davis, who competed in the Summer Olympics. SO MANY GREAT STORIES, SO LITTLE TIME
PS: If you want to know more, the Paralympics' official Instagram account has posted some awesome educational posts alongside the coverage of the games. It's an excellent account to follow for all of the action and to learn a little bit along the way.
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Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to take the awkward out of the conversation and help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We break down what's happening in sports in an easy-to-understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
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