The Paralympic Games have ended but is a French disability revolution coming?

And just like that after three years and 12 days of elite sports, the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games came to an end.

It’s yet to be determined if this will be a transformational and revolutionary Paralympic Games, but if there’s one nation that isn’t afraid to stand up for what it believes in and enforce change, it’s France. Multiple world records being broken, new nations winning medals and record ticket sales have ensured these Paralympic Games, from a sporting point of view, have been a massive success. But huge questions still exist about the everyday lives of disabled people, off the track, in the capital and beyond.

A roaring success

Let’s start with the sport. It’s undeniable these Paralympic Games have been a roaring success if you speak to anybody who loves sport in France. Sold out opening and closing ceremonies, with 2.5 million tickets sold. This was welcome news to the International Paralympic Committee after the crowdless Paralympic Games in Tokyo because of Covid.

Out here in Paris I have covered boccia, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, para table tennis, cycling and the marathon and all of those events have been at worst 80% full, if not completely sold out. Something else very notable was the amount of young people in attendance. Knowing how many young people took an interest in para sport is very encouraging for its relevance for the next 30 years. The enthusiasm from the French public towards not only their athletes, but all displaying sporting excellence was a joy to see. Volunteers going above and beyond to ensure that every spectator attending any event or sport did so with the energy and va-va-voom to have a good time.

Nepal, Mauritius and Moldova won their first medals at a Paralympic Games, this makes sure more nations are experiencing a taste of the Paralympic pie.

Improving accessibility

But there’s an uncomfortable truth and reality for thousands, if not millions of disabled people in Paris and wider France. That uncomfortable reality is a feeling of disrespect and disregard of them and their basic needs. One of the biggest frustrations is accessibility to transport. I’m a train nerd. I love them. So any chance to travel on a train, I’m on it. But it was clear to see that the lack of accessibility for disabled people is scary. Let’s be clear, the London Underground is by no means perfect, with plenty of stations inaccessible. But it’s undeniable that since 2012 massive improvements have been made. Billions of Euros have been promised over the next 20 years for regeneration accessibility on all forms of transport. I pressed International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons and the head of the 2024 Paris Committee on this very subject. Commitments have been made to ensure a Paralympic legacy for disabled people stays, even after the Paralympics leave.

Back to the Games themselves; these athletes have once again shown their sporting excellence, endearing endeavor, and passion for their craft.

Los Angeles, it’s over to you.