The 2024 Paris Paralympics, which began on August 29, features 4,400 disabled athletes from 168 teams competing for 549 medals across 22 sports. This year, the Games coincide with the arrival of China's Olympians, who secured an impressive 40 gold medals. Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), has emphasized the need for greater inclusivity and recognition of disabled athletes, highlighting the importance of their contributions to sports and society [2970d90f].
The term 'Paralympics' itself has evolved significantly since its inception. Originally coined from a combination of 'Olympics' and 'paraplegic', the term was first used in an official capacity during the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. The first Stoke Mandeville Games, organized by Dr. Ludwig Guttmann in the UK nearly 80 years ago, marked the beginning of this movement, which aimed to provide sports competition for paraplegic soldiers. The 1960 Rome Games were retroactively designated as the first Paralympic Games, and since then, the event has expanded to include athletes with various physical disabilities and, since 1992, those with intellectual disabilities. The prefix 'para' has come to signify 'beside' or 'alongside' the Olympics, reflecting a significant shift towards inclusivity [4f307d37].
In a proud moment for Hong Kong, athletes Wong Ting-ting and Daniel Chan Ho-yuen were named the flag bearers for the city at the opening ceremony. Daniel Chan, who previously won a bronze medal in Tokyo, is determined to improve his medal color this time around. He expressed his gratitude towards the Hong Kong Paralympic Committee (HKPC) for their support and training, emphasizing the importance of their backing in his athletic journey. Chan, who lost his leg in a car accident in 2008, began competing internationally in 2010 and has since become a prominent figure in the sport. Wong Ting-ting, currently ranked No. 3, will compete from August 29 to September 7. Chan's family is also making the journey, traveling 13 hours to support him during the competition [e693c6be].
On the first day of the Games, Hong Kong's 23 athletes celebrated a silver medal in swimming, with swimmer Chan Yui-lam receiving praise from Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for her achievement. This success underscores the potential of disabled athletes and the need for more support and accessibility for the over 500,000 disabled individuals in Hong Kong [2970d90f]. Meanwhile, Ceci Lee Sze-wing, another athlete from Hong Kong, is preparing for her upcoming events after a challenging performance at the Paris Olympics. Lee, who finished 20th in the omnium event, is focused on her training for the Track World Championships in October, with her coach, Herve Dagorne, emphasizing the need for improvement in her strategy and psychological readiness as she aims for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 [c5bd55e4][e60834de].