Sport and Paralympics

International News

What Paralympic Goalball is and how it’s played: ‘the coolest sport you’ve never heard of’. (Sep, Washington Post)

For Paralympic Athletes, Travel Remains a Major Challenge: One of the Biggest Barriers to Competing. (Sep, AFAR)

Paralympic Paradoxes Debrief feature on the tensions between Para sport and disability advocacy:

“Disability rights are about levelling the playing field without any exceptions. Sports are about fairness of competition that leads to winners and losers.” (Sep, Disability Debrief)

What a Blind Photographer Saw at the Paralympics

“My camera was able to show me all the things my eyes couldn’t, and I began to hunt for things to photograph — cool shadows, interesting angles, repeating colors.” (Sep, New York Times)

Why the Paralympics ‘inclusive’ messaging is misleading

“Parasport is exclusionary on two fronts. Firstly, the classification system — a cornerstone of para sport — is inherently exclusionary because not all athletes who experience disability are eligible. Because the system categorizes athletes based on specific impairments, some are inevitably left out. Secondly, even for those who are eligible to compete, the opportunity to participate can be limited by the sport-specific classification systems. In others words, some sports within the para sport system are themselves exclusionary.” (Sep, The Conversation)

How Blind Soccer Is Played at the 2024 Paris Paralympics (Sep, Wired)

Why do so many people not know about Deaflympics? “Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will be the 100th anniversary commemorative Games and will be held for the first time in Japan.” (Aug, David Player)

Cheating at the Paralympics is a growing problem, some athletes say “Athletes say ‘classification doping,’ in which competitors lie about their levels of disability, is on the rise and that those in charge don’t want to police it.” (Aug, Washington Post)

Why aren’t the Olympics and Paralympics combined into one Games? Logistics, getting their own spotlight and a “lasting legacy of social change”. (Aug, The Conversation)

How the classification system works This glossary will explain the method behind the different classifications, which dictate which athletes are eligible to compete in a sport and how athletes are grouped. (Aug, The Athletic)

Zakia Khudadadi takes bronze and an historic first medal for Refugee Paralympic Team. “A thrilling series of Para taekwondo bouts leads to a bronze medal in the K44-47kg category”. (Aug, UNHCR)

Why sport must be (re)imagined in ways that make it more accessible for all disabled athletes:

‘The increased media coverage of the Paralympic Games makes Paralympic sport seem “inclusive.” But, the continued reliance on segregated sport and narrowly defined classification categories suggests ableism remains. For example, some intellectually and cognitively disabled athletes are excluded. This implies that elite competition and inclusive sport may be incompatible.’ (Aug, The Conversation)

Born without arms, Matt Stutzman has changed archery: “The four-time Paralympian won gold and set a new Paralympic record. He’s also inspired other armless athletes to take up the sport.” (Aug, Washington Post)

20+ LGBTQ+ Athletes to Watch at the 2024 Paralympics Games: “From rowers and wheelchair tennis players to judokas, swimmers, and triathletes, these are some of the LGBTQ+ paralympians competing in this year's Games.” (Aug, Them)

Paris 2024: Introduction to wheelchair basketball “Wheelchair basketball was one of the eight sports staged at the inaugural Paralympic Games in Rome, Italy, in 1960.” (Jul, International Paralympic Committee)

People with disability know bodies can be funny – so it’s OK that you’re laughing at the Paralympics TikTok account. “It is a relief to see a promotion of the Paralympics that avoids the usual stereotypes.” (Jul, The Conversation)

Not everyone is laughing at the controversial Paralympic TikTok account (Jul, RNZ)

Paralympics 2024: Para-athletes to be vetted for Ukraine war support “Para-athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete at the Paris Paralympics from 28 August as neutrals.” (Mar, BBC)

Para Legacy a video on the history of the Paralympic games. (2023, Peter Langton)

On the Debrief: Games of inclusion or exclusion? reflecting on the gap between disability rights and the Paralympic Games. (2023, Disability Debrief)

Double amputee Everest climber “An Army veteran who lost both his legs in Afghanistan has reached the top of Mount Everest in an attempt to make mountaineering history.” (2023, AP)

Debrief view: How would you like to be called that? reflection on the Paralympics Committee social media. (2023, Disability Debrief)

Paralympics in crisis as international and Australian athletes game the system. “Insiders described a culture where classification rules were regularly bent and broken, with few repercussions for those prepared to exploit a weak system.” (2023, ABC News)

What to look forward to in the Paralympic Movement in 2023 (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

The first Olympiad for People with Disabilities: A milestone for chess. (2023, ChessBase)

Dementia and Football: a taboo in the most popular sport in the world. (In Spanish, 2023, Yo También.)

What should the future of para sport look like at the Commonwealth Games? (2022, ABC News)

Special Olympics Unified with Refugees brings inclusion to the world's most marginalized (2022, Fansided)

Special Olympics Calls Off World Winter Games In Russia (2022, Disability Scoop)

Paralympic Classifications Are Meant To Level The Playing Field. Do They? Detailed breakdown of classification systems and results. (2022, Five Thirty Eight)

See highlights and results of the Paralympic Winter Games held in Beijing between 4th and 13th March. (2022, Paralympic)

As an Afghan Paralympian, sport gave me opportunities all disabled people deserve (2022, the Guardian)

Book review of More Than Medals A History of the Paralympics and Disability Sports in Postwar Japan. (2022, H-Disability)

Stop Calling Paralympic and Disabled Athletes “Inspiring”. (2022, Bitch Media)

A blog on Inclusion through sport and sports programmes that have promoted this. (2022, LFTW)

Opening ceremony of the Paralympics started with a speech calling for peace (2022, Youtube, Channel 4 Sport)

IPC makes decisions regarding RPC and NPC Belarus. Decision for athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate as neutrals. And "The Paralympic Honour bestowed to Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, has been withdrawn." (2022, IPC) Athletes of Ukraine criticised the IPC for not taking a strong enough stance, “choosing bloodshed and profits over principle and stakeholders”. See also video of their appeal, (28 Feb).

Channel 4 presenting team for Winter Paralympics will all be disabled people (2022, the Guardian)

The Para Equestrian Digest a new monthly digest "building inclusion, one story at a time" (2022, FEI)

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Africa

The development of a policy brief on physical activity and health in Africa for children and adolescents with disabilities: COVID-19 and beyond. (2022, African Journal on Disability)

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Angola

"People with disabilities need opportunities, not pushes" interview with athlete Juliana Moko. (In Portuguese, Aug, rfi)

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Congo-Brazzaville

2 Paralympic athletes from Congo reported missing (Sep, NPR)

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Kenya

Time to open up the game Golf For the Disabled (G4D) Tour held in Africa for the first time. (Mar, The Star)

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Liberia

First Wheel Chair Basketball Court Dedicated (2023, Front Page Africa)

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Malawi

Para Sport Against Stigma Evidence brief on engaging communities in Para sport in Malawi. (2023, Loughborough University)

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Mozambique

Coach Muianga on mission to add Para powerlifting to Mozambique's sports agenda (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

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Namibia

‘Once they saw us everybody stood still’ Para cycling making waves (2022, International Paralympic Committee)

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Nigeria

Para Athletes protest “against unpaid allowances and unemployment in the state.” (Mar, Inclusive News Network)

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Sierra Leone

Amputee football association brings together Sierra Leone's civil war survivors (2023, CNN)

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South Africa

IPC mourns passing of pioneering South African athlete Zanele Situ At the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, she became the first black South African female athlete to win a Paralympic gold medal. (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

Wheelchair tennis star Mudzanani hopes to make a difference with his NGO (2023, Eyewitness News)

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South Sudan

Football Dreams & The Dinka Boys

“Through blind football, the parents who lost hope in their children have regained hope and are now once again supporting them. Through blind football, the feeling of loneliness the players used to have is taken away. Through blind football, players are able to visit new places and make new friends.” (Mar, Goal Click.)

Why South Sudan Has Become A Focal Point For Blind Soccer Players. South Sudan has been running its first Blind Premier League competition for just over a month. (2023, Forbes)

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Afghanistan

Wheelchair basketball empowers disabled people features on some players. (Jul, ICRC)

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China

China dominates the Paralympics – but that’s not just down to its almost limitless funds. (Sep, the Guardian)

Improving Accessibility: Hangzhou Hosts the 4th Asian Paralympic Games (2023, Breaking Latest News)

The lowdown on on being disabled in China. With accompanying podcast:

“the perception of disability has changed a lot from my childhood. Now the group of people with disability is more diverse. So, some people are well educated and so they work for some big IT companies which are more open for us. And more importantly is that people with a disability can go outside to use the public transportation and also go shopping, and so the common people become more familiar with them. [...]”

“There were many public demonstrations before 2012, some of them legal, some of them illegal, and many of them broken up by the police. I remember there was a huge demonstration of wheelchair users in Anhui Province in about 2009 for various reasons, because people were being denied accessible homes. So, there was a big public movement at that time. And that’s all stopped. You do not see public activism or protest any longer in China. But what you do get is people working in much more subtle ways. ” (podcast, with transcript, Mar, BBC) (2022, BBC)

Government paper on China's Parasports: Progress and the Protection of Rights. “The remarkable achievements of parasports in China reflect both the sportsmanship and sporting prowess of the disabled, and the progress China is making in human rights and national development.” (2022, Xinhua)

Disabled Chinese Fight for Equal Rights Despite Paralympic Glory. (2022, NYT) “Even China’s most decorated Paralympians have faced discrimination.” Sure, yes, as have decorated Paralympians in every other country?

China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdles (2022, NPR)

China excels at the Paralympics, "but its disabled citizens are fighting for access." Like many other countries doing well at the Paralympics, eh. (2022, NPR)

Beijing 2022 promotes accessibility for Paralympians (2022, CGTN)

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India

Why I love the Paralympics but hate the inspiration porn (Sep, Times of India)

Countering Ableism In The Paralympics And Disability Sport Coverage “Journalist Aman Misra on mainstreaming non-ableist coverage of Paralympics, acceptance of psychosocial disabilities in newsrooms, WhatsApp accessibility, and recommendations” (Aug, Reframing Disability)

Awaiting the right move. “Persons with Disabilities and activists share their grievances on inaccessibility at the ongoing Chess Olympiad and how it could have been made better” (2022, The New Indian Express)

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Israel

Paralympians to help war-wounded heal from trauma “A new initiative established by the Israel Sports Association for the Disabled and the Israel Paralympic Committee aims to help the wounded adapt to their new reality, both physically and mentally.” (2023, Israel 21c)

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Japan

More accessibility: the Tokyo Olympic legacy for people with disabilities. (2022, La Prensa Latina)

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Pakistan

The success of an adaptive sport program in Pakistan has lessons for inclusivity. (Aug, The Conversation)

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Palestine

Meet the Para-Cyclists Riding for Gaza The Sunbirds’ story began with tragedy but has evolved into one of resilience. (Sep, Foreign Policy)

Meet Fadi Deeb, Palestinian Paralympian from Gaza Who Lost 15 Relatives in Israeli Assault. (Aug, Democracy Now!)

Gazan Para-Cyclists deliver aid on bikes “With their dreams of competing at the Paris Paralympics shattered, the Gaza Sunbirds have pivoted to a full blown aid operation.” (Mar, New Internationalist)

Meet the female wheelchair basketball team shooting for glory in Gaza (2023, Euronews)

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Qatar

Accessibility takes centre stage as countdown to Qatar 2022 continues (2022, FIFA) Also on EuroNews.

Will FIFA World Cup 2022 mark the beginning of a new era for accessibility in Qatar? (2022)

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Thailand

The long road ahead for Thailand if it wants to host the Paralympics. (Sep, The Nation)

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Türkiye

Iran amputee football team players dead in Turkey quake. (2023, Tehran Times)

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Europe

Running towards inclusion: the power of sports “The Paralympics highlight the need for year-round activity to include people with disabilities in sports.” (Jul, Social Europe)

Ignored and isolated: my nightmare in a wheelchair at the Champions League final. (2023, the Guardian)

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Denmark

6-year-old girl not allowed to participate in sports because of her visual impairment (In Danish, Jan, TV FYN)

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France

Paralympics celebrate disability, but in Paris, access was hit-or-miss The Washington Post interviewed athletes and fans about accessibility at the Games. (Sep, Washington Post)

The Guardian view on the Paris Paralympics: “A vibrant, well-attended Games showcased the best of parasport. But the challenges outside the sporting arena remain the same” (Sep, the Guardian)

‘Incredible energy’: how Paris crowds lifted French paralympians to medal glory “Healthy ticket sales, record TV ratings – a nation once indifferent to parasport is now cheering its athletes on to new levels of success” (Sep, the Guardian)

In the Paralympic Fix-It Shop, Plenty of Fractures but No Blood Repair technicians at the Paris Games fix everything from bent wheelchair frames to broken sunglasses. (Sep, New York Times)

IPC President praises accessibility improvements made by City of Paris “Andrew Parsons says Paris has made more progress in the last seven years than any other Paralympic host city when it comes to accessibility” (Aug, International Paralympic Committee)

How the Paralympic Village has been transformed with accessibility in mind. (Aug, CBS News)

A Paralympic Paris “The incremental changes are more a reminder of what hasn’t been done than what has. [...] The city’s least successful venture has been an effort to distribute grant money to local businesses for ramps” (Aug, Slate)

Paralympic Games: the Hellish Laundry Contract for laundry of Olympic and Paralympic athletes was won by sheltered workplaces that do not guarantee minimum wage or other labour rights. (In French, Aug, L'Humanité)

How Airbnb has paved the way for accessible stays at the Paralympics (Aug, Condé Nast)

Sporting barometer ahead of the Paralympics: “58% of French people now intend to follow the Paralympic Games which will start on August 28, 16 points more than in January 2024!” (In French, Aug, ODOXA)

Gold medal for discrimination anti-ableist criticism of the Games as a pretext for “social cleansing”, broken promises on accessibility and reproduction of ableist stereotypes. (In French, Jul, Les Dévalideuses)

Ensuring total accessibility in the Paris 2024 Games

“‘Games wide open’ is the philosophy of Paris 2024, which is expecting almost 280,000 people with disabilities to visit its venues during the summer. Thanks to a wide range of accessibility solutions, everyone will be able to enjoy the Olympic and Paralympic experience to the full.” (Jul, Olympics)

How The Paris Paralympics Are Driving Engineering And Accessibility Innovation “Since 2021, engineers at the aerospace group Airbus have been working with the French National Sports Agency to build better equipment for disabled athletes.” (Jun, WorldCrunch)

Instructions to limit outings of psychiatric patients during the passage of the flame for so-called security reasons. (In French, Jun, Le Monde) See also from Santé Mentale.

Paris Promised the Olympics Would Be Accessible. “The city, which put inclusivity at the center of its bid, has improved access for people with disabilities, but with the opening ceremony about 12 weeks away, obstacles remain.” (May, New York Times)

Paralympics 'shame' in lack of Metro disabled access (May, BBC)

One year before Paralympics, Paris trying to make city more accessible to those with disabilities (2023, AP)

Paris 2024 Olympics: Slow roll-out of accessible services worries disability campaigners (2023, Le Monde)

Paris 2024: two years from the Paralympic Games, what are the challenges to be met regarding accessibility? (2022, California18)

Ahead of 2024 Olympics, Paris sponsors accessibility of neighbourhoods. (2022, The Mayor)

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Hungary

Meet Hungary's Paralympic champion Ekler, the university teacher boosting Para sports (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

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Italy

Italian sprinter set to be first transgender Paralympian. (Sep, BBC) See also resulting controversy.

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Netherlands

The Daily Paralympics cartoon showing disabled people traversing a street filled with physical barriers. (Aug, Tjeerd Royaards)

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Russia

Russia and Belarus appeal against International Paralympic Committee suspension upheld - BBC Sport - but they remain banned from world championship events. (2023, BBC)

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Spain

Disabled Syrian Refugee Dreams of Paralympics Glory (2023, VOA)

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Ukraine

Ukraine's Paralympics success "shapes the consciousness" of Ukrainian society and the authorities when it comes to the equal rights and opportunities for disabled people, the president of its Paralympic Committee told AFP. (Sep, France 24)

Disability sport in Ukraine has 'died' thanks to the Russian invasion the country's Paralympic boss says. Ukraine came second in the overall medal table in this year's Winter Paralympics. (2022, Business Insider)

Equal opportunities for girls with intellectual disabilities
(2021, UNFPA)

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United Kingdom

How To Use The Paralympics To Talk To Kids About Limb Differences (Aug, HuffPost UK Parenting)

Jodie Grinham, 7 months pregnant, wins bronze in archery at Paralympics (Aug, The Athletic)

A new start after 60: “I was partially paralysed by a stroke – and it felt like hell. Then I found a new sport, family and future.” (Jun, the Guardian)

Newcastle United introduce 'sound shirts' for deaf fans (Apr, BBC)

Paralympic Flame to be created at Stoke Mandeville for all future Paralympic Games (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

Interrupted views, undignified facilities: challenges for disabled football fans. (2023, the Guardian)

“I want motorsport to be accessible for disabled people.” (2023, RedBull)

Did the Paralympic games change things for disabled people? The legacy ten years on. (2022, Spirit of 2012)

Activity levels among disabled people have failed to return to pre-Covid levels (2022, the Guardian)

‘Stare at me because I deserve to be stared at’: Lauren Steadman and the evolution of representation at the Paralympics (2022, the 19th)

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Canada

Volleyball Player Allison Lang On Calling Paralympians 'Inspiration' “Be inspired by our accomplishments, not our existence.” (Aug, Today)

Young children with disabilities are excluded from national physical activity monitoring “New research conducted in our lab shows that young children with disabilities have markedly low levels of physical activity.” (Jul, The Conversation)

'Finally': Canadian Para athletes to be financially rewarded for medals won at Paralympics. “Canadian Paralympians will now receive $20,000 for winning gold, $15,000 for silver and $10,000 for bronze. This is equal to the amount Canadian Olympians receive.” (Jan, CBC)

Canadian Para athletes not immune to hazards of travel, where damaged equipment can cost shot at a medal. (2023, CBC)

Canadian Paralympic charts new 10-year strategy. “Outlining a vision that intertwines the advancement of Paralympic sport with the pursuit of a more inclusive Canada.” (2023, CPC)

How an outdoor enthusiast with physical disabilities found healing in Ontario backcountry. (2023, CBC)

Informing Future Paralympic Media Approaches: The Perspective of Canadian Paralympic Athletes. “I have no problem talking a little bit about how I got started in the sport or whatever. I just don't want that to be the primary focus of the article. I don't want it to be focused on my disability. I want it to be focused on my ability.” (2022, Project ECHO)

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United States

Four U.S. Paralympians disciplined for online comments about teammate “Decorated swimmer Jessica Long was among those barred from the Closing Ceremonies in Paris after questioning the disabilities of fellow athlete.” (Sep, The Washington Post)

The Trials of a Paralympian Whose Disability Doesn’t Always Show Anonymous online accusations that Raleigh Crossley exaggerated the disability that qualified her for the Paralympics:

“It is a conundrum: The better she swims, the more suspicion and accusations come her way. How do you prove a disability to people who cannot see it?” (Aug, New York Times)

You Won’t Believe These 5 New Paralympic Sports! “Showering while disabled is a workout, so it’s no surprise that it’s also a sporting event.” (Aug, Squeaky Wheel)

NFL Player learning ASL and bringing his own flair to the language (2023, NPR)

A football helmet for deaf and hard of hearing quarterbacks unveiled by AT&T and Gallaudet University. “It allows a coach to call a play on a tablet from the sideline that then shows up visually on a small display screen inside the quarterback’s helmet.” (2023, ABC News)

These Groups Are Making Skiing More Inclusive. (2023)

How the NFL avoids paying disabled players — with the union’s help. “A system still stacked against players left broken by football.” (2023, Washington Post)

Former players sue NFL over how it handled disability benefits (2023, NPR)

Born without hands, Brandon Canesi is playing golf on his own terms. (2023, CNN)

Sheri Byrne-Haber’s on the road to the 2024 Paris Paralympics: it “begins with ableism, discrimination and archery”. (2022, URevolution)

The Hardest Part About Being a Deaf Hiker? Everyone Else. (2022, Backpacker)

Deaf Performers Were Not Included At The Halftime Show: Separate is Not Equal. See a more positive article on inclusion of deaf rappers. (2022, Access Vine)

‘I need to speak my truth’: Allegations of emotional abuse led to the resignation of the Paralympic women’s wheelchair basketball coach (2021, 19th News)

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Australia

Discovering Para-Sport Opportunities Just Became Easier The Start Line, a site for “information, guidance and opportunities for Para-athletes to begin or continue their Para-sport journey”. (Aug, Paralympics Australia)

Paralympic uniform featuring accessibility modifications launched at Australian Fashion Week (May, ABC News)

Ellie Cole was told she wasn't 'disabled enough’ to represent Paralympians. Here’s her response. (2023, MamaMia)

Paralympics Australia announces new plan for Para-sport to Brisbane 2032 and beyond. “Paralympics Australia (PA) has called out the inequity in funding and support for the Para-sport system” (2023, ABC News)

‘It makes you think about things’: Australian Rules Football’s uncomfortable truth with brain trauma (2023, Brisbane Times)

‘I am who I am’: how a blind Kurdish refugee became an Australian sporting superstar. (2022, the Guardian)

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New Zealand

Meet the 25 athletes representing New Zealand at the Paralympic Games (Aug, The Spinoff)

Bonding over battle: How wheelchair rugby is more than just a sport. (Jun, D*List)

Duck hunting season begins with first wheelchair-accessible maimai (May, RNZ)

Why doesn’t every New Zealander know about Eve Rimmer? “She had a glittering international sports career and became a brave advocate for paraplegic rights, but Eve Rimmer is still largely unknown to the country she represented.” (2022, The Spinoff)

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Argentina

Children’s book series aims to write new chapter for Para sports. (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

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Brazil

What changes in teaching practice when physical education focusses on inclusion (In Portuguese, 2023, Porvir)

Brazil leads way in making football accessible to autistic fans (2023, AlJazeera)

Great pictures of Paraskating (no image description, 2022, @Aurch, Instagram)

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Chile

“I am a fighter and I will not give up” profile of Valentina Biskupovic, a 22 year old with Down Syndrome.

“I like having Down Syndrome”
“Why?”
“Because I'm happy”. (In Spanish, Mar, La Prensa Grafica)

More awareness, inclusion and infrastructure, the early legacy of Santiago 2023. “Chilean Para athletes expressed they have felt a positive change in their social lives and sporting careers because of the Parapan American Games in their country” (2023, International Paralympic Committee)

Goodbye, Santiago 2023. Hello, sporting legacy for Chile. (In Spanish, 2023, Yo También)

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Uruguay

Hiking for everyone bringing people with disabilities closer to nature through a special wheelchair adapted for mountains. (In Spanish, Apr, El Pais)

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