With the 2024 Paris Olympics now behind us, many assume that the excitement is over. However, a fresh new wave of excitement began on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024, at the Paralympics Opening ceremony. The Olympics and the Paralympics have coexisted in the same cities for years, yet the Paralympics are often regarded as a secondary event or less important than the Olympics. The primary difference between the two is that the Olympics features able-bodied athletes, while the Paralympics features athletes with various disabilities. Unfortunately, considering the broad appeal and deep-rooted history of the Olympics, they continue to overshadow the Paralympics along with the extraordinary competitors that the event showcases. This is harmful because it perpetuates a hierarchy that undervalues the achievements of athletes with disabilities. By placing the Olympics on a higher pedestal than the Paralympics, we discourage a more inclusive and equitable view of sports and society as a whole.
This year, many advocates for equality between the two events have been speaking out to promote the Paralympics. Tara Davis-Woodhall, an Olympic athlete married to Paralympian athlete Hunter Woodhall, utilized her post-victory speech to urge viewers to stay tuned for the Paralympics, reinforcing the idea that the Olympic season is not complete without it. This kind of cross-support between athletes underscores the need for greater unity and recognition for the Paralympics. It highlights the notion that exceptional athleticism is not confined to the Olympics alone.
Furthermore, the Paralympics made history this year by making their torch identical to the Olympic torch. This decision serves as a testament to the growing desire to bridge the gap between the Olympics and Paralympics. The torch carries a massive amount of history and symbolism, making it a beacon of the ongoing fight for equality in sports. This means advocating for the same media coverage, funding and public interest between both events. It is crucial that we as a society continue to challenge the status quo and push for a shift of perception, recognizing that the Paralympics deserves equal celebration and respect.
Recently, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) decided to lift the ban on Olympic rings tattoos for Paralympians for the Paris 2024 Paralympic games. Previously, Paralympians were forced to cover up any Olympic rings tattoos during competition, and if they failed to do it, they would be faced with penalties or even disqualification. This ban was in place because the IPC viewed the Olympic rings as a symbol of an entity separate from the Paralympics.
Considering this, the decision further allows for the recognition of the shared journey and significance that these athletes feel in reaching the highest level of their sport. For many Paralympians, the Olympic rings are emblematic of their dedication, effort and success, much like they are for Olympians. This change is inevitably a positive step toward recognizing the collective pursuit of excellence that defines both games.
While a lot of progress has been made in blurring the line between the Olympics and the Paralympics, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. Between the two events, there remains a large deficit in viewership and funding, despite the talent that both events showcase. The Olympics, with its long-established history and widespread media coverage, consistently attracts a larger audience and receives more financial backing compared to the Paralympics. For instance, during the 2020 Olympic season, the Tokyo Olympics garnered a staggering 10 times more English-language media coverage than the Paralympics. This highlights a broader issue of inequality in sports media representation and funding.
In order to address this imbalance, incorporating the Paralympics more seamlessly with the Olympics could be a transformative solution. This could possibly involve scheduling the two events consecutively on the same streaming platform, ensuring that both receive equal airtime and promotion. Leveraging shared media coverage, marketing efforts and sponsorships could also amplify the visibility of Paralympic athletes. Major companies like Nike along with Gatorade, which frequently partner with Olympic athletes for brand deals, should step up and extend the same opportunities to Paralympic athletes, promoting equity in sports endorsements. Furthermore, having bigger artists perform at the Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies would draw more attention and increase traction for the event, helping to elevate its profile on a global stage. Another approach could be integrating Paralympic highlights and athlete stories into mainstream Olympic broadcasts. By featuring athletes in the Paralympics in pre-game or halftime shows during the Olympics, networks can introduce these athletes to a bigger audience, creating a more seamless connection between the two events and encouraging viewers to continue following their journeys into the Paralympics.
Overall, closing the large visible gap between the Olympics and Paralympics is not just about fairness; it’s about recognizing and celebrating the incredible talent and determination of all athletes on the world stage, regardless of disability.
Laila Sayegh, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Congers, N.Y.
