From Olympics.com:
“Tokyo 2020 Paralympics:
Everything you need to know”
As the Paralympics edge closer,
here's everything you need to know; from athletes to keep a look out for, to
the schedule, and how you can watch. The
Paralympics are next to take centre stage in Tokyo in 2021. With an action
packed two weeks on the horizon, here's everything you need to know ahead of
the Opening Ceremony.
When and where are the Paralympics?
The Paralympics will be held in Tokyo - one year on from the initial
planned date in summer 2020. Action will begin on Tuesday 24 August,
beginning with the Opening Ceremony. The next day will welcome to start
of events, where seven will get Paralympic action underway - featuring track
cycling, goal ball, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair
fencing and wheelchair rugby. Over 20 events will be showcased across
two weeks, before it all comes to a close on Sunday 5 September when the action
is concluded with the Closing Ceremony.
What are the new sports
debuting in Tokyo? There have been two new sports added to the Paralympics
programme, both of which have equivalent events on the Olympics. Badminton
will debut at the Yoyogi National Stadium and will include 14 events across six
different classifications. The second debuting sport will be Taekwondo
at the Makuhari Messe. Action will unfold across six events, consisting
of six different weight classes.
Sports that are unique to the
Paralympics
Boccia - pronounced
'bot-cha', is unique in its inclusion to the Paralympic programme, bearing no
equivalent event in the Olympics. With similarities to bowls, it is a target
ball sport designed to test both muscle control and accuracy. One team has six
reds balls, while the other has six blue balls - the aim of the game is to get
your balls closer to the target ball than your opponents. Though originally a
game designed for athletes with cerebral palsy, as Boccia has developed it has
become more inclusive to athletes with differing disabilities that affect their
motor skills.
Goalball Like Boccia,
there is no Olympic equivalent to goalball and it exists uniquely within the
Paralympics. It is a team sport that was designed for athletes with
visual impairments. In their teams, athletes must aim to score by
throwing the ball - that has bells in it - into the goal of their opposing team.
All athletes are blindfolded to ensure a completely level playing field for
all involved.
Athletes to look out for at
the 2020 Paralympics
David Smith (Great Britain) –
Boccia David Smith topped the world rankings in the BC1 individual category
in 2018, picking up a Championship title in the same year. After winning gold
at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, he has his sights set on a third Olympic title
and successfully defending his current title for the first time.
Amanda Dennis (United States) –
Goalball Amanda Dennis made her Paralympic debut in London, and had hoped
to help the USA claim back-to-back titles following their success in Beijing. But
in 2012, they fell way outside of the medal positions. Rio 2016 was a different
story, however, with Dennis helping her side back onto the podium and taking
home a bronze medal - but now they are firmly focused on winning gold again 13
years on from their last Paralympic title.
Anastasia Tas Pagonis (United
States) – Swimming At just 17 years old, Anastasia Pagonis is already a
sensation. Born in Long Island, she had always had a love of swimming - but
losing her vision at 14 put her dreams on hold as she grappled with her new
reality. Returning to the pool presented its own obstacles, having to learn how
to swim from a whole new perspective - but the work paid off, securing her
place on the Paralympic team with a world record in the 400m freestyle. I want
to show people that I am an elite athlete, I can do my makeup, I can do my
hair. I could dress cute. Yes, I might need a little bit of help doing these
things, but anything's possible.
TANG Xuemei (People's Republic
of China) - Sitting Volleyball It wasn't until after the Sichuan Province
earthquake in 2008 that TANG Xuemei discovered sitting volleyball, following
the loss of her leg. She on to debut at London 2012, helping China to a
Paralympic title. But after the United States took gold in Rio 2016 - beating
China - TANG and her teammates are looking to take gold once again in Tokyo.
Bebe Vio (Italy) - Wheelchair
Fencing It became an iconic moment of the entire Paralympic movement when
Bebe Vio screamed emotionally as she won her gold medal in the Foil B. Since
then, she's become a global superstar and starred in the documentary film
'Rising Phoenix'. But it was the bronze medal in the team event that was the
most special moment for Bebe. "If I have to think about the best moment of
my life, I'm going to think about the bronze medal."
Daniel Dias (Brazil) –
Swimming Swimming legend Daniel Dias plans to retire after Tokyo 2020. The
Brazilian has won more Paralympic medals than any other swimmer in history. "My
moment of greatest pride in sport [is] representing this nation... This here is
an enormous pride to represent [also] people with disabilities."
Paralympics schedule and how
to watch From the Opening Ceremony to the Closing Ceremony, there's action
on every day in between with each one boasting multiple medal events. Whether
it's the new events you want to see in action or the likes of Boccia and
Goalball that are entirely unique to the Paralympics that you want to see, the
full schedule for the Games can be found here . And no matter where you
are in the world, there's a place to watch all the action unfold.
^ I am planning to watch the
Paralympics and hope all the teams do well (especially the US and Canada.) ^
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