The Tokyo Paralympics starts today. Nine Sri Lankans will be taking part in the prestigious Games. We wish them all success!
Here are the names and dates of their first appearances:
1. Sampath Bandara - Archery Recurve - 27 Aug.
2. Ranjan Dharmasena - Wheelchair Tennis Singles - 27 Aug.
3. Mahesh Jayakody - Rowing Singles Sculls (PR1) - 27 & 29 Aug.
4. Dinesh Herath - Javelin (F46) - 30 Aug.
5. Samitha Dulan - Javelin (F44) - 30 Aug.
6. Sampath Hettiarachchi - Javelin (F64) - 30 Aug.
7. Kumudu Priyanka - Women’s 100 m & Long Jump (T45/46) - 31 Aug. & 3 Sep.
8. Maduranga Subasinghe - 400 m (T47) - 3 Sep.; and
9. Palitha Bandara - Shot Put (F42) - 4 Sep.
Despite rising Covid-19 cases in Japan
Parsons “convinced” Tokyo Paralympics can be held safely
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IPC President Andrew Parsons (on right) delivers his speech at the start of the organisation’s Governing Board meeting in Tokyo[/caption]
The 2020 Summer Paralympics or the 16th Summer Paralympic Games, branded as Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, is the major international multi-sport parasports event governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
They are scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan from today (24 August) and will go on till 5 September.
Dates: Tuesday, August 24 - Sunday, September 5
Events: 540 in 22 sports
Athletes: 4,400 (expected)
Opening: 24 August 2021
Opened by: Emperor Naruhito (expected)
Location: Tokyo
Closing: 5 September 2021
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Sri Lanka's Kumudu Priyanka will take part in women’s 100 m and Long Jump (T45/46) on 31 August and 3 September[/caption]
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons has insisted he is “convinced” the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics can be held safely vowing to protect the Japanese population as coronavirus cases continue to increase in the capital.
Tokyo reported more than 5,000 new infections for the third straight day on Saturday as Japan topped 25,000 cases for the fourth day in succession, noted the Inside the Games on Sunday (22).
Biggest wave in Japan now
The country is experiencing its biggest wave of the pandemic since it began last year, putting hospitals under increasing pressure.
The situation has led medical professionals to call for the Games - pushed back by one year due to the global health crisis - to be cancelled.
But Parsons underlined his commitment to staging the Paralympics safely in his opening remarks at Sunday’s IPC Governing Board meeting in Tokyo.
Safety for all
“We are not going to be complacent when it comes to protecting the Paralympic and Japanese population,” said Parsons.
“We do believe that we can deliver and organise these Games in a safe manner. That is what we have been preparing for in the last 18 months since the postponement and this is what we are going to do here.
“Together with the Governments and the Tokyo Organising Committee, we will make every effort to make sure these Games can be run in a safe way for all involved, but above all to the Japanese society.
“We would not be here if we did not think we could deliver these Games in a safe way,” the IPC Head had further added.
At IPC Governing Board meeting
“If we understood that the Games would be a threat to the Japanese population, we would not be holding them.
“With the experience of the Olympic Games we are convinced that we can do it for the athletes, the 1.2 billion people with disabilities but also can do it for the Japanese society.”
The IPC Governing Board meeting was being held at the Grand Nikko Diaba hotel.
‘WeThe15’ campaign
It also marked the first time the Board had met in person since January 2020 because of the pandemic.
During the meeting, the Board is set to receive an update from Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto and Chief Executive Toshirō Mutō on preparations for the Games which are set to open today, Tuesday (24).
Members are also expected to be updated on the launch of the ‘WeThe15’ campaign, the IPC’s governance review and its Athlete Classification Code Review.
Parsons hailed the success of the ‘WeThe15’ movement which aims to end discrimination against people with disabilities.
Disableds disproportionately affected
“We are finally here in Tokyo and despite the moment we are facing in the world, we are very excited with the Games here,” said Parsons.
“In just two days’ time (today) we have the Opening Ceremony of what will be the most important Paralympic Games ever.
“As we all know, people with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. They have been left behind.
“That is why we believe with the Paralympic Games being the only global event in the world that puts people with disabilities centre state.
‘How excited I am’
“We are giving them a voice in a time when they need their voice to be heard the mot. That’s what we are doing here at the Paralympic Games.
“It is not only a sport event. We are putting back disability at the heart of the inclusion agenda. We are ready to change the world at these Games.
“We just launched ‘WeThe15’ three days ago. It was an absolutely incredible to see the world turning purple. There were millions of interactions on social media and hundreds of landmarks around the world turned purple and all of our partners really engaged.
“It was a very good start, but it is a 10-year effort. I can’t tell you how excited I am with that.”