The Importance of Increasing Paralympic Media Coverage and Focusing on the Athlete Instead of Disability

    The Olympic Games are undoubtedly the greatest athletic showcase celebrated worldwide. Occurring every two years, as either the summer or winter Games, athletes from all around the globe come together and experience a commonality despite distance, culture, race, religious beliefs, and more. The similarity in mind is sport. Individuals are able to compete not only against one another, but also against themselves on a global stage. True grit, passion, and determination are put on display for all to see, with billions of viewers tuning in to each event.

The Olympics appear at the forefront, supported by hours of media coverage, pre-event publicity, countless sponsorships, and an overall grander hype. The Paralympics follow behind, occurring just after the initial Games conclusion. They are similar to the Olympics, but competing athletes have some form of disability of either physical or intellectual nature. Paralympians have to work harder than typical athletes, and not only are they challenging the limits of sport, they are inspiring others and working towards the promotion of social inclusion of those with impairments. Unfortunately, with all of the hype and build up to the Olympics, the Paralympics fall short in obtaining their well deserved media coverage. Yes, recent Paralympic Games have garnered far more television viewers than the Olympics, but they receive little to no attention outside of that. Perhaps, the Paralympics should be held prior to the Olympics. If this were to happen, they would receive more attention and avoid the fact that many lose interest in the Games after the first two weeks. 

There are many other actions that can be taken in expanding Paralympic media coverage. First off, they should have an equal build up to the Olympics, engaging and exciting people worldwide. This can be done through commercials, advertisements, social media posts, and sponsorships with bigger brands and or companies. All of this would attract attention before the Games even commence. Once they are officially underway, media outlets can conduct interviews with Paralympians that focus more so on them as an athlete than an individual with a disability. These interactions would highlight their dedication, rigorous training, results, and impressive accomplishments, rather than building upon stereotypical representations. 

Many times, Paralympians are overlooked as athletes, and instead viewed as “supercrips,” “villains,” or “helpless.” These harsh stereotypes are rooted in the common misbelief that these individuals are defined by the disability that they have and are ultimately attempting to overcome. In developing and standing by these certain ideas, the public isolates individuals with disabilities from other “normal” athletes. They are looked at as if they have great courage to participate, rather than compete, in their respective sports, and that they all have some success story aiming to be the next headlining inspiration story. Yes, Paralympians want to inspire others, but not just those with disabilities. These individuals serve as an inspiration to all, given their athletic abilities and performances. It should also be noted that the Paralympic Games are aimed at celebrating athletes, and not to capitalize on disability, but rather raise awareness. By prioritizing the athletes rather than their disabilities, the public becomes more receptive. The positive and non-stereotypical portrayal of Paralympians ties back to the importance of increased media coverage and exposure. It is essential to the future of the Games, and many of the athlete’s careers, to have a fair and celebratory representation and following. After all, these individuals are athletes’ with disabilities, not disabled athletes, further emphasizing their determination, performances, and successes, in the same manner as any other athlete. 

https://dailytrojan.com/2019/09/10/hyun-derrated-media-fails-to-reflect-paralympics-popularity/

https://theconversation.com/paralympians-still-dont-get-the-kind-of-media-attention-they-deserve-as-elite-athletes-166879 

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