EDITORIAL
>> Too often in the shadows, but especially in light years in terms of media coverage of "valid" athletes, Paralympic sport struggles to find a place in the minds of the general public. At the approach of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, the European sports editorialist 1 Virginie Phulpin believes that the look on Paralympic athletes must change.
"And if we put an end to the invisibility of the Paralympic athletes?" The handicap concerns 12 million people in France, and yet we do not see them.The sportsmen hardly more than the others, we can not say that they invade our Fortunately, Michael Jérémiasz, the former wheelchair tennis champion, has created a production company because he wants to get things done, and this week he has released a very well done video that challenges us. Do not be afraid, and she puts everyone in front of her contradictions.
(sounds of tennis balls)
He takes us to the courts of his tournament, the French Riviera Open. And his voice puts us in the shoes of Paralympic athletes, so that we realize their daily lives.
(They always start telling us that everything is impossible)
There is a whole game between the images where we see the athletes go to the end of themselves and the audience who follows the matches with passion, and then the voice of Michael Jeremiasz who is ironic on the clichés that show the Paralympic athletes. .
(They think we are alone, that nobody is interested in us)
He told me, Michael Jeremiasz, he wanted to provoke a bit, because he knows that's how he can get an audience.
(Well, let's show them how monsters we are)
Yes, monsters of will, of mind, of technique. Top athletes, whatever. Go watch it, this video, I can tell you that your eyes will change in 2 minutes. Serena Williams for example, shared it on social networks. A priori she knows two or three things about tennis.
Paralympic athletes have also just published a Manifesto for Paris 2024
"We are Paralympic athletes and we refuse to be reduced to our only disabilities. We can only adhere to their request. Let's look at them like sportsmen. Point. Disability is still today one of the major causes of discrimination. Michael Jeremiasz told me yesterday. At each presidential election in France, we are told that disability will be a priority. And then the presidents pass, and the acts are waiting.
Paris 2024 is an opportunity to change the place of disability in society. That's also why it's a chance, a real one, to have the games in Paris. No offense to the grumpy. So that the games are not just a summer of sport that we forget at the beginning of the school year, but that they leave an indelible trace. So, do we start? Do not be afraid !"