Paralympic sports organization "insufficient facilities" and 70% responded
The opening of the Tokyo Paralympics is 25 days and half a year. When NHK asked the Paralympic sports organizations if there were enough facilities for the competition, it was found that about 70% of the organizations said that they were in short supply. Experts point out that the Japanese Paralympic Games may refuse to use the facilities, saying, "In the wake of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the government should work on securing facilities where anyone can play parasports."
NHK has conducted a questionnaire survey of 26 sporting organizations in Japan in the six months before the opening of the Tokyo Paralympic Games in August, and received responses from all the organizations.
When asked about the number of facilities that could be used on a daily basis for competition, we found that 69% of the respondents answered that they were "all inadequate" or "slightly inadequate."
The main reasons were that there were few facilities equipped with parasports-specific equipment, that barrier-free facilities were not sufficient, and that floors were damaged in wheelchair competitions. He said that even the representative player had refused use.
Athletic organizations commented that "It is unreasonable that it is dangerous for a disabled athlete to compete alone," and "It is not known that parasports can be played using general facilities." The fact that disability and poor understanding of parasports led to a lack of facilities was highlighted.
Professor Noriaki Fujita of Nippon Welfare University, who is studying the relationship between parasports and society, said, "The awareness of the national and local governments is too biased toward strengthening players to acquire medals. The goal of the Paralympic Games is not to be achieved, and the government should review the management policy of public sports facilities and work on securing facilities that can be used by people with disabilities. "
Survey Response Details
When asked if there were enough facilities available for the competition, 23% said they were "very inadequate" and 46% said that they were "slightly inadequate", with a total of 69% saying they lack facilities .
The answer was particularly prominent in wheelchair competitions. It is said that wheelchair rugby is often refused from the gym because the floor is damaged by a wheelchair. There were seven organizations that said that even Japanese national players had refused to use the facilities, and all of them played wheelchair players.
In addition, the lack of facilities equipped with parasports-specific equipment and insufficient barrier-free facilities were cited as reasons for the lack of facilities.
Others have complained that disability and lack of understanding of parasports have hindered access. For example, the Japanese national team of canoes said they could refuse to use alone if they practiced dangerously. A sports organization said, "Athletes themselves usually live independently. I want them to have the right to choose. "
A number of organizations reported that sitting volleyball competitions say that there is no place to practice on a daily basis even if new players are found.
One of the concerns of many sports organizations was the securing of facilities after the Tokyo Paralympic Games. A gym dedicated to para-sports, built by a private foundation in Tokyo to strengthen athletes, will be closed at the end of next year. Complained of the crisis.
On the other hand, some sports groups have begun to secure facilities. Wheelchair tennis competitions make pamphlets outlining things that can be played on regular tennis courts and that wheelchairs will not damage the court, and distribute them to related facilities and organizations.
Wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball organizations cooperate in hands-on events and lectures at sports facilities, strengthening ties and securing facilities that can be used for daily practice.