Paralympics sharing the world stage

The Paralympics in London opened midweek, with record audiences and participants, including the largest ever Philippine delegation. But all the success is the culmination of an attitude towards the disabled fostered by Britain since after World War II. Our Paralympians were, in fact, sent off via a unique photo exhibit honoring athletes with disability organized by the British Embassy.

“We wanted to profile the Paralympics, and link it to the photo exhibit, it was all about providing new perspectives on the disabled, and what people with disability can achieve,” explained British Ambassador to the Philippines Stephen Lillie. “It was great to have almost all of the Paralympic team there.”

London 2012 marked the first time a city has hosted the Olympic Games three times. The British capital also staged the Olympics in 1908 and 1948, the first modern Olympics after World War II. This time, though, there was an intentional difference. The Olympic Games and Paralympics were never set apart. Instead, a simple campaign of “London 2012” was decided upon when the city won the bid seven years ago.

“I think the love of sport in Great Britain basically was just a huge appetite and enthusiasm to host the London Olympics,” says Lillie, who was assigned to the Philippines in 2009. “Add to that the Paralympics, which started in London at the time of the Olympics in 1948, and that makes it truly special for us. And this is the first time that the Olympics and Paralympics have been packaged as one big event. We always talk about London 2012, not the London Olympics. For us, the Paralympics is very much part and parcel of the great summer of sports.”

On the day of the opening of the 1948 London Games, Stoke Mandeville Hospital held the first athletic competition for soldiers injured in the war. Dr.  Ludwig Guttman saw it as therapeutic and uplifting for the wheelchair-bound veterans to learn archery and javelin and have their own competition. In Rome in 1960, the Stoke Mandeville Games became known as the “Parallel Games” or “Parallel Olympics”, and that co-equal billing is how they have been known since.

“There’s a little bit of the heritage of the Paralympics being born in Britain, if you like,” Lillie adds. “But it’s also about modern Britain, an inclusive, tolerant Britain in which anyone regardless of their physical status can go on and achieve and be fantastic at what they are.”

Truly, from the get-go, London 2012 was all about accessibility, both perceived and actual. British designers, construction companies and engineers have been at the cutting edge and are pushing their boundaries, integrating new technologies making London the most accessible and greenest Olympics and Paralympics. Parks, transportation and the venues were all planned with accessibility in mind. Even transport companies bidding to be part of London 2012 had to show the capacity to convert their buses and other vehicles to be driven by the differently-abled if there were any who volunteered. The opening ceremony itself showcased disabled performers.

“We feel very strongly that sport is for all. And that’s the strong message that’s coming out from London 2012, not just for the people who participate, but for the people who want to watch,” says Lillie, who has also spent a lot of time in Mindanao helping the country find a lasting peace in the region.

But there was another challenge facing London, one that has stamped most of the cities that have hosted the Olympics for decades.

“The problem with Olympic facilities is that they often turn out to be white elephants because they’re too big for public use, whereas the facilities in London either already existed or, when purpose-built, can be adapted. You can actually scale down so you can use them for community sport.”

In the first Paralympics in 1960, there were about 400 athletes. In London, there were over 4,000 from 166 countries engaged in 20 sports in 15 venues over 11 days. Even in the Philippines, tickets for the opening ceremony and the events have been in high demand.

“That is sending a message that disability sport has come of age. This is not a sort of sidelight or second best,” affirms Lillie.” It is a big part of international sport. It is sending a big message about disability sport. We see people with disability not just as full members of society, but as people who can go to the top and achieve at the very highest levels. The fact that there are 166 countries and the Philippines is sending its biggest delegation sends a powerful signal to me that the British are not the only ones who think that way, it is the world community that is thinking that way. And this could be the games where the Philippine team could bring home some medals.”

Win or lose, Lillie is preparing a reception for our Paralympians upon their return. Aside from being a conduit for the vast British businesses in the Philippines (Shell and Unilever being among the nation’s biggest investors), Lillie has also been a champion for education. Through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the diplomat awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship to a record dozen Filipinos this year, a high from three in 2010. Lillie hosted a send-off reception for them at his residence Thursday night.

 “I’m always impressed by the high quality of scholars coming from the Philippines. I’m delighted that this year we’re able to offer a record number of Chevening Scholarships in this country. It’s a sign of the importance that we attach to our dynamic links with the Philippines,” said Ambassador Lillie.