Elite athletes without disabilities have many major championships and competitions throughout their careers.
But for para-athletes, the Paralympics every four years is the only major opportunity to showcase themselves.
I think many people at home are inspired to start with different types of sports, just like anyone else, but I think the role model idea is a bit more important for our target groups, says Åsa Llinares Norlin, chairperson of Parasport Sweden.
Accessibility is improving
Åsa Llinares Norlin cites Barcelona, which hosted the Olympic Games and Paralympics in 1992, as an example.
Barcelona is today considered one of the world's most accessible cities, and it's largely due to the Paralympics, where they started an accessibility effort. So the Games also do that – focus on accessibility, says Åsa Llinares Norlin.
What does the Paralympics mean for parasport in general?
If you look at people with disabilities, there are much higher rates of illness than among people without. I think, and almost know, that sports for this target group are very decisive for getting an independent life and for feeling well.
Getting more people with disabilities moving also saves society money.
Saved 84.2 million kronor
According to a report produced by Parasport Sweden together with the auditing firm Pwc, the Swedish society saved over 84 million kronor in healthcare costs in 2023 by people with disabilities being physically active.
They manage on their own to a greater extent, those who can. They feel better both physically and mentally – just like all people do – from being in a context and being physically active, so I think that's the big health gain, says Åsa Llinares Norlin.
Åsa Llinares Norlin will be on site in Paris during the Paralympics. Partly to watch the sports, but also to receive visitors in the form of politicians, sponsors, and people from the sports movement.
Getting to meet people who want the same thing and work for the development of parasport in Sweden, I think that will be very exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.
