Andrew Parsons, President of the Worldwide Paralympic Committee (IPC), mentioned: “All Paralympic athletes have unimaginable tales of resilience, however the tales of those athletes and their survival as refugees in opposition to warfare and persecution are And the expertise of taking part within the Paralympics was superb.
The eight athletes come from six nations and signify greater than 120 million forcibly displaced individuals and 1.2 billion individuals with disabilities world wide. They’ll compete in six sports activities: Para observe and area, Para weightlifting, Para desk tennis, Para taekwondo, Paratriathlon and wheelchair fencing.
“These athletes have Persevere and present unimaginable dedication to attain Paris 2024 and provides hope to each refugee world wide. The Refugee Paralympic Group shines a highlight on the transformative affect of sport,” Mr Parsons added.
‘by no means cease dreaming’
Amelio Castro Gruso lives in Italy and can journey to Paris to compete in wheelchair fencing. When he was 16, his mom died in Colombia, and 4 years later he confronted additional tragedy when he misplaced each legs in a site visitors accident.
Then, because of threats in opposition to him, he was pressured to flee his dwelling nation, arriving in a brand new nation in a wheelchair, not realizing the language spoken or anybody who might assist him.
After an extended journey to restoration, he vowed to write down a e-book to share his story, however realized that extra individuals would learn it if he have been a medal-winning athlete.
Mr. Grusso’s biggest sporting achievement so far was successful the lads’s B-level epee bronze medal on the 2024 Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships in Brazil in Could.
His expertise taught him that even within the face of nice difficulties, an important lesson in life is to by no means hand over.
“By no means cease dreaming, irrespective of how troublesome your life is, irrespective of how troublesome moments you face, do not hand over, hold combating. On the day you least anticipate it, you’ll discover the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel, when every part turns into When issues get higher, good occasions will come,” he mentioned.
“A job mannequin for us all”
Different members embrace Syrian refugee Ibrahim Hussein. Through the Syrian civil warfare in 2012, he misplaced a leg in an explosion whereas making an attempt to avoid wasting a buddy and fled to Greece in a wheelchair with no cash in his pocket.
This shall be Mr Hussein’s third consecutive Paralympic look on the Refugee Paralympic Group.
In the meantime, Cameroon’s Guillaume Junior Atangana is making ready for his second Paralympic Video games after ending fourth within the 400m T11 at Tokyo 2020 Put together.
Though he initially needed to be an incredible soccer participant, he turned to trace and area when he misplaced his sight.
This yr, he’ll line up together with his information and fellow refugee Donard Ndim Nyamjua.
“By no means cease believing”
Whereas the tales of all members echo the overwhelming adversity every of them confronted, one message shines via time and time once more: nothing is inconceivable.
“The Refugee Paralympic Group gives an instance to us all. Irrespective of how troublesome the circumstances, these athletes discover a strategy to compete on the highest degree of the Paralympic Video games,” mentioned Nyasha Mharakurwa, Group Supervisor of the Refugee Paralympic Group.
