Stephanie Bastiaan’s Post

From a fifth-place finish in Tokyo to claiming two gold medals in just 24 hours, Ezra Frech is on a mission to become the greatest Paralympian of all time. "I believe this is what I was put here on this earth to do—normalize disability, change perceptions about what is possible as an amputee, and win back-to-back golds." Discover more about this incredible double Paralympic champion in my feature below. https://lnkd.in/eY6N_gu8

An great in-depth blog from #TeamSPB surrounding the key topics of issue as we head toward the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris!

With India performing fantastically in the Paralympics, I began to wonder: why is the Paralympics so popular, but similar para-sports events in cricket, football, and others don't enjoy the same attention? Well, here’s what I figured out: 1. Same Venue Integration: The Paralympics is treated as an extension of the Olympics, starting in 1988 in Seoul, when it was held at the same venues. Sharing infrastructure is a major advantage. 2. Media Rights: Paralympic media rights are bundled with the Olympics, ensuring wide coverage. This visibility is a big reason for its popularity. 3. A bit of history: The Paralympics owes much of its success to Sir Ludwig Guttmann, whose vision was to integrate disabled athletes into mainstream sports. 4. Strategic Alignment: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) ensured that the Paralympics was not seen as a separate or lesser event, but rather as a continuation of the same pursuit of sporting excellence. Kudos to them! 5. Paisa: Yes, it often comes down to finances. Governing bodies like FIFA and ICC focus more on revenue-generating events, leaving para-sports lower on the priority list. It’s time to change that. For context, India won the first and only official Physical Disability Cricket World Cup in 2019. It’s high time governing bodies invest more in para-sports, following the IOC's example.

An great in-depth blog from #TeamSPB surrounding the key topics of issue as we head toward the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris!

An great in-depth blog from #TeamSPB surrounding the key topics of issue as we head toward the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris!

Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have challenged notions of disability, and what began as a movement with just 400 athletes, has grown to 4,400 across 22 sports. Outstanding performances from Paralympians like Natalie du Toit, the first amputee swimmer to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Abdellatif Baka, a visually impaired runner who not only broke the 1500m T13 world record, but ran it 1.71 seconds faster than the Olympic gold medallist that same year, help prove to the world that firsts go beyond the podium. Explore #TheFirstEffect and see the impact firsts at the Olympic and Paralympic Games have had on the world. https://deloi.tt/3x1XNxM

Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have challenged notions of disability, and what began as a movement with just 400 athletes, has grown to 4,400 across 22 sports. Outstanding performances from Paralympians like Natalie du Toit, the first amputee swimmer to compete in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and Abdellatif Baka, a visually impaired runner who not only broke the 1500m T13 world record, but ran it 1.71 seconds faster than the Olympic gold medallist that same year, help prove to the world that firsts go beyond the podium. Explore #TheFirstEffect and see the impact firsts at the Olympic and Paralympic Games have had on the world. https://deloi.tt/3WRg6A5

An great in-depth blog from #TeamSPB surrounding the key topics of issue as we head toward the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris!

With the Olympics coming closer and closer, the opportunity for brands to get more awareness also comes closer. Check out SponsorUnited's Women in Sports Marketing Partnerships report to have insights into the evergrowing Women in Sports space!

An great in-depth blog from #TeamSPB surrounding the key topics of issue as we head toward the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris!