In a recent coverage by France 24 English on the legacy of the 2024 Paralympics, a disabled journalist shared insights into the event’s impact on society and the media’s role in promoting inclusivity. The Paralympics, described as the third largest global event after the Olympics and the World Cup, have shown significant growth with the Paris edition marking a milestone by broadcasting all 22 sports live for the first time. This exposure aims to foster social change, addressing not only disability inclusion but also sexism, LGBT phobia, and racism. The conversation highlighted the ongoing challenges in accessibility and societal inclusion for disabled individuals, emphasizing the importance of media coverage in advancing these causes.
The 2024 Paralympics in Paris marked a historic first by broadcasting all 22 sports live.
More than 225 media rights holders covered the event, showcasing its growing popularity and potential for societal impact.
Paralympians and journalists are advocating for the event to lead to broader social changes, including improved accessibility and acceptance for disabled individuals in various societal aspects.
Journalists Bessma Sosi, who is almost completely blind, and Sarah Forte from Tunisia shared their experiences covering the Paralympics and the significance of such representation in the media.
The coverage touched on the importance of accessibility to information for disabled individuals, going beyond physical access to include media representation and coverage.
Interviews with athletes, officials, and fans at the Paralympics highlighted the event’s role in challenging societal norms and promoting inclusivity.
The conversation also underscored the need for future Paralympic Games, like Los Angeles 2028, to further improve accessibility and media access to continue building on the successes of the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
France 24 is an international television network and news website owned by the French state.
France 24 is a French state-owned international news television network based in Paris, aimed primarily at an overseas market. It broadcasts around the clock in French, English, Arabic, and Spanish, providing rolling news and current affairs with a distinctively French perspective on global events. Publicly funded by the French government, the network focuses on international debate, culture, and diplomacy, serving as France's equivalent to global broadcasters like BBC World News or DW.
