#Paralympic 2021

[itgetsbetter]

Reminder that there are some badass queer athletes at the Paralympics in Paris this year!

"It's really frustrating that I have such a strong relationship with being a lesbian and being proud, but it's so hard when everybody just sees the chair."

Courtney Ryan is competing for Team USA in wheelchair basketball annnd it's not her first rodeo - we got to have her tell her story on her way to the Tokyo Paralympics back in 2021, too:

[daily-pink-character]

Pink character of the⁽ᵖᵃˢᵗ ²⁾day- ★

ᵈᵃʸ ³⁶⁴

Someity

from: the 2021 Tokyo Olympic and PARALYMPIC games

[stevebattle]

Miraitowa and Someity Tokyo 2020 Olympics mascot robots, (2019), Toyota, Japan. Miraitowa (ミライトワ) (above left) is the official mascot of the 2020 Summer Olympics, and Someity (ソメイティ) (above right) is the official mascot of the 2020 Summer Paralympics, held in Tokyo and postponed to 2021. "To make this the most innovative and technologically advanced Games in history, Tokyo 2020 and Toyota are working to develop a 'mascot robot'. In addition to welcoming athletes and guests to official venues, Toyota is currently considering plans for a new way for the Games to be enjoyed by children in Japan, via the mascot robot. The mascot robot will both allow expressions of arm movements via a remote-location robot, and share force-feedback from interactions. Via a camera mounted on the robot’s head, it can recognize people nearby, and once recognized, use its eyes to respond with/show a variety of expressions. By equipping the robot with miniature joint units across its entire body, the robot offers flexibility when being controlled, and the users can operate the robot safely and with high operational functionality."

"The Miraitowa and Someity character designs were a vast departure from the forms of standard bipedal robot theories. Compared to humanoid robots based on human proportions, such as the T-HR3 already in development by Toyota, they had extremely large heads and short limbs. While such stocky body shapes may add to the characters’ charm, a head heavy in relation to the body would sway with every motion and make the robot’s movements unstable. Some experts in the field of robotics went so far as to say that a bipedal robot could not be built with this body shape." – "Children's Dreams" a Driving Force behind Robot Mascot Development

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Ernie Gawilan is a fighter.

The 30-year-old champion swimmer made a name for himself after competing in the 2016 Paralympics and becoming the first Filipino gold medalist at the Asian Para Games in 2018. Now, he’s in Tokyo for the 2021 Paralympics, where he will compete and carry his country’s flag in the closing ceremony. But Ernie’s first win came in 1991, when he survived an attempted abortion that left him with no legs and an underdeveloped left arm....

[simshousewindsor]

HOUSE OF BOYKINS (2025)

His Royal Highness The Earl of Boykins (Baron Addie) and wife Her Royal Highness The Countess of Boykins; and son Eli of Boykins.

Princess Lara, younger sister of Katherine I, is Patron of the Windenburg Paralympic Association, GB Snowsport, Badminton Brindleton Bay, The Tennis & Rackets Association, and President of the Sport & Recreation Alliance. In 2021, she launched the Royal Fitness Initiative (RFI) to build prosperous and sustainable health and wellness paths that generate long-term value and increased productivity of Windenburg Simmers for years to come.

Her Royal Highness wed Anthony in 2022 and birthed Eli in 2024.

Anthony, the Earl of Boykins, is patron of the Royal Photographic Society (RPS). He is an avid photographer and art lover who, before marrying the princess, owned a high-end art studio in Easton. His patronage of the RPS highlights the positive impact of creativity and art on emotional well-being, especially for young sims and children.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

'Media in Brazil have yet to understand the power of the Paralympics,' says Brazilian authority

The department is part of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship and supports the Ministry of Sports

On the eve of the Paralympic Games in Paris, one expectation is whether Brazil will follow, cheer, and be moved by the athletes' participation, just as it was less than a month ago when the country took part in the Olympics.

At the last Paralympics in Japan, in 2021, Brazilian parathletes stood on the podium 72 times and won 22 gold medals. This number exceeds the total of medals the country won at the Olympic Games in the same edition and in Paris. 

However, for the National Department for the Rights of People with Disabilities, Ana Paula Feminella, the population's involvement is different. She attributes this imbalance to the Brazilian media, which “have yet to understand the power of the Paralympics," she said in an interview with the Bem Viver TV show on Tuesday (27).

The department is part of the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship and supports the Sports Ministry in developing paralympic athletes through the Living Without Limits program (Programa Viver Sem Limites, in Portuguese).

“I think there is still a very limited understanding, which is due to the ableism we live in, a culture that doesn't recognize people with disabilities as subjects of rights, as people who are also capable of doing great things,” says Feminella.

“We need the media to value [the Paralympics] even more, give more visibility to it,” said the secretary. 

Continue reading.

[mndvx]

Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE is joining the cast of Season 2 41! Rose will be joining Ncuti Gatwa’s Fourteenth Doctor for a thrilling and frightening adventure in the upcoming forty-first season of Doctor Who, which will air in 2025.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, said: “We always want guest actors on Doctor Who to have fun, but Rose takes it to a whole new level. She storms in with an astonishing performance of terror, anger and bravery in one of the most frightening episodes we’ve ever made.”

Rose Ayling-Ellis, said: “I loved Doctor Who when I was growing up, so being cast in the show was a dream come true. My inner child is ecstatic with excitement! Working with Russell and filming alongside the talented cast and crew has been an incredible experience. Ncuti is a wonderful Doctor, and I can’t wait for audiences to see what we have created together.”

This year, Rose has been awarded an MBE for voluntary services to the deaf community, and she became the first deaf presenter of live sport at the Paralympic Games. She was also the subject of an instalment of genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? and appeared in the recent BBC One comedy drama, Ludwig. Rose became the first ever deaf actress to play a deaf character in EastEnders and she won Strictly Come Dancing in 2021, subsequently winning the BAFTA TV Award for ‘Must-See Moment’ in 2022.

Before seeing Rose in action in Season 41, catch the Doctor and his new friend Joy in the upcoming Christmas special, Joy to the World.

[barbielore]

Barbie has had tie-ins for the Olympic Games before, including both the Summer and Winter games as well as the Paralympics.

(Finding that post to link back to made me realise that I said I was going to do a post about past Winter games dolls, but I haven't done so.)

As of time of writing this post, there have not been any announced tie-in dolls for the 2024 Paris games, but I think it's highly likely that there will be.

I have recently discovered that there was a bit of controversy over the dolls for the Tokyo games in 2020/2021, and I feel it appropriate to draw attention to it.

This was during a time when Mattel were really pushing diverse line-ups in the Barbie brand. In fact, there was a press release (links to it now dead but it was quoted in some other articles) in which they discussed that the collection was designed to “highlight inclusivity and innovation”.

However, some people subsequently questioned this, as the line does not contain any Barbies of Asian appearance - despite the Games being held in Japan!

Mattel's official statement was that the Skateboarder Barbie was intended to be read as an Asian athlete however that they "fell short".

I am not going to question whether this doll is or is not intended to depict an Asian athlete - however this was a disappointing effort given the promise of inclusivity.

Some Asian athletes have been depicted as Barbies - for example volleyballer Hui Ruoqi has a She-roes depiction.

And snowboarder Chloe Kim has a highly sought after Barbie depiction too.

However going forward Mattel really could do better to ensure that, if they are going to market a brand as being diverse and inclusive, that they actually do follow through on that promise.

[coochiequeens]

Speaking about his personal history with the BBC in June 2021, Petrillo said: “Until four years ago, if you’d talked to Fabrizio (the name Petrillo was given at birth), Fabrizio would have given you the idea he was sexist. He was a tough guy who’d speak dismissively of women and then be a woman in his private space.”

Another misogynist who couldn't succeed against other men.

By Genevieve Gluck August 13, 2024

A 50 year-old trans-identified male from Italy is set to become the first man to compete in a women’s category at the Paris Paralympics. Valentina Petrillo, whose birth name is Fabrizio, who competes in the women’s T12 classification, for athletes with visual impairments, and currently holds 8 women’s running championship titles, despite failing to earn even one while competing as a male.

Petrillo has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a disorder of the eye that causes retinal degeneration over time. Due to this visual impairment, he has been permitted to compete in both matches designated for women with disabilities, as well as those which are not.

At the Paralympic Games, which are scheduled to run from August 28 to September 8, Petrillo will run in the women’s T12 200m and 400m. He was cleared to compete against female athletes, despite being a man, by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons. The IPC works closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the two have self-described as ��strategic partners.”

Speaking to BBC Sport, Parsons revealed that the IPC does not enforce an official position for or against allowing men to self-identify into women’s sport, but rather “[allow] individual sports to make their rules in terms of transgender,” which results in rules that are “different from sport to sport.”

“Some are coming with different positions on transgender, or with the criteria to allow them or not to allow them, so I’m not surprised by the repercussions of it,” Parsons said. He added that he hoped the sporting community would “unite” on policies dealing with gender identity.

According to the World Para Athletics Championships guidance on participation, “an athlete shall be eligible to compete in women’s competition if she is recognized as female by law.” But their policy book goes on to note that it will “deal with any cases involving transgender athletes in accordance with the IOC’s transgender guidelines.”

Petrillo first changed his name to Valentina and began taking estrogen in 2019. The following year, he began competing against female athletes and has since broken multiple Italian women’s running records.

Speaking about his personal history with the BBC in June 2021, Petrillo said: “Until four years ago, if you’d talked to Fabrizio (the name Petrillo was given at birth), Fabrizio would have given you the idea he was sexist. He was a tough guy who’d speak dismissively of women and then be a woman in his private space.”

Mariuccia Quilleri, an athlete and lawyer who has represented several female athletes who oppose Petrillo’s participation in women’s races, told the BBC that inclusion had been chosen over fairness and “there is not much more we can do.”

See rest of article

[a-solitary-sea-rover-backup]

After Romain Attanasio (FRA) enjoyed his finish and then channel passage late yesterday morning, in 14th position, four other skippers have followed one another across the finish line of Les Sables d’Olonne today.

First in today, and 15th overall, after a cold frosty final night of light winds was Damien Seguin (FRA) to complete his second Vendée Globe, at the dawn of the beautiful sunny day. In his wake, Benjamin Ferré (FRA), Tanguy Le Turquais (FRA) and Alan Roura (CHE), produced a breathtaking finish, completing their races within just 35 minutes separating 16th and 18th, really nothing at all after 85 days and nearly 30,000 nautical miles of racing. These three newly finished skippers will sail up the channel today, in an atmosphere that promises to be fiery.

Isabelle Joschke (FRA, DEU) in 19th, followed by Jean Le Cam (FRA) and Conrad Colman (USA, NZL) are expected in the evening and night while the Italian Giancarlo Pedote, should finish tomorrow morning.

After 84 days, 20 hours and 31 minutes of racing, on February 3, 2025, Paralympian Damien Seguin crossed the finish line of his second consecutive Vendée Globe, ending the epic non-stop round the world race in 15th position.

Born without a left hand, Damien became in 2021 the first disabled skipper to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted round the world race. A three-time Paralympic medalist in the 2.4mR class, he entered offshore racing in 2005 in the Figaro and then the Class 40 before joining the IMOCA circuit in 2018. Determined and constantly looking to progress, Damien has managed to convince people that his handicap is not a brake on performance. During his first Vendée Globe, which he finished in 7th place, he made a big impression by often playing at the front of the fleet. For 2024, he aspired to new sporting ambitions aboard his foiler.

At 45, the disabled skipper succeeded in his bet to continue sailing at the highest level, even if, by his own admission, this second round the world race was “a battle against himself”, but also against particularly erratic weather that deprived Groupe APICIL of his long-held dream of competing at the head of the fleet. Like a true champion he fought hard until the end, under pressure he held on to his 15th place as three rivals pressed hard only a few miles behind as he approached the line.

[rihanziad]

'Spectacular' Paris Paralympics to open on Wednesday

Elizabeth Hudson, Emma Smith and Alan Jewell

Paris has promised a Games to remember as it gets ready to host the 2024 Paralympics.

After the delayed Tokyo Games in 2021 had to be held without fans because of the Covid pandemic, and Rio 2016 was dogged by financial issues, the pressure is on Paris to deliver an event to rival  or even better the London 2012 Games.

Wednesday's opening ceremony at 19:00 BST will be focused on the Place de la Concorde, with the first of the 549 gold medals to be awarded the following day.

Read More Read More

[importantwomensbirthdays]

Anastasia Pagonis

Anastasia Pagonis was born in 2004 in Long Island, New York. Pagonis began losing her vision at the age of 11, and it was around this time that she took up swimming. By age 14, she had lost all usable vision. At the US Paralympic Trials in 2021, Pagonis broke the world record in the S11 400m freestyle. At the Tokyo Paralympics later that year, she broke her own world record and claimed the gold medal in that event. She also won the bronze medal in the individual 200m medley. In addition to her success at the Paralympics, Pagonis is also a three-time world champion.

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

@davellisgb and his guide @lukepollard91 won the Olympic gold 🥇🇬🇧 in the PTVI3 class finishing 750m swim, 20k bike and the 5k run in 58 minutes. Could you do this? 🏊🚴🏃

Cheesin' all the way to the finish line in Paris 🇫🇷😁

Dave Ellis banished the ghosts of Tokyo 2021 with a brilliant performance to claim Paralympics PTVI para-triathlon gold at Paris 2024

Dave Ellis and guide Luke Pollard finished one minute 26 seconds ahead of their competitors

Competing in the PTVI category in paratriathlete competition, partially sighted Dave Ellis is a six-time world and five-time European champion, and now a Paralympic gold medallist. Dave races with a guide due to having less than 10% of his vision.

RAF veteran Luke Pollard (Royal Air Force) and former RAF athlete won a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, was selected to be Dave’s permanent guide in 2019 and since then the pair have become great friends off the course striking up a formidable partnership on it.

At the Tokyo Games in 2021, Pollard and Ellis saw their medal chase stopped in their tracks due to a broken bike chain.

Paratriathlon is a sport where athletes sequentially compete in three disciplines swim bike and run the type and level of disability are classified into three classes.

Congratulations to BOTH!! 🥇🥇

The 37-year-old, from Heanor, Derbyshire, also has a message for other people with disabilities who may doubt whether they can break down the barriers or overcome the obstacles that stand between them and the world of sport.

Barriers are there to be broken down. Obstacles to be overcome. And no-one knows this better than visually impaired para triathlete Dave Ellis. At the age of 16, sports-mad Dave was told he was going blind.

Nothing but love and respect for the Paralympic athletes! ❤️

🎥 @Paralympics

#Paris2024 @davellisgb @lukepollard91 #guide #triathlete #paratriathlete #paratriathlon #GoldMedal #triathlon #paralympics #respect

Posted 3rd September 2024

[qnewsau]

Valentina Petrillo set to become first transgender athlete at Paralympics

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/valentina-petrillo-first-trans-athlete-at-paralympics/

Valentina Petrillo set to become first transgender athlete at Paralympics

Visually impaired sprinter Valentina Petrillo is set to become the first openly transgender athlete in the Paralympic Games.

“I still find it hard to believe it and I’m keeping my feet on the ground.”Petrillo said in a statement.

“My chance to participate in Tokyo was missed by a whisker, I will only start thinking about the Paris Games once I arrive in France.”

50-year-old Petrillo was selected to represent Italy in the women’s 200m and 400m in the Paris Paralympics.

Diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition stargardt disease at the age of 14, she has won 11 national titles in the male T12 category for athletes with visual impairment between 2015 and 2018.

Petrillo has said she knew she was a woman from as young as nine years old and with her wife’s support, she started living as a woman in 2018, and hormone therapy in 2019.

Transition change for the better

“I’m not the same as before,” she said post-transition in an interview with the BBC in 2021, “my metabolism has changed.”

“In the first months of transition, I put on 10kg, became anaemic, my haemoglobin is low, I don’t have the same physical strength, my sleep isn’t what it was, I have mood swings.”

“I’m not the same as before…better to be a slow happy woman than a fast unhappy man.”

Instagram

“As a sportsperson, to accept that you won’t go as fast as before is difficult. I had to accept this compromise because it is a compromise, for my happiness.”

When asked about her reaction to being selected for the Paralympics, she told BBC Sport she had been “waiting for this day for three years and done everything possible to earn it.”

“I deserve this selection and I want to thank the Italian Paralympic Federation and the Italian Paralympic Committee for having always believed in me, above all as a person as well as an athlete.

“The historic value of being the first transgender woman to compete at the Paralympics is an important symbol of inclusion.”

‘This is Who I Am’

“This is not a lifestyle choice for me, this is who I am.” Petrillo said when asked what she would say to those who feel her presence in Paris is unfair.

“The way I am, like all transgender people who do not feel they belong to their biological gender, should not be discriminated against in the same way that race, religion or political ideology should not be discriminated against.”

“And sport that imposes rules based on a binary way of thinking does not factor this in.”

“It is sport that has to find a solution and excluding transgender athletes is clearly not that solution.”

Last year, Petrillo won two bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Championships.

The Paralympic Games run from 28th August to 8th September.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Los Angeles is close: understand how the financing of sports in Brazil foments Olympic medals

Little known, the system supports high-performance athletes began to be structured at the beginning of the 2000s

It’s almost a tradition: during the Olympic Games, questions about Brazilian performance emerge strongly on social media platforms. Commonly, complaints about the structure and salaries athletes receive become important. However, the right information about how this system works did not get the same attention.

That’s why Brasil de Fato interviewed experts in sports financing to explain how the transfer of public resources to high-performance sports works.

The current public funding system for Olympic and Paralympic sports was developed almost entirely during the first two governments of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers’ Party), between 2003 and 2010. The mechanisms that allocate most of the resources are Brazil’s Lottery Law, which sends money directly to the Brazilian Olympic and Paralympic committees and also to the confederations of each sport; the Sports Incentive Law, a mechanism similar to the Rouanet Law, which allows companies to make tax waivers to support sports projects; and the Athlete Scholarship, a monthly payment to athletes who achieve certain results, starting with youth sports.

There are also budget resources from the sports departments of the federal, state and municipal administrations. In addition, in 2008, a sui generis program was created to support the careers of high-performance athletes, the High-Performance Athletes Program (PAAR, in Portuguese) of the Armed Forces. It provides that athletes with a chance of winning medals can apply to join the Army, Navy or Air Force to take part in military competitions. For the athlete, this guarantees income, retirement and use of the Forces' facilities for training.

“Looking back over history, we can see that, over time, Brazil has been expanding and improving its participation in high-performance sports,” says Fernando Henrique Carneiro, a researcher at the Group for Research and Sociocritical Training in Physical Education, Sport and Leisure at the University of Brasilia (Avante/UnB, in Portuguese).

“So much so that in Tokyo [Olympic Games, in 2021], the country had its best results, which was very much the result of what was being built up for the Rio 2016 Games cycle. Over time, the Lula and Dilma governments have been structuring public policies for the sector,” he explains.

Continue reading.