Editorial | Olympic Games of peace take our minds off war
- The Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics provided welcome relief from global troubles and the athletes’ achievements are an inspiration to us all
The Paralympics are intended to be a parallel event to the Olympics. That is how they got their name. But they are usually overshadowed by the bigger and better-known Games that precede them.
This is a shame, because the fiercely competitive event for athletes with impairments is just as important.
The Beijing Winter Paralympics concluded last weekend after more than a week of action. They were a success, even though they had to contend with extraordinary global events.
China led the medal table with 61, including 18 golds. This was a big achievement considering China only made its debut in the 2002 event and won its first medal four years ago.
This is due to the high levels of funding and other support devoted by China, as well as the impressive achievements of its athletes. It is to be hoped this success will raise awareness of the challenges faced by disabled people in China.
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The country’s high medal tally was, in part, also due to the absence of Russia which, along with Belarus, was banned from competing as a result of its invasion of Ukraine.