In his message, a thought also addressed to the Afghan people
Tuesday 24 August 2021 – The Games of the XVI Paralympics in Tokyo 2020 open and the greeting message of Giusy Versace, Paralympic athlete, specialist of 100, 200 and 400 in athletics and holder of 11 Italian titles, now Deputy of the Italian Republic, with positions in the departments of Equal Opportunities, Disability and Sport.
“Finally, after a further year of waiting that kept us in suspense, today the curtain has opened on the 16th edition of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games.
After the historic milestones achieved by our Olympic delegation in recent weeks, we are ready to cheer on our Paralympic blues who have arrived in Japan with the largest procession ever: 115 athletes among which, for the first time, the number of women present prevails. . Among the novelties of these Games there will be badminton and taekwondo, and for the first time the Italian team of women’s sitting volleyball.
As an athlete I have competed in numerous international meetings, scored several national records that still bear my name, won a silver and a bronze at the European Championships, but the adrenaline and excitement you feel at a Paralympics is unparalleled. I had the honor and satisfaction of participating in the Rio Games in 2016 and I still carry unique thrills and emotions in my heart, so I understand the adrenaline that accompanies these hours of debut.
For many young people, Paralympic sport is not only an opportunity for redemption, it is also a valuable educational tool and social inclusion, all values also promoted by the International Paralympic Committee (ICP).
We are 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide (15% of the world population), but there is still a lot to do for real inclusion, which is why we need to continue to promote and guarantee the rights of people with disabilities already recognized from the 2006 UN Convention which dedicated an entire article to sport.
At the Tokyo Games there will also be space to send a message of closeness and solidarity to the Afghan people and their athletes, forced to give up the Games, with the Afghan flag which, however, paraded at the Opening Ceremony.
From this special edition, we must take the opportunity to celebrate sport and life. Behind every athlete there is a story that deserves to be told because it is a stimulus for others. So let’s get ready to cheer our Azzurri who are there to represent our wonderful country.
To President Pancalli, to the Italian Paralympic Committee, to all my friends and athletes from the Italian delegation, our greatest and most excited ‘Good luck’ ”, concludes Versace.
