Winter Paralympics : A juxtaposition to the reality of disabled people in China.

Winter Paralympics : A juxtaposition to the reality of disabled people in China.
Photo by Wal via Pixabay

04-03-2022

 

Myriam Whaibe 

 

China and Human Rights Researcher

 

Global Human Rights Defence

During the month of March, China is planning to have 115 of its superbly trained and intensely driven athletes compete on the Chinese Paralympic Team at the Winter Games in Beijing.

If we study the situation of the Chinese position from 5 years ago until today , it is noticeable that China is using this opportunity to show a beautiful, progressive and inclusive image of their nation. 

"China was always behind disabled athletes as an acceptable symbol of China's modernity that the government cares for the people," says Susan Brownell, an anthropology professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis who studies big sporting events. "Now they've become savvier about utilizing the Games as a platform to promote their national image."

The people of China with disabilities face discrimantion on a daily basis. In reality, the situation got better after 2008. But with President Xi Jinping taking  power in 2013, the situation worsened and activism was closed down. 

They face harships to access some public places and discrimination to be accepted in certain jobs, and all of these challenges they go through, made them stronger human beings and atheletes leading them to win medals in the Winter Paralympics.

In this regards, activists and people with disability are asking for real change through advocacy, and for the international community to be aware that the picture the State is trying to promote through Paralympics is not the hard reality. 



Sources and further readings : 

Emily F. (2022, February 28) China is a Paralympics star, but its people with disabilities face high hurdlesR . NPR

https://www.npr.org/2022/02/28/1071104956/2022-winter-games-paralympics-china-disability