August 25, 2021
The Paralympic Games has kicked off on Tuesday 24th August 2021 in Japan Tokyo with more than 4,400 Paralympians welcomed to their new home away from their countries.
The 4,400 Paralympians including Sierra Leonean have been welcomed to their new home away from home.
According to the International Olympic Committee, they said while the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 may have come to an end, the sporting excellence, spirit and fun doesn’t end there. “Now it’s time to ramp up the world’s excitement for the Paralympic Games on 24 August”, they noted.
One of the most talked-about venues during the Paralympics is the Athletes Village which was fully opened to the Para athletes on 17 August along with the installation of the Paralympic symbol – the green, blue, red agitos – to mark that the Paralympic Games are truly here.
The Village for Para Athlete is located on the picturesque Harumi waterfront district of Tokyo and surrounded by the sea on three sides.
Athletes will have stunning views of Tokyo Bay and the famed Rainbow Bridge so they’ll be prepared to manage their hectic schedules with everything village life has to offer at the Athletes Village.
The Amenities are the same like in Olympics – there’s the Dining Hall opened 24/7, with roughly 700 food options on offer, catering for all preferences from Halal, vegetarian to gluten-free, plus been a stone throw’s away from the stunning Village. As one of the sustainability initiatives of Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the plaza has been constructed from timber donated by 63 municipalities from across Japan and will be returned after the Games.
The whole village is barrier-free so Para-athletes will be able to unwind throughout the Village as well as at Harumi Port Park, which features massage chairs at the Relaxation House and a playground, shaped like a pirate ship. There is also Harumi Greenway and the recreation centre in the multi-function complex, where many fierce table tennis battles could take place.
Some of the residential facilities, bed frames have been made of cardboard and are 100 per cent recyclable while blackout curtains have been installed to allow sleep at any time during the day. Considerations in the closet design and height as well as the corridors have also been made for wheelchair users.
The Organizing Committee at the transport mall, which will be where athletes come and go between their competition venues, there are tiles for guiding visually impaired people.
Keeping with the theme of being the most innovative Paralympic Games, the internal shuttle buses are autonomous with nine bus stops around the main facilities. They also feature stair less boarding and disembarking.
And for the first time in the history of the Games, there will also be a dedicated treatment programme which will provide comprehensive medical care for female athletes at the Clinic Complex (Polyclinic).
COVID-19 protocols are also in place including a dedicated Fever Clinic for diagnosing and testing athletes showing symptoms as well as a dedicated area for close contacts.
The Chef de Mission Unisa Deen Kargbo said he is hopeful the Athletes will make Sierra Leone proud in the international stage.