Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Paralympics are open
A strong sign with the Afghanistan flag
The Japanese emperor has opened the games: After the Olympics, the Paralympics will take place in Tokyo until September 5th. Athletes fight for medals in 22 sports. 134 Germans in Japan are among the more than 4,000 participants. There are goosebumps in a country that is missing.
The Japanese Emperor Naruhito has opened the 16th Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo. The Tenno spoke the traditional greeting at 10:08 p.m. local time – due to the pandemic, without a spectator. At the head of the German team, wheelchair basketball player Mareike Miller and cyclist Michael Teuber carried the flag into the Olympic Stadium. Germany invaded as the 103rd team in front of Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and IPC boss Andrew Parsons.
In Tokyo, a total of 539 decisions in 22 sports are on the program until September 5th. A total of 4400 athletes from 161 countries take part in the games in Japan, plus the 162nd delegation the refugee team. 134 para-athletes and three guides will be at the start for Germany.
“I can’t believe we’re actually here,” said Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), referring to the one-year postponement: “From tomorrow on, Paralympic athletes will start changing the world again.” IOC President Thomas Bach returned as a guest to Tokyo 16 days after the end of the Olympic Games for the celebration.
Waving the flag of Afghanistan created a special emotional moment. Athletes actually wanted to be there in Tokyo, but they are missing because of the Taliban’s takeover and the war in their own country. Your flag was brought into the stadium by a volunteer.
The German athlete Johannes Floors was given a great honor. As one of six participants, he was allowed to carry the Olympic flag into the stadium. The prosthesis sprinter is world record holder over 100, 200 and 400 meters.
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