2024 Paris Paralympic Games promise inclusion revolution legacy

With the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming to an end, the Malta Paralympic Committee (MPC) echoed the rallying call made by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) for the Games to usher in an ‘inclusion revolution’.

Malta was represented at the Games by two Paralympians, Maja Theuma (Para swimming) and Antonio Flores (Para athletics).

Theuma’s debut at this level saw her compete in the 50m S6 freestyle women’s event, clocking a time of 1:13.10s.

On his part, Flores competed in the T64 class (below the knee, single leg amputee class) in the 100m and 200m sprint events, clocking a seasonal best time of 13.07s and 26.67s respectively.

In the process, Flores became a two-time Paralympian following his debut at Beijing 2008, and Malta’s first and, to date, only blade runner to compete at the Paralympic Games.

The MPC congratulated both Paralympians for their performances and highlighted how both athletes have been role models through their journey in Paralympic sport and their resilience, perseverance and dedication, and is confident that Theuma and Flores will carry the Paralympic flag and values wherever they go.

The committee also noted with satisfaction that this is the second Games in a row in which more than one athlete competed, with a parity between male and female participation. 

Reflecting on Malta’s participation at the Games and the shorter than usual 2021-2024 Paralympic cycle, Chef de Mission and MPC Secretary General, Dr Julian Bajada, said: “The revolution has already begun. Since Tokyo 2020, we have seen Paralympic Sport take on a new dimension in Malta – new athletes, new Para sports, new collaborations, new achievements unlocked, and many lessons learnt.

“With Paris 2024, we have seen the engagement with, and intrigue of, the Maltese public and sporting community intensify, and we thank our sponsors, partners and local broadcasters who played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone.”

The Committee added: “We must leverage the legacy opportunity that the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games offers by bringing about an inclusion revolution.

“We can learn from the ‘Games wide Open’ ethos, which embodies the aspiration to open up Para Sport to more individuals, regardless of their personal, economic, or social backgrounds.”

Finally, the MPC lauded the election of Vladyslava Kravchenko, MPC Treasurer and Maltese two-time Paralympian,  to the International Paralympic Committee’s Athletes’ Council.

As an athlete representative of small and developing nation states, this position puts Malta at the heart of the global Paralympic Movement and strengthens our resolve to be a strong voice for athletes.

Focusing on the upcoming 2025-2028 cycle that will lead us to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, the MPC underlined that “whilst leap forwards have been made, we must remain restless and double-up our energy and resources to pursue our overarching objectives of enabling greater accessibility to Para sport and physical activity for all individuals with physical, visual or hearing disabilities.

“Added to that we should empower competitive Para athletes to attain more ambitious sporting results on the competitive field of play.

“With the right work ethic, specialist involvement and a long-term strategy, we can make this happen.

“The reality is that Paralympic Sport is still in a state of constant development worldwide, and we envisage that it will continue to evolve at a fast pace over the coming years.

“Whilst 2021-2024 was a time for growth and discovery for us, 2025-2028 must be a time for maturity and strengthening of the local Paralympic movement.”

The committee expressed its gratitude to its partners for the Games, including its main sponsor – Hudson – who supported the Malta Paralympic team for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games through its leading brand Nike – as well as Melita and the Commission for Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), who supported the MPC with its campaign for the Games.

MPC also thanked its stakeholders who have contributed to the development of Paralympic Sport in Malta since the re-establishment of the Committee in 2018, including the Government of Malta, Sport Malta, the Maltese Olympic Committee, the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, the Malta Trust Foundation, volunteers, project partners or sponsors, national sports associations, sports clubs and, above all, the athletes.