Kotomi Shiota: Keeping the Paralympic Flame Burning

Did you watch the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games? Since it was held during the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe it was an event where many different opinions and thoughts intersected. As an individual who has worked to promote sports activities for people with disabilities, it was a joyful time for me to see the success of the athletes and colleagues I have worked with both on and off the field, including the opening and closing ceremonies.

On the other hand, my current focus is not just on these athletes, but on promoting sports activities for those who have few opportunities to participate, primarily people with severe disabilities or those requiring medical care. Particularly during the pandemic, people with severe disabilities faced a high risk of life-threatening danger just by going outside. Those with few places for local activities or communities to join became increasingly prone to isolation. Furthermore, while it became difficult to receive external support, the burden on caregivers also increased.

Therefore, during the prolonged period of self-restraint, I have continued to hold online sports events to maintain and improve the physical and mental health of people with severe disabilities and their caregivers, and to prevent social isolation. Together with students from my research group, we have worked hard through trial and error to create opportunities for exercise. With each session, the events have become more enjoyable by leveraging the advantages of the online format. Online, even those who are bedridden can participate, and diverse participants can connect across different regions. Furthermore, there were new realizations, such as how children with autism can participate in sports with peace of mind from home in an environment no different from their daily lives, and how it is easy to engage in and turn into a habit within the home.

Our activities are often categorized as "supporting" within the context of sports, but in reality, I think there are many more people involved who are enjoying themselves or finding some kind of value there. Most of the participants are people who find it difficult to verbally say "this is fun" or to express their emotions. However, their "mind's eye" watches us closely and always provides us with a new perspective. I want to take the energy I receive from them, channel it through the power of sports, and continue to take on challenges so that the flame (and the results) continues to burn even after the Paralympics.