26 March 2020

Team GB gold medallist Tanni Grey-Thompson says Paralympics shouldn't be overlooked

Team GB legend Tanni Grey-Thompson has said it's a 'shame' the Paralympics has been overlooked during the recent discussion around Olympic postponement.

It was confirmed this week that the Tokyo 2020 Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, will be postponed for a year.

The 11-time Paralympic gold medallist said: “Nobody has been particularly talking about the Paralympics. And that’s a shame. We all want assurances they will deliver an equal Games.

“Everything in 2012 was about two Games of equality — the same look and feel. I’d never want a slimmed-down Paralympics.

“The decision should involve competing athletes, Olympic and Paralympic. Quite often they aren’t asked their opinion. They should have a voice, especially in stuff like this.

“This is a chance to rejig the movement and talk to athletes about what their hopes and expectations are. Of course, they had no other option to delay.

“Pushing it back to the end of the year wouldn’t have been helpful. We don’t know what the pandemic will look like then.

“They couldn’t have the Paralympics in November because the weather in Japan at that time isn’t brilliant either,” she told The Sun.

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