The official Paralympics TikTok account sparked a debate with a series of Videos which some have interpreted as Mockery of disabled athletes.
Next Wednesday (28 August) the Paralympic Games will begin in Paris, France and will showcase the talents of athletes with physical disabilities and intellectual disabilities from around the world.
In the days leading up to the competition, the official TikTok account uploaded several videos to promote the games with humor.
A series of videos uploaded by the official Paralympics TikTok account have sparked debate online, with some critics arguing that the clips make fun of the athletes.
Photo credit: Paralympic Games
One of the Clip-on shows an armless swimmer hitting his head against the end of a swimming pool. The background music to the clip is Finding Nemo Dory sings, “Just keep swimming.”
A separate video During a women’s wheelchair basketball game, a player from the British team accidentally hits one of her teammates with the ball, causing her to fall out of her wheelchair. The player quickly gets up and laughs about the accident.
The 2024 Paralympic Games, which begin on August 28 in Paris, will showcase the talents of physically and mentally disabled athletes from around the world.
Another clip shows Brad Snyder, a totally blind triathlon athlete on the US team, stretching his arms forward to Search for his bikewhich he takes thanks to the help of his guide,
Greg Billington. The TikTok account administrator added piano music in the background because the athlete’s hand movements resembled those of a man playing the instrument.
“Para-triathlon is swimming, cycling and air piano,” says the caption.
The Paralympics social media team took a light-hearted, comedic approach to promote the competition
@paralympicsPara Triathlon is swimming, cycling and air piano. 🎹♬ Original sound – Paralympics
@paralympicsScream if you want to throw further.♬ Squirrel – <3
The videos that the sportsmanThe “disabilities,” which were addressed in a comedic tone, have provoked a wide range of reactions on the Internet, ranging from astonishment to outrage to praise.
“They didn’t have to do that to him,” commented one critic, referring to Snyder’s video.
“Are the athletes in on the joke? Honestly, all I see on this account is them making fun of them,” said another user.
“These athletes deserve so much more respect and recognition for their hard work,” someone else chimed in.
The clips focus on some of the athletes’ mistakes and use funny background music.
@paralympicsSometimes maybe good…♬ Original sound – Paralympics
@paralympicsBig Steppa 😮💨♬ Original sound – Paralympics
@paralympicsIt’s all about the goal 💥♬ Original sound – Paralympics
Others, however, liked the content creator’s approach. “This account is insane and I love it,” wrote one commenter.
“I think it’s better to see them as normal athletes who use humor but never pity,” agreed another user, while another exclaimed, “The social media team deserves a medal.”
According to Craig Spence, IPC (International Paralympic Committee) communications officer, the Paralympics account is managed by 2008 British Paralympian Richard Fox, who played football sevens in Beijing, China.
Silver medalist Matt Stutzman, known as the “Armless Archer,” says he uses humor to make others feel better in his presence
Spence says the videos are far from offensive. Rather, they reflect the disabled athletes’ sense of humor and how they perceive their disability.
“When you talk to Paralympics participants, they have a great sense of humor. They are not wrapped in cotton wool and shielded from society,” he said, according to WZZM.
“They like to laugh at themselves. As do we all, and that’s why we tried to be really edgy on the Paralympic TikTok account.”
The Paralympics YouTube channel features athletes promoting the upcoming games in a light-hearted manner. One of the videos features Matt Stutzman, a Paralympic silver medalist known as the “Armless Archer,” driving a car alongside fellow American Chuck Aoki, a wheelchair rugby player.
Stutzman maneuvers the vehicle with his legs, using the pedals with his left side and the steering wheel with his right.
“Is this your first time riding in a car with a man without arms?” Stutzman, who won silver in the Men’s Individual Compound Open in 2012, asks his passenger.
The three-time Paralympic archer has been using humor as an icebreaker since attending school in Fairfield, Iowa.
“I realized that humor and comedy break the ice with people,” said Stutzman, who was born without arms and took up archery to hunt and support his family.
“As soon as I say something and they laugh a little, they feel more comfortable around me and I was able to fit in.”
The Paralympic Games have been held since the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, shortly after the corresponding Olympic Games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtNOR22U2Bs
When he competed in London, he was the only archer without arms. Stutzman says There is a possibility that four or five armless archers will compete at the Paralympics in Paris.
“That’s the legacy of Armless Archer. It’s not about me, Armless Archer, because even when I retire, they’re going to carry on the greatness of Armless Archer to motivate the next generation and the next group of people.”
The Paralympics began in 1948 as a small competition for injured World War II veterans from Great Britain.
The Stoke Mandeville Games later developed into the Paralympic Games, which were held for the first time in Rome, Italy, in 1960 with 400 athletes from 23 countries. Since then, they have taken place every four years.
While some people thought the videos went too far, others liked the social media manager’s unconventional approach
“This account is crazy”: Official Paralympics TikTok account criticized for humorous content Bored Panda
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