Mr Ricky CHU Man-kin, EOC Chairperson published an article in am730 last week, voicing support for the 24 athletes representing Hong Kong, China at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which are currently running until 5 September 2021.Together they are competing in eight sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, equestrian, swimming, table tennis and wheelchair fencing.

In 2008, China became the 33rd ratifying country of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which entered into force in Hong Kong the same year. The CRPD affirms that people with disabilities (PWDs) should enjoy the right to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, with Article 30 specifically recognising the right to equal access to cultural life, recreation, leisure and sports.

“In recent years, the Hong Kong Government has dedicated more resources to promoting the development of sports among PWDs, with the relevant budget in 2021/22 totalling HK$100M – more than double the 2017/18 figure,” wrote Mr Chu. “The EOC is indeed pleased to see the Government stepping up its commitment in this regard, and hopes that more PWDs will be empowered to develop their potential in sports and enjoy the benefits it offers for our physical and mental health.”

In the spirit of inclusion, Radio Television Hong Kong, one of the broadcasters of the Tokyo Paralympics, has arranged for selected competitions to be broadcast with sign language interpretation and Urdu dubbing. 

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