NOS Sport•today, 11:10
A wheelchair basketball player who falls over, a blind triathlete who can’t find his bike; the Paralympic Games TikTok account stands out with daring videos. The videos are popular, but not everyone can appreciate them.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) channel has 4.5 million followers and the videos are viewed tens of millions of times. Paralympic highlights from the past and other great sporting moments are shared, but also many videos in which things go wrong. A swimmer who hits his head against the edge of the pool, or an armless archer who is nevertheless offered a hand during a medal ceremony.
‘Paralympians like to laugh at themselves’
The videos have sparked debate. Some commenters have called them disrespectful and bullying, while others find them hilarious and say they have never been more interested in the Paralympic Games.
Daring TikTok videos Paralympic Games
It was a conscious decision by the organization to make sharp videos, IPC spokesperson Craig Spence told the AP news agency. He does not think the content goes too far. “Paralympians have a great sense of humor. They like to laugh at themselves. That’s why we tried to be very edgy to be on our TikTok account.”
The videos are made by four people, three of whom have a disability themselves. Two of them have a Paralympic past.
Made ridiculous
Athletes themselves reacted in a mixed way. Amputee footballer Sean Jackson thinks the account is not successful. “I only see a few videos where athletes are successful. The rest of the time they are mainly ridiculed for the way they run or cycle.”
Blind triathlete Brad Snyder likes the channel. The six-time Paralympic champion from America shared the video in which he can’t find his bike on his own channels.
He believes humor opens the way to talking about disability. “It has to be respectful, but if you can’t joke about it anymore, that’s where it goes wrong,” Snyder told CNN.
