Johnson Lauds Japan for Hosting Olympics, Paralympics amid COVID-19

On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lauded the athletes’ achievements and their inspirational performances in the Paralympics.

"I would like to thank the Japanese people for playing such fantastic hosts to our Olympic and Paralympic teams this summer," Johnson wrote on Twitter, affirming that Japan brought all nations together.

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1434799940153270276

Tokyo 2020 ended on Sunday with a phenomenal success from a British perspective, as the team claimed 124 medals in total across more sports than ever before – 18.

In the same context, Activity Alliance chief executive Barry Horne said it is the everyday interactions that disabled people have and the wider attitudes towards disability in society which are more likely to help close the inactivity gap between disabled and non-disabled people.

“I think sometimes the Paralympics is under too much pressure to be responsible for changing behaviour,” Horne told the PA news agency.

“We should just enjoy it for the wonderful spectacle that it’s been. Our research tells us disabled people are more likely to be inspired and influenced by a member of their family, by a neighbour or by a GP who has thought through the process of actively advocating sports and activity," he added.

“They’re the real things that actually resonate with a significant number of disabled people who are not traditionally active and don’t see themselves as being Paralympian.”