STORY: Para sports gain more attention in France as Paris Olympics approach
DATELINE: Oct. 30, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:22
LOCATION: SAINT-ETIENNE, France
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the training
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist
3. various of the training
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): SYA DEMBELE, Olympic breakdance athlete
5. various of the training
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist

STORYLINE:

Para athletes have visited classes in French schools to encourage young people to do sports.

It's part of initiatives to promote sport for people with disabilities, as the Paris Olympics is set to be held next summer.

Near Saint-Etienne in the southeast France, para athletes Sya Dembele and Loic Vergnaud, who holds three Olympic medals in handbike, accompanied young people with disabilities for three days to help them start the sport.

The course allows nine young participants to explore more sports, which they have never tried.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist
"I think it's very useful, even more than for an able-bodied person, it allows you to better understand your disability, to gain confidence and to feel better."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): SYA DEMBELE, Olympic breakdance athlete
"It can make disabled people more independent and show them that the sport is accessible even with a disability."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): LOIC VERGNAUD, Triple Olympic handbike medalist
"It's complicated to find the equipment. I was lucky enough to find good structures that were able to accommodate me, but it's difficult to find them everywhere for disabled children. Sport allowed me to exercise but also to meet people across France. Sport opened me up to new environments."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Saint-Etienne, France.
(XHTV)