The contrast between the great results of the athletes at the Paralympic Games and the lack of consideration they suffer sheds light on the place of the disabled.
It is an image that aroused the indignation of an entire country, spoiling the opportunity to celebrate the heroes of the day. Thursday, September 2, at the Houari Boumédiène international airport in Algiers, the return of part of the delegation of Algerian athletes who participated in the Tokyo Paralympic Games took place without an official welcome or celebration of these high-level athletes.
Worse, a bus unsuited to their specific needs was allocated to them. We then discovered these images where champions are struggling to get on this bus, some of them forced to dismantle the wheels of the wheelchair, or pushing with difficulty the baggage cart, or being hoisted by force of arms …
However, in their luggage there were medals. Algeria finished 28th in the world out of 86 countries, totaling 12 medals, including 4 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze, and spraying two new world records and four other African!
A golden prize list
Throughout these games, the Algerians vibrated to the rhythm of the victories of their athletes. It all started with the young judoka Abdellaoui Cherine who opened the ball, winning her fight by ippon and winning the first medal, in gold. A victory that raised a wave of enthusiasm in Algerian opinion.
Other great victories will follow gold for Asmahane Boudjadar (shot put), money for Nassima Saïfi (shot put), for Kamel Kardjena (shot put), for Abdelkrim Krai (1500 meters) and for Athmani Skander-Djamil (100 meters); bronze for Hocine Bettir (powerlifting), bronze again for Mounia Gasmi (club throw), Linda Hamri (long jump) and Walid Ferhah (club throw).
And the icing on the cake, Athmani Skander-Djamil wins another medal, in gold this time, by beating the world record in the 400 meters, while Safia Djellal sets a new world record in the shot put and, as a bonus, pocket a gold medal.
The exploits of the four gold medalists were hailed by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Twitter, but this more than honorable record contrasted sharply with the reception of the athletes on their return to Algiers.
“To feel that we are worth nothing”
“We finish off the heroes well. The reception given to the Paralympic medalists is scandalous,” writes journalist Chaouki Mechakra on Facebook. “Mr. President, do something for the champions of the Paralympic Games, they were humiliated”, also writes journalist Naïla Benrahal. Even the very official public information agency, APS, speaks of “a shameful reception”. “The images showing Asmahane Boudjadar, gold medalist, making superhuman efforts to get on an old public transport bus, not adapted [to] physical specificities, outraged the Algerians”, adds the daily L’Est Républicain continues: “The scenes showing the reception of the athletes should be included in the chapter of human rights violations. And just for that aspect, everyone should feel responsible. “This welcome made us feel that we are worth nothing”, testifies one of the athletes, Ayoub Badrane, on a TV set.
The general indignation made the authorities react. “By order of the President of the Republic”, Prime Minister Aïmene Benabderrahmane dismissed , on September 5, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Director-General of Sports of the same ministry, “for negligence in the accomplishment of their missions and breach of the obligation to welcome athletes after their participation in the Paralympic Games”. According to the authorities, an investigation was opened “in order to hold an account to each person in charge involved in this incident”.
Precarious preparation conditions
For his part, the first person in charge of the sector, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderezak Sebgag, declared at a press conference, commenting on the images of the arrival of the champions at Algiers airport: “I have was shocked at what I saw. This is unacceptable. Measures will be taken and those responsible will be sanctioned”, while promising “more suitable” buses to welcome the last athletes to leave Tokyo…
The director of the sports organization at the Algerian Handisport Federation (FAH), Mansour Aït Saïd, for his part, called on “the bodies concerned to apply equal opportunities between Olympic and Paralympic athletes while asking them to provide the means and infrastructure necessary for better preparation, bearing in mind that some disabled athletes struggle to find a space to train”. Algeria does not even have a single specialized center for disabled sports.
Because the airport incident, and the lack of media coverage devoted to Paralympic athletes, have lifted the veil on their training conditions and their place in the Algerian high-level sports system.
