Paralympics Exec Hopes for More Accessible Tokyo, Lima Accoms

(ATR) Two stops this week – Tokyo and then to Lima – as International Paralympic Committee executive director Xavier González keeps his eye on two big events coming up.

In Tokyo at the start of the week, Gonzalez observes the 2020 Paralympics could be the best in history. However, he expressed his concern for what he considered "an insufficient number of accessible rooms ready for the Games".

The Paralympic leader said that athletes can expect an excellent Paralympic Village. Gonzalez says he’s worried about rooms in hotels for other people with disabilities. He says sponsors, Paralympic officials, guests, fans and the media will all need accessible rooms. The IPC says between 400 and 500 accessible wheelchair rooms are needed.

The organizing committee of Tokyo says that the city has around 700 accessible rooms, although reports refer to a smaller number.

The shortage of rooms is beyond the control of the local organizing committee which is responsible for running the Games. It’s up to city and national governments to find a way to boost the inventory of wheelchair accessible rooms.

The Japanese government said that according to the rules that will take effect on September 1, 2019, hotels with more than 50 rooms must reserve at least 1 percent for wheelchair users.

Tokyo Metropolitan Governor Yuriko Koike says that the city would amend the ordinances to establish rules for hotels "without barriers" that would apply to both new hotels as well as hotels which currently do not comply.

The city and national government are offering subsidies for hotels to make modifications.

Of the 4,400 Paralympic athletes, 1,800 will use wheelchairs.

In his visit to Tokyo, Gonzalez praised in general the progress in the organization of the Game. He acknowledged that the public transport system is among the best in the world with many stations with elevators and assistants to help on the platforms.

Checkup for Lima 2019 Para Panams

Gonzalez flew to Lima from Tokyo in time for meetings Oct. 23 to review plans for the Parapan Am Games to be held from August 23 to September 1, 2019.

The Paralympic leader noted that as in Tokyo, the Lima Parapan American Games in 300 days have the purpose of changing the mentality of the people.

According to the National Specialized Survey on Disability of 2012, 6.8 percent of people living in Lima have a disability. In 2012, Lima had 385,000 people with reduced mobility in some way. Another 335,000 had limitations to their vision.

The organizers, as well as the International Paralympic Committee, hope that the Para PanAms will contribute to universal accessibility in Lima.

"We will have accessible infrastructure, technical manuals and all the spirit for sports of the Peruvians," says a representative of Lima 2019 ahead of the meetings with Gonzalez.

A COPAL representative told Around the Rings that a number of accessible hotel rooms are planned in Lima.

Luisa Villar, president of the National Paralympic Association of Peru said that "we aim to promote the practice of Para sports throughout the country, transform our city with works that will be a sports legacy."

Reported by Miguel Hernandez.For general comments or questions, click here .