IN

FROM 24 AUGUST 2020 BIGISSUE.COM | 21

a parallel, non-pandemic universe, the Tokyo

Paralympics started this week, with thousands of

athletes from across the world demonstrating the peak

potential of human body and spirit.

While the event, along with the Olympics, was

postponed, the achievements of Paralympic athletes are

not limited to what happens between the starting gun and

the finish line. Competitions are not taking place, races are

not being run, but victories are still being won.

The impact the Paralympics has had on the global

community is immeasurable, and one of Britain’s greatest

gifts to the world, according to two-time gold medallist

Jonnie Peacock.

“The home of the Olympics may be in Greece, but the

home of the Paralympics is in the UK, and we should all

feel very proud about what that platform has gone on to

become,” he tells The Big Issue.

Peacock represents Great Britain and Northern

Ireland in a new Netflix documentary, Rising Phoenix,

which tells the story of the Games from its inception at

Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire where Dr

Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish refugee, used sport to help

rehabilitate wounded soldiers returning from the war

in Europe to the Paralympic movement becoming the

world’s third largest sporting event. Rising Phoenix outlines

the enormous impact the Paralympics has on changing

attitudes, progressing society, bringing people together to

celebrate our differences.

First, the sport. The Duke of Sussex, reflecting on

London 2012 in the film, says: “The sport was incredible...

undoubtedly better than the Olympics itself.” The

must-binge series of lockdown, The Last Dance, which

captures the supremacy of Michael Jordan in the 1990s,

proves that great athleticism is powered by immense

psychological resolve, audacious ambition and ruthless

determination. Attributes defining every Paralympian.

Image:

Netflix

>

IN

FROM 24 AUGUST 2020 BIGISSUE.COM | 21

a parallel, non-pandemic universe, the Tokyo

Paralympics started this week, with thousands of

athletes from across the world demonstrating the peak

potential of human body and spirit.

While the event, along with the Olympics, was

postponed, the achievements of Paralympic athletes are

not limited to what happens between the starting gun and

the finish line. Competitions are not taking place, races are

not being run, but victories are still being won.

The impact the Paralympics has had on the global

community is immeasurable, and one of Britain’s greatest

gifts to the world, according to two-time gold medallist

Jonnie Peacock.

“The home of the Olympics may be in Greece, but the

home of the Paralympics is in the UK, and we should all

feel very proud about what that platform has gone on to

become,” he tells The Big Issue.

Peacock represents Great Britain and Northern

Ireland in a new Netflix documentary, Rising Phoenix,

which tells the story of the Games from its inception at

Stoke Mandeville hospital in Buckinghamshire where Dr

Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish refugee, used sport to help

rehabilitate wounded soldiers returning from the war

in Europe to the Paralympic movement becoming the

world’s third largest sporting event. Rising Phoenix outlines

the enormous impact the Paralympics has on changing

attitudes, progressing society, bringing people together to

celebrate our differences.

First, the sport. The Duke of Sussex, reflecting on

London 2012 in the film, says: “The sport was incredible...

undoubtedly better than the Olympics itself.” The

must-bingeseriesof lockdown,TheLastDance, which

capturesthesupremacyof MichaelJordaninthe1990s,

provesthatgreatathleticismispoweredbyimmense

psychologicalresolve,audaciousambitionandruthless

determination.AttributesdefiningeveryParalympian.

Image:

Netflix

>