Ciao and greetings from Italy!
Aside from the primary focus on competition at a Paralympic Games, the gathering of representatives across the global Paralympic Movement presents an opportunity to come together, discuss and share knowledge on important topics. Wednesday (local time) in Cortina provided one of those opportunities, as PNZ Chair and President Jana Rangooni, NZ Paralympic Team Psychologist Sarah de Wattignar, and I, were able to attend a Paralympic Safeguarding Symposium, hosted by the U.S. Centre for SafeSport.
The session provided an overview of the organisation which is an independent nonprofit organisation dedicated to preventing and addressing abuse and misconduct in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sports. Expanding the discussion beyond the USA, a panel of Paralympic and Olympic athletes, each who play active roles in the Para athlete voice, legacy, or programme delivery (in Australia, Italy, the USA, and/or as members of the IPC Athletes’ Council), provided insights into global safeguarding initiatives, including a focus on various unique considerations for Para athletes (e.g., interactions with care providers or specialist technicians that often involve working in close personal space, or young Para athletes travelling the world to compete on Teams with older Para athletes, coaches, and support staff).
The key take away for me was the message that we are reminded that safeguarding is more than just ensuring that policies are in place, but also about ensuring a culture is created that promotes and implements safe environments first and foremost, but also reports and removes behaviours that impact these safe environments and practices; and that we all have an active role to play across the Paralympic Movement.
The Symposium was hosted at Switzerland House, one of the many dedicated spaces created by National Paralympic/Olympic Committees. The venue is ideally located within walking distance of the centre of Cortina, and adjacent to the competition venue for Wheelchair curling. As you will see from the images below, it is an incredible space to host events, watch live coverage of the Games (or participate in some curling yourself), relax and grab some Swiss themed food and drink – although I was slightly disappointed to miss seeing any free chocolate tasting activities during our brief visit!
You will have seen from earlier broadcast coverage and images of the Games, that we have largely had blue skies and sunny spring weather. However, the clouds have started to roll back in and cover the imposing mountain tops that surround the Cortina landscape, and the forecast for the remainder of the Games aligns with our pre-Games PNZ slogan – Stand By For Snow! Thankfully our awesome Macpac gear and Hi-Tec shoes will continue to keep us warm and dry, as we prepare for more time on the mountain on Friday, cheering on Adam and Corey.
For now, thanks once again, on behalf of PNZ and the NZ Paralympic Team, for the many messages of support, for promoting the Team and the Games, and importantly, for having conversations that matter – this combined effort continues to have an impact on enhancing awareness of disability, and challenging everyone to create more opportunities, so that we can see a pathway for the next Adam Hall or Corey Peters on the Paralympic Winter Games stage.
Ngā mihi and grazie!
