Paralympics 2024 provided ‘everything you want from a sporting event’ – Tanni Grey-Thompson

The Paralympics in Paris have been amazing with packed stadiums, intense competition, great performances and the event has shown the world what sport can do.

There have been the highs and lows you expect, tears of happiness and of disappointment – what more would you want from a sporting event?

But it is hard not to think, as we leave here, about what the legacy of the Games is going to be.

Legacy is a word that was imposed on Barcelona long after the 1992 event, when it had eventually figured out how to use the expensive venues they built for the Games. Many of the cites that have followed since then have struggled.

London had to be mindful, not only of the public nature of the costs and the desire to not have white elephants, but of the promises that were made to inspire a generation.

Paris took that further in terms of sustainability. They used many existing venues and then put a Paralympic overlay on top but that meant that there were lots of steps, platform lifts, not always decent viewing platforms and a frequent sense of frustration that while disabled people were competing, it wasn’t always so easy for disabled people to come along and watch.

Public transport has been another issue, as it always will be in an old city like Paris.

Buses have been overhauled to make them accessible, which is a start, but the Metro system is not and the head of the Paris transport network said before the Games that it remained a weak spot for disabled travellers so it will be interesting to see what happens after the Games.

I didn’t try the transport, partly because I didn’t need to, and being in the fortunate position of being media-accredited gives you access to venues that spectators don’t get.

We were driven around the city in the dedicated Games lanes, and went from the underground car parks to the venues with little difficulty but I know the day-to-day experience outside Games time will be significantly different.

Having visited Paris a number of times before, the biggest change I have noticed is the attitude towards disabled people. People are generally more helpful and for getting around there are more things like dropped curbs, although the cobblestones, of which there are lots, are a challenge for a wheelchair user.