Penny Briscoe, ParalympicsGB chef de mission, has described as an “absolute disgrace” the treatment of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson who was forced to “crawl off” a train. The 11-time Paralympic Gold medallist found that no assistance was available when she arrived at King’s Cross, London, on a London North Eastern Railway (LNER) train. Despite having booked assistance for her journey from Leeds, she arrived on a later train and help did not materialise. Grey-Thompson stated that she had a “contract” for assistance and that many other disabled individuals would not have managed to alight under the same circumstances.
Briscoe, speaking from ParalympicsGB house in Paris, highlighted that Baroness Grey-Thompson’s experience reflects the everyday experiences of many disabled individuals, which often go unreported. Briscoe argued that disabled people should be able to carry out daily activities, such as travelling by train, without difficulty. However, the reality is far from this ideal. ParalympicsGB is working to inspire a better world for disabled people, calling for change and demanding an equitable society. LNER is investigating the incident.
This is the first time that Paris has hosted a Paralympics, and Briscoe highlighted that the city is on an “accessibility journey”. While all bus services in Paris are now accessible, with buses for athletes offering six wheelchair spaces, their underground transport system is still improving.
The city is also lacking in accessible hotels, with only one or two accessible bathrooms per establishment. This is a situation that Briscoe states will need to be addressed when welcoming disabled athletes and spectators. Yet, she emphasized that accessibility is a global issue and that solutions are not immediate.
Paris intends to use the Games to improve accessibility for Parisians, prompting long-term legacy changes. ParalympicsGB supports these aspirations and the concept that legacy changes are vital for increased accessibility.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, who raced between 1988 and 2004, is one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes of all time, boasting 16 medals across various events. Such athletes, their supporters and fans, fully deserve improvements to ensure a more accessible society, for the present and future generations.
