If You’re Sleeping on the Paralympics, We’re Embarrassed For You

Yes, the Olympics have ended. And yes, it was incredible to watch. But if one more person asks, “What am I going to do now that the Olympics are over?” I think I’m going to scream. For equal opportunists like myself, the answer to that question is pretty obvious: watch the Paralympics (starting Aug. 28). But somehow, the Paralympics still manage to get the shorter end of the stick in terms of viewership, coverage, and support.

Take the Tokyo Games, for example. The Olympics garnered over 3 billion viewers globally, according to the International Olympic Committee. In comparison, the Paralympics reached a cumulative 2.1 billion viewers, per the International Paralympic Committee. Sadly, a chunk of that gap can be attributed to US viewers, who have historically been less tuned into the Paralympics. “Fewer than 5 million Americans tuned in to the 2016 Paralympics, a figure dwarfed by viewership in China (1 billion), Japan (770 million), Brazil (472 million), and most European countries,” Amplitude magazine reports.

It wasn’t until 2021 that NBC even showcased the Paralympics with primetime coverage, including 1,200 hours of programming across NBC’s linear and digital channels, per ESPN. And guess what? The unprecedented coverage led to two of the most-watched Paralympic Games telecasts in the US, per NBC Sports.

This year, it seems broadcasters have caught on to the hype, as more than 160 nations are expected to televise the events, compared to a total of 115 for the London Paralympics of 2012, according to The Guardian (this is also a 20 percent increase from the Tokyo Games). In other words: you should have plenty to watch on your post-Olympics agenda and zero reason not to tune in.

These competitors deserve our utmost respect and support. Not because they’re “defying the odds,” but because just like every Olympian you watched compete over the last few weeks, these athletes have had to work tirelessly just to even qualify for this level of competition. They’re pushing their bodies to new extremes and going beyond a level of athleticism than what many of us could accomplish in sports that aren’t simply versions of “traditional” sports, but have unique value and unique appeal all on their own. From veteran Paralympians like handcycler Oksana Masters and track and field’s Tatyanna McFadden to newer athletes like swimmer Jamal Hill— the grit, the talent, and the showmanship is all there. So get locked in. The time to sleep on the Paralympics is not now — nor should it have ever been.

Alexis Jones is the senior health and fitness editor at PS. Her passions and areas of expertise include women’s health and fitness, mental health, racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare, and chronic conditions. Prior to joining PS, she was the senior editor at Health magazine. Her other bylines can be found at Women’s Health, Prevention, Marie Claire, and more.