Sao Paulo ¨C Disabled Brazilian skateboarders got together at Brazil¡¯s first Paraskate Tour event on Saturday where, buoyed by the success of skateboarding in the Tokyo Olympics, they worked toward inclusion in the Paralympics as soon as possible.
¡°Paraskate won¡¯t be in Paris (in 2024), we¡¯re running to see if we can make it to Los Angeles (in 2028), but my hope is that Paraskate will be included in Australia in 2032,¡± said Eduardo Musa, president of the Brazilian Skateboarding Confederation.
His hopes are backed by the disabled skateboarders who delighted virtual spectators with a range of daring maneuvers at the Corinthians skate park in Sao Paulo.
¡°Skateboard is a very fantastic sport because everyone can practice in their own way, everyone has their own style,¡± said Vinicius Sardi, a 24-year-old skater who was one of those behind Saturday¡¯s event, the first of three that will be held this year.
¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if the guy has one leg or no legs, he¡¯s skating ¡ª and that¡¯s skateboarding! Skateboarding is about having a good time.¡±
The event was transmitted live but without spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but blind skater Fernando Araujo agreed.
¡°Skateboarding, being on top of this board, for me it¡¯s everything,¡± said Araujo. ¡°It¡¯s my reason for living. Being an adapted skater I forget all my problems, all the prejudices that I have to live with.¡±
Skateboarding is hugely popular in Brazil and the South American nation has produced some of the sport¡¯s greatest exponents.
Brazilians won three silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, a tally better than all bar Australia and host nation Japan.
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