Government

Episodes of How the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Brought on Change

November 10, 2026

Office for Sports Promotion

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As we mark the fifth anniversary of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, here are some messages we received, showing how the Games’ legacy has taken root in people’s daily life.

We asked people to look back on the past five years and share stories about the courage and inspiration they felt during the Games, as well as the awareness and changes they experienced in daily lives. We received over 1,400 responses, and organized them into three categories: “Changes in the Community,” “Changes in Attitudes,” and “Changes in Engagement with Para Sports.” Here are some of the messages.

 

Changes in the Community

Many people have commented that, spurred by the Games, they’ve noticed “more accessible facilities and public transportation,” such as platform doors at train stations, elevators, ramps, leveling of steps, and Braille blocks.

It is noteworthy that those feeling such changes are not only people with disabilities. People of all ages and backgrounds—including those pushing strollers and the elderly—also say life has become easier. This suggests that improvements for one group help make the city more livable for everyone.

 

After Tokyo was named to host the Paralympics, accessibility improved at my local station, making daily life much easier. Experiencing firsthand how better accessibility makes life easier made me want to be more aware daily of disabilities.

While raising my children, I noticed that there are now significantly more train cars with open spaces near the priority seats, making it friendly for wheelchairs and strollers. With more platform doors at stations, riding trains feels much safer. I truly feel that, thanks to the Paralympics, the spirit of mutual support is gradually spreading.

Changes in Attitudes

Various changes were observed not only in infrastructure and information but also in people’s attitudes. Respondents voiced a growing sense of “barrier-free mindset”—such as reaching out to those in need and mutual aid. Comments also suggested more natural interaction with individuals with disabilities, viewing them as members of the same community instead of giving them special treatment. It appears that the experiences gained from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games are helping to break down stereotypes about disabilities and serving as a catalyst for changes in everyday consideration and behavior.

 

The Paralympics really changed my perspective on disability. At first, I had a ‘scary’ image of people with disabilities, but after seeing the athletes at the Paralympics work hard and shine in their own way, I realized that I had the wrong idea. I came to understand that whether one has a disability was not the point, but that each person has their own individuality and strengths, and I’ve come to want to understand them better.

 

Here is a message from someone who identified their life with the performances and efforts of athletes competing on the world stage—as well as the lessons and insights they’ve gained through para sports—and say it changed their values and the way they approached things.

 

I believe watching the para-athletes compete provided me a formula for dealing with my own everyday worries and challenges—such as how to view ‘obstacles’ and, when I hit a wall at work or in daily life, how to adopt a mindset that asks, ‘How can I make this work?’ or ‘To overcome this, who can I turn to?’—rather than simply giving up and thinking, ‘I can’t do this!’

 

Changes in How People Engage with Para Sports

Some people have become more involved with para sports—going beyond simply being “moved” or wanting to “cheer them on.” Inspired by competitions they watched on TV, they have attended events in person or begun playing various para sports on a regular basis. We also received numerous comments from people who felt that the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games made it easier for people with disabilities to participate in sporting events.

 

I became interested through the Tokyo Games, and I started watching para sports—something I had never done before. The biggest impact of the Games was that instead of an attitude to ‘try to understand sports for people with disabilities,’ I began to simply enjoy watching them as another sport, just like soccer or baseball.

 

Some people have drawn courage, inspiration, and energy from the athletes’ powerful presence and their determined efforts, which have led them to take concrete actions such as regularly watching and cheering on para sports.

 

The Tokyo 2020 Paralympics sparked my interest in para sports, and since then, I’ve started watching competitions in various disciplines. For the 2024 Paralympics, I traveled all the way to Paris by myself to cheer on the wheelchair rugby, para table tennis, and blind soccer teams! I’m grateful to para sports—not only for the fun, but also for driving me to act!!

 

Those who participated in volunteer activities mentioned that the experience was not just a fleeting memory, but evolved into a source of “purpose” and “learning.”

 

I started serious volunteering with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and now I volunteer for about 300 days a year.....I’ve earned a certification as a para sports coach and am focusing on promoting sports for people with disabilities. I started volunteering because I wanted to contribute to society and support people with disabilities, but I’m learning something new every day, which is helping me improve my own skills.

 

We called on people to send messages from May 28 to August 19, 2026. The campaign was open to anyone, and messages were submitted via a special webpage.

Click here for details on the messages received (Japanese website, with machine translation).
 

Please let us know your opinions and impressions!