ASICS Provides Sportswear To Refugee Athletes For Paris 2024 Paralympic Games

ASICS, the official supplier to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), will provide sportswear and shoes to eight athletes and two guide runners selected for the Refugee Paralympic Team (RPT). The team will compete in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The Refugee Paralympic Team comprises athletes who have faced significant challenges to reach this stage. They will be the first team to enter the opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde on August 28. Their participation symbolises resilience and determination.

Official Sportswear Design

The official sportswear features a "Yagasuri" design, symbolising determination and strength. It incorporates the IPC symbol mark colours of red, blue, and green. The material used is lightweight with excellent water absorption and quick-drying properties, ensuring comfort for the athletes.

Ibrahim Al Hussein, a Para triathlete, expressed his pride in being part of the Refugee Paralympic Team. He said, "We feel more like a family than a team. There are many similarities in our difficult paths, and we understand each other as if we know each other's lives. I am proud to be a member of the Refugee Paralympic Team and to represent so many refugees and people with disabilities."

Athletes' Reactions

Sayed Amir Hossein Hosseini Pour, a Para table tennis player, shared his excitement about receiving the official sportswear. He stated, "It's an honour to receive this Official Sportswear. I am so excited to wear it in Paris on the biggest stage of all. Sport changed my life, and I can't imagine my life without it. Being part of this Refugee Paralympic Team and competing in the Paralympics is a dream come true."

Zakia Khudadadi, competing in Para taekwondo, expressed her aspirations for winning a medal for the team. She remarked, "It would be a dream to be the first to ever win a medal for the Refugee Paralympic Team. If that happens, it will show people that no matter how difficult the struggles they face, they should never give up and provide inspiration and hope to many around the world."

ASICS' Commitment

Yasuhito Hirota, Chairman and CEO of ASICS Corporation, commented on their support for the team. He said, "We are honored to support the Paralympic Refugee Team. Seeing these athletes in action at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will give the world great dreams and hope and inspires us to think about what a truly symbiotic society should be."

Hirota further emphasised ASICS' dedication to promoting physical and mental health globally. He added, "ASICS is committed to activities that contribute to improving the physical and mental health of all people around the world, based on its founding philosophy of 'A Sound Mind In A Sound Body.' We will continue to work toward the realization of a truly symbiotic society in which everyone can engage in exercise and sports throughout their lives and remain healthful both mentally and physically."

The involvement of ASICS highlights their ongoing efforts towards fostering inclusivity in sports. Their support aims not only at enhancing athletic performance but also at inspiring broader societal change through sports.