Why Not Them?
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were an exceptional moment, celebrating self-surpassing and inclusion. However, behind this beautiful image, an unjust reality persists: out of the 237 athletes in the French delegation, only 6 had a mental disability.
A Continuing Injustice
Since a cheating incident at the 2000 Sydney Games, athletes with mental disabilities were excluded from the Paralympic Games. Today, despite their reintegration, they can only compete in three disciplines: table tennis, athletics, and swimming.
For athletes like Jean-Claude Thievent, a world champion in para-cycling and a member of the association "The Sun Shines for Everyone," this restriction is a profound injustice. Despite his talent and achievements, he couldn't compete in the Paris Games because para-cycling is not open to athletes with mental disabilities.
And for the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milan? No athlete with a mental disability will represent France.
The Commitment of "The Sun Shines for Everyone"
Since 2007, the association "The Sun Shines for Everyone" has been fighting to provide athletes with mental disabilities a place on the sports fields, as well as in society. With over 200 members, it works to ensure these athletes can fully express themselves, whether in gyms, swimming pools, or even in the mountains.
Each year, the association organizes a symbolic ascent of a summit reaching 2024 meters, in homage to the Paris Games. This summer, they will take on an even greater challenge.
500 Kilometers to Be Heard
Next August, members of the association will cycle 500 kilometers from Besançon to Milan, with a stop in Lausanne to appeal to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Their goal? To raise awareness among the public and institutions about the cause of athletes with mental disabilities.
Whympr and Iphigénie Support This Project
At Whympr and Iphigénie, we share the values of inclusion, solidarity, and self-surpassing upheld by "The Sun Shines for Everyone." That’s why, in 2024, we created the Whympr and Iphigénie Fund, a program that financially supports initiatives like this one. Through this fund, we help the association continue its fight and organize ambitious projects such as their journey to Milan.
You too can be part of this change. Follow their adventure, share their message, and show your support for these athletes who deserve true recognition.
👉 Together, let’s make a difference. Find "The Sun Shines for Everyone" on Facebook.
