Pascale Ribes and other campaigners for the rights of people with disabilities in France have an invite to meet the French president Wednesday. But because she uses a wheelchair, Ribes won’t risk traveling by public transport to the conference at the presidential Elysee Palace.
The nearest wheelchair-accessible Metro line is about a kilometer away and public buses in the French capital - host of the next Olympic Games - can be a time-gobbling ordeal for people with limited mobility, Ribes says.
“We really want the games to be a success,” Ribes said in an Associated Press interview, but France needs “to press on the accelerator” because “a catastrophic scenario is in the offing if we don’t.” The looming deadlines of the July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024, Olympics and Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 Paralympics are also upping the pressure.
They pledged that 150 to 200 shuttle buses will be laid on for people who use wheelchairs and said they’re aiming for a five-fold increase in Paris’ flotilla of accessible taxis, from 200 to 1,000, by games-time. Other Olympic cities have done better. In Tokyo, more than 90% of the 758 subway and rail stations were already wheelchair-accessible when it hosted the Olympics in 2021. In 2012 host London, around a third of Tube stations have step-free access, meaning they’re equipped with lifts, ramps and level surfaces so people with disabilities don’t have to use stairs or escalators, the London Underground says.
Argentina Últimas Noticias, Argentina Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Swedish wish: Swedes' support for hosting 2030 Olympics may be good news for Utah's bidSweden's potential bid for the 2030 Winter Games just got a big boost, along with some encouragement from the leader of the committee trying to bring the Olympics back to Utah.
Leer más »
Special Olympics athletes to play alongside Houston Dynamo FC during Signing Day 2023“Cornerstone to the collaboration is the Special Olympics Unified Sports® Soccer Exchange Program, uniting individuals with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) and individuals without intellectual disabilities (Unified partners) as members of one team,' Houston Dynamo said in a press release.
Leer más »
Inside Sofia Richie and Elliot Grainge’s lavish wedding in France“I love you more than anything,” the model’s big sister, Nicole Richie, captioned a new snap of the pair, which was taken before the newlywed said “I do.”
Leer más »
Sofia Richie Marries Elliot Grainge in France“I’m so excited to be married, just because I’m marrying Elliot,' Lionel Richie's daughter told Vogue.
Leer más »
How to Spend the Weekend in France Without Leaving North AmericaPack your 220-volt convertor and your euros, and get ready for baguettes and brie.
Leer más »