Paralympic sports: where are we at in Italy? We talk about it with Efrem Morelli

Cremona, Lombardy – 2024 will be a summer full of great sporting events. First the European football championships which will be held in Germany from 14 June to 14 July, then the Olympic Games in Paris, scheduled from 26 July to 11 August. And finally the Paralympic Games, which will take place from 28 August to 8 September, again in the French capital. While there is a lot of talk about the first two events, historically Paralympic sports have not had and still do not have the same media interest today.

Paralympic sport – that is, sport of people with physical disabilities who compete in various disciplines and in different categories depending on their disability – always seems to remain a bit in the shadows compared to the sport of people without disabilities. But lately this is changing. We talked about it with Efrem Morelli, paraplegic swimmer and winner of the bronze medal at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics in 2016.

Good morning Ephrem! Do you want to introduce yourself? Who are you and how did you get into the world of Paralympic sports?

Let’s start from the beginning. I have always played sports since I was a kid. I have always had a passion for motorbikes, passed down from my father, in particular for motocross, which I practiced for a long time. At 17 I turned professional and tried to make this sport my profession.

At the age of 20, during a motocross race for the Italian Championship, I had an accident that made me paraplegic. Since then let’s say that I have rejected everything a bit. After several years of physiotherapy I started swimming, initially only on a therapeutic level. Gradually, the passion for sport was reborn a bit and then transformed again into competitive spirit. It all started from there, from physiotherapy in the water and the desire to get back into the game.

What are the differences between sports and parasports?

In my opinion there are no differences. Sport is sport for everyone, even if perhaps in parasport I need various adaptations. But I consider this a very, very relative aspect.

In Italy, do Paralympic sports receive the same attention – including from the media – and the same funding as sports for non-disabled people?

Regarding the media attention towards parasport [esita, ndr] we’re getting there. Very quietly. We are building something important on a media level. We have very well-known ambassadors, such as Bebe Vio or in the past Alex Zanardi, and many others who are bringing Paralympic sports to a very important media level. There is still a lot to work on and the road is long, but we are starting to see the competitions live, the Paralympics have a considerable schedule and this is a very positive thing.

As regards salaries, here the important thing that we have achieved in recent years – in the two, to be precise – has been the enlistment of Paralympic athletes in the armed forces, such as the police, carabinieri, army, blue flames, yellow flames and so on. This is a really positive thing, because it means that disabled athletes are equated with non-disabled athletes: all athletes have the same value. As a result, salaries are also slowly rising to the level of non-disabled athletes. There are still things to improve, but we are on a good path.

How are Paralympic sports seen in Italy?

Parasport in Italy has undergone a very important and very positive revolution in recent years. At the beginning of my career it wasn’t like that. When I approached Paralympic sports there was little consideration. Often we Paralympic athletes were not seen as “real athletes” working towards something important. Important for us, for Italy, for those who follow us from home. And for disability and its evolution at a sporting level. But then over the years the consideration has grown and for me this is also a reason for personal pride.

I believe that in general today Paralympic sport is seen in a positive way. Many young people are approaching Paralympic sports and this is proof that we are growing a bit on all fronts. Here too, obviously, we need to continue working, promoting sport, talking to people in order to evolve and spread the message that Paralympic sport exists and that it offers many possibilities. Even at a competitive level. Our goal is always to do well in races and bring home excellent results, but also to send a positive signal to those who watch us.

Will you be taking part in the Paris Paralympics this summer?

That is certainly the goal. It would be my fifth Paralympics. The first was 2008 in Beijing and this one in Paris would be the crowning moment of my career. But first I will have to face some important tests, such as the European Championship in Funchal in April.