Making Invisible ‘VISIBLE’

Celebrating athletes with intellectual impairments and autism who will be competing at the upcoming Paralympic Games- Paris 2024, Virtus Sport is launching #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE. ​ 

#MakingInvisibleVISIBLE’ will: 

• Raise awareness of the largest impairment group in the world and make intellectual impairment ‘VISIBLE.’ 
• Leverage the platform of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games to raise awareness about intellectual impairments. 
• Challenge societal stereotypes surrounding individuals/athletes with intellectual impairments and/or autism. 
• Encourage people to recognize the exceptional abilities of athletes beyond their impairments. 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism.

Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control. 

Intellectual impairments are often invisible to the eye, but these athletes work hard to be the best in the world. They face challenges that are not always obvious.

Virtus’ eligibility classifications open pathways for athletes with intellectual impairment to international sporting competitions including the Virtus Global Games, Virtus Regional Games, World Championships and ultimately the Paralympic Games.   

Currently, athletes with intellectual impairments compete across Swimming (S14), Athletics (T20-F20), and Table Tennis (Class 11) at the Paralympic Games. Virtus is collaborating closely with the International Paralympic Committee and International Federations to expand opportunities for such athletes across various sports, categories, and medal events. 

Notably, last year’s table tennis champions at the Virtus Global Games, Acer Ebru (TUR) and Chen Po yen (TPE), secured their golden tickets to Paris 2024. 

Our campaign aims to: 

• Advocate for Paralympic pathways for athletes with intellectual impairments. 
• Celebrate the achievements of Paralympians with intellectual impairment at the Paralympic Games. 
• Highlight Virtus’ pivotal role in creating pathways for athletes with intellectual impairments to the Paralympic stage. 

How can you support?

This Paralympic Games, join our mission to make invisible impairment VISIBLE.

Watch the events where these athletes are competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Use #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE #VirtusSport and Share-Like-Comment about the phenomenal Paralympians with intellectual impairment and make them VISIBLE.  

Change your social media profile picture with our campaign frame/picture.

Steps:

1. Download the frame from the link below.
2. Open Canva.com on your phone/laptop.
3. Transfer your favourite photos and the frame to Canva.
4. Search for ’round photo frame’ and insert your photo in the frame.
5. Then add and align the campaign frame around your photo.
6. Download the photo in PNG/JPG and upload it to your social media.
7. Don’t forget to copy-paste our campaign message and link in the caption of your photo.