Disabled Athletes Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technologies for Paralympics 2020

The Tokyo Paralympics 2020 held the closing ceremony on September 5, 2021, with disabled athletes soaring high with enormous victories in different types of games. Meanwhile, India has finished with 19 medals— 5 Gold, 8 Silver, and 6 Bronze whereas the top country, China, has received 207 medals in total. Indian athletes in the Paralympics 2020 have shown very impressive performances with a historical record. This is known to be the best-ever medal tally in the history of the Paralympics since 1984 and 2016. The introduction of cutting-edge technologies in the sports industry has made this possible for all countries to support disabled athletes in continuing their passion for sports. Disabled athletes leveraged cutting-edge technologies in the Paralympics 2020 to make their respective countries proud with a number of medals. 

Cutting-edge technologies in the Paralympics 2020 have shown advancements with new materials as well as enhanced designs for the flexibility of disabled athletes. It is already known how the Tokyo Olympics 2020 leveraged major cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality, and many more to help athletes and spectators to enjoy the wholesome experience. Similarly, advancements in technologies in Paralympics 2020 have also created a huge impact on these disabled athletes to represent their countries efficiently and effectively. 

There was a revolutionary blend of cutting-edge technologies with amputation and prosthetic designs in the Paralympics 2020. 3D printing technology has been harnessed to produce customized gloves for different sports to push wheelchairs easily. Tapping devices were created with artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that helped swimmers with vision impairments. These tapping devices provided notifications to disabled athletes that included the timing to turn and time left to approach the wall, and many more. 

The Paralympics 2020 has leveraged hi-tech sensor cameras with artificial intelligence and motion sensors with computer vision to determine the performances and movements of disabled athletes. This real-time data was sent live to broadcasters for seamless commentary. Big data and artificial intelligence have helped to optimize all kinds of performances of athletes in the Paralympics 2020, medical health record tracking, heart-rate variability, and many more. There were biomechanics data that utilized motion-capture cameras to detect the force exerted by the disabled athletes. 

Though cutting-edge technologies in the sports industry, especially for the Paralympics 2020, have helped disabled athletes to aim for gold medals for their countries, there is a concern regarding the difference among the funding of developed countries, developing countries, as well as under-developed countries. Still, this tournament has shown the world a global window on cutting-edge technologies. This has successfully transformed the lives of disabled athletes with more independence and courage.