Blade Library for All including kids at Brillia Running Stadium in Tokyo - try blades and feel fun to run again!

I had to share this exciting news!!!



The world first 'Blade Library for All People' is now open at the Shin-Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium in Tokyo.


The project "Making Blade Library for All People" was organised by Xiborg, which developed a prosthesis for top athlete, Xiborg Genesis.

They have successfully run a crowdfunding campaign to make it happen and raised more than 17 million yen (more than NZ$200,000)


Making Blade Library for All People
Their crowdfunding page on Readyfor (in Japanese, but check out some photos!)



They listened to what amputee kids were saying:

They want to run, but

• Very expensive to buy a blade(s)
• Hard to see a specialist for a blade and go through the complicated process of getting one

Medical insurance covers the prosthesis, but not blade.


At the Blade Library for All Peopl, all amputees from kids to adults can try blades on the spot and enjoy running with it.

The Shin-Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium has a six-lane, 60 meter long track and the library has 24 kinds/sizes of blades for people to try.


I'm sure that some of the library users will become the future Paralympic athletes!

I wonder how many sports shops have goods and equipment for Paralympians...



Related links:
「義足の図書館」がオープン (in Japanese - "Blade Library" is now open)
New running facility opens in Tokyo for athletes of all stripes
The Shin-Toyosu Brillia Running Stadium (in Japanese)

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Have you seen anyone wearing GOLD today? - Annual Spirit of Gold(R) Mufti Day on 8 Sept 2017

It's an annual Sprit of Gold(R) Mafti Day today!

If you saw a bunch of people wearing GOLD at work/school and were wondering why...

they were participating in the Spirit of Gold(R) Mufti Day to support New Zealand Paralympians!!!

Spirit of Gold(R) Mufti Day


From their Mafti Day Toolkit

The Spirit of Gold® Initiative
The Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) Spirit of Gold® Initiative is a long-term
campaign launched in late 2015. It is designed to increase community awareness
and engagement with Para sport and raise much-needed funding to firstly, support
the Para athletes on the road to PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games
and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Secondly, to help PNZ invest in developing
Para sport and future Paralympians across New Zealand.

The Mafti Day Toolkit can be downloaded from the above page and there are lots of good fundrising ideas and supporting materials in it!


It's only 6 months until the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games and they are seeking $440,000 by the end of this year (December 2017).

Don't worry if you've missed today's opportunity to participate in the Mafti Day.
You can donate ANYTIME from the Paralympics New Zealand website. 😉
(A complimentary Spirit of Gold(R) supporters scarf for a $20 donation or more, whilst stocks last.)

Paralympics New Zealand
http://www.paralympics.org.nz


Related News:
Kiwis continue to show their support for our Paralympians by ‘going gold’ to celebrate six months until the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games



And two more exciting news!!!

We can watch the Paralympics on TV for FREE at least until 2020!!!
Which means... both the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in South Korea and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in Japan... we can watch the games on TV for free in New Zealand!!!
(TVNZ on air and online channels / AttitudeLive.com)

Related News:
New TVNZ & Attitude Pictures deal gives New Zealanders extensive Paralympics coverage to 2020 after Rio success [Paralympics New Zealand]
New Paralympic TV deal for New Zealanders [International Paralympic Committee (IPC)]


There will be more female athletes than ever will join the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
4,400 athletes will compete in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and at least 1,756 slots are for women!!!
Gooooo female Paralympians!!!

Related News:
Tokyo 2020 to include most female athletes in Paralympics history, international federation confirms [Stuff.co.nz]

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