President of the National Paralympic Committee (CNP), Eduard Novak, said on Thursday evening, at the official opening ceremony dedicated to the first edition of the Parasport Romania Games Bucharest 2026, that he wishes paralympic athletes to be appreciated for their talent, work, courage and performances, and not through the lens of their disabilities.

Eduard Novak underlined the importance of the event for Romanian paralympic sport and stated that it can contribute to changing society's perception of athletes with disabilities.

'This is the most important event in paralympic sport this year. Through this event, we wanted to change a bit the face and perception of Romania's paralympic athletes and of everything this movement represents. We want this event to grow, to become a landmark event of Romanian paralympics. I strongly believe there are many young people at home who want to become champions, and this event can be one of the answers to their questions,' Novak said.

The former paralympic cycling champion also highlighted the role of the competition in creating new opportunities for people with disabilities and in promoting inclusion.

'Today we are not only opening a competition, we are opening a door to more opportunities, inclusion and, I hope, a change of mentality in Romanian society. We want the Parasport Games to become a landmark event that shows that people with disabilities should not be viewed through the prism of their limitations, but through the lens of their talent, work, courage and performances. We want our athletes to be appreciated, to be seen for who they are,' Eduard Novak said.

The CNP official, who has represented Romania at several editions of the Paralympic Games, does not rule out a return to competition, although he acknowledges that such a participation would require considerable effort.

'One never knows whether I will compete again at the Paralympic Games, because it's difficult to help so many athletes reach the Paralympic Games while you stay outside. So I'm giving myself some time, and maybe I will soon announce that I'm preparing for another edition. I need to go on a bit of a diet, but that can be solved,' he said.

The President of the European Paralympic Committee, Raymon Blondel, also praised the organisation of the competition in Bucharest and emphasised the need for athletes to be valued for their abilities.

'Events like this remind us what parasport means. It's about possibilities. It is not just a competition, but trust, ambition, friendship and the feeling of belonging. We are all human and we all want to be appreciated for who we are. It is a supreme opportunity to show everyone in the world what it means to think about abilities, not disabilities,' Raymon Blondel said.

The European official also highlighted the importance of national competitions for the development of the paralympic movement and for the emergence of new athletes.

'As President of the European Paralympic Committee, I can say that this is an important step for the paralympic movement in Europe as well. We are all aware of the lack of competition opportunities, and by opening these national competitions, we open a gateway for athletes. This is also what the European Paralympic Committee wants: strong communities of athletes,' Blondel added.

Bucharest Mayor General Ciprian Ciucu expressed hope that the event will become a tradition and will be organised every year.

'What you are doing is fabulous. You are at the first edition and it matters enormously, but I trust that this is what is needed. And I trust it will become a tradition and be repeated year after year. If I can do anything as Mayor General for future events, I will gladly do it, because we must support competitions. I myself am a great supporter of sport. I know what it means to push yourself, to exceed your limits and to win, because competition is quite sweet when you win. And Bucharest has much to gain from such contests,' Ciucu said.

More than three hundred athletes are participating in the first edition of the Parasport Romania Games, that brings together ten disciplines and is organised across seven sports venues in Bucharest between 1-5 September.

The Parasport Romania Games are built on a multisport concept and bring together National Championships in ten disciplines, eight of them paralympic. The programme includes para table tennis, para swimming, para athletics, para powerlifting, 3x3 wheelchair basketball, para archery, adapted judo, wheelchair tennis, para climbing and para canoe.

The Parasport Romania 2026 competitions take place in seven sports venues in Bucharest: 'Iolanda Balas Soter' Stadium, the National Tennis Centre, CS Olimpia Bucharest, the Basketball Arena, the 'Lia Manoliu' National Sports Complex, Vertical Spirit and the 'Alexandru Ioan Cuza' Park (IOR).

The costs of organising the Parasport Games amount to approximately 300,000 euros, half of the amount being covered by the National Paralympic Committee. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Adrian Tone; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)